Community service is an important part of living and those with a passion for people would continue their contributions as they move to other countries or locations, says Raj Mitra, who is contesting for a seat in the Whau Local Board & Portage Trust elections next month.
He represents ‘Community First,’ an informal community grouping.
If elected, he would serve people residing in Avondale, Blockhouse Bay, New Windsor, Green Bay, New Lynn and Kelston.
With a graduate degree (BSc) in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Business Administration obtained in his native India, Mr Mitra migrated to South Africa to work for a British copper mining company.
A roaring Lion
“Life in Africa opened my eyes to the devastating social effects of extreme poverty and intensified my desire to serve the less-privileged members of the society. I joined the Lions Club in 1986 and rose to become President and later District Cabinet Secretary. I undertook many projects aimed at alleviation of poverty, including building schools and libraries for the under-privileged and blind children, setting up free rest home care for the elderly and spearheading Lions International’s ‘Sight First’ project to reverse preventable blindness in Africa,” he said.
He migrated to New Zealand with his family 14 years ago and continued to engage in community work through the Lions Movement.
Members of Lions International would know him as the Past President of the Lions Club of Point Chevalier and Zone Chairman of Lions Clubs in West Auckland, with significant community work and association with a number of organisations including Starship Hospital, Diabetes New Zealand, New Zealand Red Cross and Citizens Advisory Bureau.
His services to the community earned him the ‘Melvin Jones Fellowship’ and the ‘President’s Appreciation Award,’ stated to be among the highest honours bestowed by Lions International.
“I believe that every individual has responsibility to contribute to the betterment of those living around them. The growing Indian population in Auckland necessitates meaningful representation at the Auckland Local Boards,” Mr Mitra said.
Photo :
Raj Mitra
