Unveiling of Logo and Pune People’s Award Ceremony on the Occasion of Pune People’s Bank’s Amrit Mahotsav

Pune: While evaluating a bank, it is not appropriate to assess it only through figures. In the cooperative sector, a bank should also be evaluated based on its contribution to social work. Initially, Pune People’s Bank was known as a bank of auto-rickshaw drivers. Even today, the bank’s various initiatives clearly reflect its social outlook, expressed State Cooperation Commissioner and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Deepak Tavare.

Pune People’s Co-operative Bank Ltd., Pune has entered its Amrit Mahotsav year (75 years). To mark this milestone, a special programme was organized at Ganesh Kala Krida Rangmanch, where the Amrit Mahotsav logo was unveiled and the Pune People’s Award ceremony was held. Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University, Dr. Parag Kalkar, was present as the chief guest.

Also present on the occasion were Reserve Bank of India General Manager Sanjay Kumar, senior banking expert Vidhyadhar Anaskar, President of Pune District Urban Cooperative Banks Association Nilesh Dhamdhere, Secretary of the State Cooperative Election Authority Ashok Gade, Regional Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Pune, Yogiraj Surve, along with Bank President Shridhar Gaikwad, Vice-President Bipinkumar Shah, Managing Committee Chairman Adv. Subhash Mohite, Directors CA Janardan Randive, Babanrao Bhegade, Subhash Nade, Dr. Ramesh Sonawane, Subhash Gandhi, Milind Vani, Vaishali Chhajed, Nisha Karpe, Sanjeev Aswale, Dr. Vishwanath Jadhav, Co-opted Expert Director Shweta Dhamal, Chief Executive Officer Sanjay Bhondwe, Managing Board Members CA Ajinkya Randive, Kaustubh Bhegade, Uday Jagtap, Rajendra Gangarde, Arun Dahake and others.

The Pune People’s Award was presented to Dr. Rajendra Dhamane and Dr. Sucheta Dhamane, founders of Mauli Seva Pratishthan, Ahilyanagar, for their exceptional work for women suffering from mental illness. The award comprised a cash prize of ₹1,01,000, a traditional Puneri pagdi, shawl, citation and a memento. On the occasion of the bank entering its Amrit Mahotsav year, a special entertainment programme titled “Sankarshan via Spruha” was also organized for the audience.

Dr. Parag Kalkar said that whatever one receives in life should be shared with society. The Dhamane couple has translated this thought into action. By conferring the award upon them, the bank has honored their noble work. He further added that the cooperative movement must work for the development of the last person in society, something that Pune People’s Bank has successfully demonstrated.

Dr. Rajendra Dhamane stated that being a trustee means working with the understanding that “it does not belong to me.” This भावना (spirit) is very important in the cooperative sector. Social work should be carried out with a humanitarian outlook. Their social mission is ongoing, and the award further increases their responsibility.

Shridhar Gaikwad said that the bank was established on Vasant Panchami in 1952. The bank was founded not merely as a financial institution but as a mission of social service and a public trust for the common people. For the last 74 continuous years, the bank has been devotedly serving its account holders. Under the leadership of the present board of directors, the bank’s total business has grown from ₹400 crore to ₹2,750 crore over the past 17 years. Zero percent NPA and dividends ranging from 12 to 15 percent to members are among the bank’s key highlights. As the bank enters its Amrit Mahotsav year, it has set a target of increasing business by at least ₹500 crore by March 2026, and aims to achieve a total business of ₹5,000 crore within the next two to three years. Efforts are also underway to include smaller banks within its fold.

Managing Committee Chairman Adv. Subhash Mohite said that Pune People’s Bank was established on January 31, 1952, on the occasion of Vasant Panchami, to serve as a dependable support system for small entrepreneurs, small traders and depositors. Until now, the bank did not have its own head office, but through the efforts of the present board, the head office will be shifted to a self-owned building during the Amrit Mahotsav year. The new head office will span 26,000 square feet. He further stated that the bank will soon succeed in obtaining direct membership and scheduled bank status. The board is working with a trustee mindset and is committed to serving people at the grassroots level.

Understanding that cooperative banks operate on trust, the bank continues to function with discipline and responsibility. Currently, the bank has 27,276 members and over one lakh account holders, and this expansion, built on trust, will continue in the future as well.