Birthdays of political leaders are often marked by banners, bouquets and public felicitations. Former MLA Sandeep Naik chose a different route this year, asking supporters to mark the occasion through community service across Navi Mumbai.
The appeal resulted in nearly 100 activities being organised in different parts of the city. These included health check-up camps, blood donation drives, tree plantation programmes, educational assistance and initiatives for senior citizens, sanitation workers and economically disadvantaged families.
Naik began his public career as a corporator and later served as Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation. He subsequently represented Airoli as an MLA for two terms. Although he does not currently hold elected office, his supporters say he has continued to meet residents and follow up on local concerns.
Several participants described the birthday initiatives as an extension of that public engagement.
A student who has interacted with Naik said his advice was rarely limited to politics or public affairs. “Whether the conversation is about education, sport or music, he first tries to understand the subject and then offers practical guidance,” the student said.
A senior citizen described his interactions with Naik as informal and personal. “When he meets senior citizens, he speaks to us as though he is meeting members of his own family,” the resident said.
Another resident, who has attended Naik’s Jansamvad meetings, said the value of the initiative lay in the follow-up. “He listens to the problem, but he also checks later whether any action has been taken. That is important for ordinary citizens,” the resident said.
The programmes held during the week covered a range of civic and social concerns. While some focused on preventive healthcare and blood donation, others supported students, planted trees or provided assistance to vulnerable groups.
For Naik, the activities also provided an opportunity to underline service as a continuing part of public life. In his birthday message, he thanked residents for their wishes and acknowledged those who had marked the occasion through community welfare initiatives.
What began as a birthday appeal eventually became a coordinated set of activities across Navi Mumbai, bringing supporters, residents and community organisations together around public service.
