The Director and Spokesperson of Marie Clarie Salon, Vandana Bhardwaj was bestowed with the Maharashtra Ratna Puraskar 2023 for social work.
MahaSeWA and Red Ant streamed the prestigious and esteemed award ceremony of Maharashtra Ratna Puraskar 2023. Hosted on 29th Jan 2023 in Hyatt Centric, Juhu, Mumbai, the Maharashtra Ratna Puraskar 2023 was a grand affair. They awarded the brands, companies, entrepreneurs, and individuals for their exceptional and remarkable achievements. And highlighted their support towards the state and the country as a whole.
The event also witnessed the pre-launch announcement of “Maharashtra Books of Records”. Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister Shri Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Mumbai City Guardian Minister Shri Deepak Kesarkar. Ex Minister Shri Kripashankar Singh, Ex. Deputy Mayor Shri Arun Dev, BJP leader Shri Prakash Darekar, BJP professional Cell President CA Shailesh Ghedia, BJP Maharashtra Secretary Adv. Akhilesh Choubey, Shri Atirek Sharma State Vice President, MNS, Mumbai, Maharashtra (Mathadi) and film actress Dr Aditi Govitrika attended the event.
Vandana Bhardwaj, Director and Spokesperson of Marie Clarie Salon has been running her own vegan NGO MHH for the past 11 years. Her NGO, MHH, works for the upliftment of underprivileged children and animals. Speaking to the Professional Beauty India on this occasion Vandana said, “It feels great when your work gets appreciation and acknowledgement.It motivates us to keep going with all the hardships we go through every single day.”
Vandana has been teaching children of slums every Sunday. She works towards moving the bright students from municipal schools to English medium schools. And managing their education fees till graduation as well as basic needs are fulfilled.
Vandana adds, “Currently in MHH there are more than 250 children. 70 percent of students are studying in English medium schools. And majority of them score more than 70 percent in schools. Some of them are taking NEET coaching,some are preparing for Non Medical. Elderly students become volunteers and work for younger children as well as animals.”
Her NGO, MHH organizes sports events for Mumbai slums players who don’t get a platform. And the best of Mumbai teams wait for the event. By practicing the whole year to win the MHH Sports League trophy.
Says she, “our organization trains children to be kind towards animals.We feed more than 200 animals everyday. We believe in equality for all, be it humans or animals. MHH is a vegan NGO, teaching children to practice kindness towards other living beings.”
When asked about her future plans after winning the most prestigious Maharashtra Ratna Puraskar 2023. Vandana elaborates, “Social work is a time consuming work but at the end when we see huge change everything becomes worthwhile. I would like to have a Sanctuary for animals and a school for underprivileged children. So that it becomes more organized and systematic.”
