Sunday 21 April 2013

Our Team

Mother’s Milk is a miracle for a child and it can and should be shared. Divya Mother Milk Bank is a Non-Profit & Non- Government Organization which aims to provide screened, processed and pasteurized Mother’s Milk to protect, promote and support the infants and babies in needs.
This onerous task couldn't have been possible without the tenacious support, ideas and hard work of the team.
Yog Guru Devendra Agrawal - Founder & Director of "Maa Bhagwati Vikas Sansthan". It's is his perseverance, hard work and passion to do for the something nation that brought about DMMB. He believes that every child has the right to be loved, cared for and live a healthy life. With this thought of saving the girl child, he created an abode called "Mahesh Aashram". Since, the establishment of Palna - crib for abandoned children, no child in Mewar Region has been abandoned in bushes, lakes etc. He has set a milestone by starting Palna Ghar which is now an iconic place at Panna Dhai Hospital.
A thought bothered Guruji that he provided love and care but his children were being deprived of the most important nutrient for their growth .i.e Mothers’ Milk. In this regard, he spoke to Doctors and was shocked to discover that not just his children but infants all over India were deprived of Mother’s Milk. Through research work, it has been found that one fourth infants can be saved if they are given Mother’s Milk. This inspired an idea that if a Bank could be made to facilitate infants of Mother’s Milk so many lives could be saved. This intend was outlined into Divya Mother Milk Bank.
Dr. R K Agrawal - Chief Operating Officer - Former National President of Indian Pediatrician Academy (IPA) and famous pediatrician of Udaipur. Dr. R K Agarwal has been associated with a lot of noble causes which were and have been initiated in the city. He has also driven the UNICEF program IYCF (Infant & young Child Feeding) in the city and state. It is a complete honour and privilege to have Dr. R K Agarwal in DMMB team. His vision, behemothic experience, impeccable eye for detail and exemplary operational know-how has made DMMB operations explicit and a benchmark in various aspects for Mother Milk Bank's in the Nation.
Ms. Taranum Sinha - Chief Administrative Officer - A very versatile and authoritarian lady but yet very altruistic. Last year in June, when Devendra Agarwal had put across this project to the Press and Public, the entire project's awareness was on her shoulders. Being a meritorious orator, she went to various colleges, events and function to explain them about the project and it's aim. Like, they say if the foundation is laid strong, the building will be strong. Ms. Sinha persistence hard work at rudimentary levels, has made DMMB project a success.
Ms. Saroj Patel - Coordinator - Operations - Most of us want to give something back to the society but very few get of out of the vicious circle of life. DMMB admires Saroj for doing that. A proficient homemaker, a fabulous cook and phenomenal counselor. Her efforts in making the DMMB what it is, is immeasurable. Starting from the pamphlets to counselling session, meeting various Mahila Sangathan to giving lectures in colleges, at every stage she has always given 200%. Her dedication has only got bigger and stronger. What is commendable is that she has beautifully managed both her home and the DMMB.
Ms. Ankita Pathak - Counselor & Receptionist - A young lady in her mid 20's where she should working for the Corporate World and minting money has joined a noble cause like this. Her efforts in convincing and counselling women are laudable. She knows the bank in and out, be it operations to counselling to medical knowledge. We are lucky to have such a proficient, quick witted & ingenious lady.
Ms. Bhavna Joshi - Lab Technician - At fairly young age this lady has joined our team to make a difference. In this materialist world, she is working towards this humane endeavour of saving young lives. Her warmth, dedication & diligence has only added to the success of DMMB. I have never ever seen her sitting and passing time. She's either getting things organized or counselling or gathering more knowledge. She's skilled Lab technician, adroit at her work and above all an incredible person.
Ms. Archana Shaktawat - Coordinator - Administration - Now that's me! Neither am I a medical student nor degree holder in social work. Just a regular person who thought of doing something for the Nation. I thank Devendraji Agarwal for considering me worthy enough to take this project ahead. Saroj & me, met Devendraji on 12/12/12 with the thought of getting to know how we could and can contribute toward making a better nation. He told us about Divya Mother Milk Bank and I just couldn't refuse not to be a part of this benevolent cause. Since the beginning of this year, I'm proudly associated with this project. Initially, I wasn't too sure about how I could convince people and also on whether I would succeed. This inner negativity made me positive and then there has been no looking back. That's the most I can write about myself.
Each one of us are the vertebral columns in the Backbone. An inch here and there and DMMB won't move.

What Provoked the Thought?

In the history of Mewar, it has a been a tradition that foster mothers nurtured and brought up young children and Panna Dhai is one such brave lady who had sacrificed her son to save the next heir of the state who grew up to become Maharana Udai Singh of Mewar who founded Udaipur city. This is legacy & great tradition of the state is being taken ahead through the great effort of Divya Mother Milk Bank (DMMB)

In the year 2005, Maa Bhagwati Sansthan was started with the intention of healing people through Yog. The aim and mission was to harmonize Mind, Body and Soul through Yog. In 2006, the female foeticide cases registered were maximum in Udaipur, Rajasthan. This is was overwhelming for our Yog Guru Shri Devendra Agarwal and inspired him to create an abode named “Mahesh Aashram” operating under “Maa Bhagwati Vikas Santhan”. He has taken up this cause to expunge the shame of female foeticide from the face of Udaipur as he has a strong faith that the ultimate power of the universe is the light of life. Mahesh Aashram takes in infants under its roof, gives them due share of care, love & respect placing them back in main stream of society.  A thought bothered Guruji that he provided love and care but his children were being deprived of the most important nutrient for their growth .i.e Mothers’ Milk. In this regard, he spoke to Doctors and was shocked to discover that not just his children but infants all over India were deprived of Mother’s Milk. Through research work, it has been found that one fourth infants can be saved if they are given Mother’s Milk. This inspired an idea that if a Bank could be made to facilitate infants of Mother’s Milk so many lives could be saved. This intend was outlined into Divya Mother Milk Bank.
Our country idolizes and worships women as the Creator of life and also as the Nurturer when she provides her milk to her infant. Mother’s first milk or the Colostrum is like the infant’s first vaccine, as it consists of antibodies and white blood cells. In other words, Mothers Milk Bank is the most adequate form of nutrition to the infant. Infants must be exclusively breastfed for the first Six months. For a mother who is unable to supply her breast milk to meet her child’s nutritional needs, donated Mother’s Milk is the next best option. 

If not now then when?
With India's Infant Mortality Rate at 46 per thousand, which is worse than the neighboring countries, we Mother's Milk Bank are not initiated now then the situation will get even worse. 
Every 2nd Child in India is malnourished and in every 15 Seconds 1 child dies in India. If these figures aren't disastrous then what will be? 
DMMB has taken this small step of saving million of young especially those children who are admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)  and infants battling life death. 



Divya Mother Milk Bank was inaugurated by Hon’able Health Minister of Rajasthan Sh. ShriAimaduddin Ahmad Khan on 14 April 2013. The bank is now functional and open to the public.




DMMB is infrastructure wise and operationally of International standards. We follow the guidelines of Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA).   It is North India’s first Milk Bank and India’s 10th. The State Government gave its approval on 27th June 2012 for its establishments in MB Hospitals (Panna Dhai Hospital).