They say, “The journey is always more memorable than the destination”. And I would like to underline the very meaning of what the adage stands for. I firstly thank and congratulate one and all of the Mahashakti family for having completed a decade of tireless dedication to social and financial development of the poor. Personally, the journey for me has been truly uplifting and humbling at the same time! It has been 23 years since I started as a novice in the field and even after the many years that have passed by I still stand as one who is learning the nuances of the trade. It truly is a moment of gratification and deep self satisfaction, that what started as a spark of motivation has turned into a stroke of continuous passion and service. Being attached to the mission of development and poverty eradication in itself, might seem foolish to many a pragmatist, yet the pains and gains that one endears, renders the journey and the many milestones en course, a heroic hue. My words might seem self congratulatory, yet I dare say that the moment is no less celebratory. Having started with a handful of 100 families and traversing the rigorous path to reach 80,000 households in the rural and impoverished section of Odisha, I feel is deeply satisfying. I take this occasion as one, where I promise to keep up the novelty of the mission and vision and also stand guard to the moral high ground of what I feel is the very yardstick that measures the very ideals on which Mahashakti stands!
I call upon all the members, friends and beneficiaries to work harder and stay united towards reaching greater heights in alleviating poverty and ensuring financial security for the marginalized. I take this opportunity to humbly thank and stay grateful to our mentors and advisors who have been our guiding beacon and philosophers, without whom the journey would have been rendered lifeless and the labours lost!