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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

Healing Beyond the Clinic

Dr Kirti Samudra “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This thought by Mother Teresa finds reflection in the life of Panvel-based diabetologist Dr Kirti Samudra, who has spent decades caring not only for her family but also thousands of patients who see her as their guide. As we mark International Women’s Day, stories like hers remind us that women of substance often shape society quietly through compassion, resilience and dedication. Doctor, mother, homemaker,...

Healing Beyond the Clinic

Dr Kirti Samudra “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This thought by Mother Teresa finds reflection in the life of Panvel-based diabetologist Dr Kirti Samudra, who has spent decades caring not only for her family but also thousands of patients who see her as their guide. As we mark International Women’s Day, stories like hers remind us that women of substance often shape society quietly through compassion, resilience and dedication. Doctor, mother, homemaker, mentor and philanthropist — Dr Samudra has balanced many roles with commitment. While she manages a busy medical practice, her deeper calling has always been service. For her, medicine is not merely a profession but a responsibility towards the people who depend on her guidance. Nagpur to Panvel Born and raised in Nagpur, Dr Samudra completed her medical education there before moving to Mumbai in search of better opportunities. The early years were challenging. With determination, she and her husband Girish Samudra, an entrepreneur involved in underwater pipeline projects, chose to build their life in Panvel. At a time when the town was still developing and healthcare awareness was limited, she decided to make it both her workplace and home. What began with modest resources gradually grew into a trusted medical practice built on long-standing relationships with patients. Fighting Diabetes Recognising the growing threat of diabetes, Dr Samudra dedicated her career to treating and educating patients about the disease. Over the years, she has registered nearly 30,000 patients from Panvel and nearby areas. Yet she believes treatment alone is not enough. “Diabetes is a lifelong disease. Medicines are important, but patient education is equally critical. If people understand the condition, they can manage it better and prevent complications,” she says. For more than 27 years, she has organised an Annual Patients’ Education Programme, offering diagnostic tests at concessional rates and sessions on lifestyle management. Family, Practice With her husband frequently travelling for business, much of the responsibility of raising their two children fell on Dr Samudra. Instead of expanding her practice aggressively, she kept it close to home and adjusted her OPD timings around her children’s schedules. “It was not easy,” she recalls, “but I wanted to fulfil my responsibilities as a mother while continuing to serve my patients.” Beyond Medicine Today, Dr Samudra also devotes time to social initiatives through the Bharat Vikas Parishad, where she serves as Regional Head. Her projects include  Plastic Mukta Vasundhara , which promotes reduced use of single-use plastic, and  Sainik Ho Tumchyasathi , an initiative that sends Diwali  faral  (snack hamper) to Indian soldiers posted at the borders. Last year alone, 15,000 boxes were sent to troops. Despite decades of service, she measures success not in wealth but in goodwill. “I may not have earned huge money,” she says, “but I have earned immense love and respect from my patients. That is something I will always be grateful for.”

Agrarian Crisis Issue Again

Agrarian Crisis Issue Again

Yet, another story of the government’s apathy towards the agrarian community. Burdened by the debt and unable to come out of this precarious situation, many farmers in the state turn to suicide. They took this extreme step saying that no option was left before them.


With a view to reduce the number of farmer suicides in Maharashtra, the state government finally took the decision to implement Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme of Rs 150 per beneficiary per month instead of foodgrains, from January, 2023 to all APL (Above Poverty Line) saffron cardholder farmers of drought prone 14 districts which includes all the districts of Aurangabad and Amravati divisions and Wardha in Nagpur division.


After the brainstorming sessions, the GR about this was issued on February 28, 2023. As per the increase in minimum support price every year, according to the provisions of the Cash Transfer of Food Subsidy Rules, 2015 notified by the Central Government, the revised incremental cash amount was to be directly transferred to the beneficiary every year. According to the provisions mentioned in to the G.R., a total amount of Rs 179.87 crore has been made available to the concerned districts for the period of January 2023 to March 2023 and amount of 168.75 crore has been made available for the period of April 2023 to June 2023.


Accordingly, the process of depositing the cash amount in the beneficiary’s bank account started. Though there were some glitches it started smoothly. But very shortly the government started receiving complaints about the non-payment. The farmers became furious and took the issue to the streets. However, protests and agitation fell on deaf ears of the government.


Significantly, the bureaucracy was prompt to show a number of excuses for non-payment. According to them spelling errors in Aadhaar details, incorrect seeding of citizen’s Aadhaar and bank account, pending KYC and frozen or blocked bank accounts, network failures, biometric authentication failures, point-of-sale (PoS) device malfunctioning are some of the prominent reasons for payment failures in DBT. Sad part of the story is the government accepted the explanation tendered by officials.


Amid an erratic weather pattern, cases of farmer suicides in Maharashtra continued even this year. The state alone reported around 557 such incidents in the last six months. The government has so far provided assistance to 53 families, while 284 cases are pending for investigation. Most of the farmer suicides have been reported from the Amravati division of Maharashtra. Suicides have been reported in five districts - Akola, Buldhana, Washim, Yavatmal, Amravati from January to June this year. Amravati district tops the chart with 170 suicide cases.


The DBT scheme failed and the government decision to scrap the scheme has only added to their woos.

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