Chairman’s Message

CHAIRMAN IEI-SLC

Er. Dr. Mohan S. Deshpande

Tough Moments Pass,
But Our Center’s Legacy Endures

Dear Corporate Members,

I am pleased to report that the year 2023-24 has been a transformative one for the IEI Solapur Local
Center, marked by significant achievements and resilience. Our journey began with the 14th Annual
General Meeting (AGM), the largest in our center’s history, where members actively participated and
shared their perspectives. Issues concerning the scrutiny of nominations were addressed efficiently
by referring the matter to the IEI Headquarters. A special committee visited our center, listened to
the concerns of the majority, and guided us through the reelection process, ensuring fair and
transparent outcomes. Our sincere thanks go to the IEI HQ and the state-level committee for their
swift resolution and support.

Despite the challenges, our center achieved a remarkable number of milestones this year. The
combined efforts of the Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Immediate Past Chairman, and two ex officio
members ensured the center’s smooth functioning. Together with the strong support of our
members, we conducted over ten faculty workshops and state/national-level seminars on current
engineering topics, covering eight different streams. This success was made possible through
partnerships with renowned educational institutions in Solapur District.

Our center experienced historic growth, with over 111 new members joining, pushing us closer to
the 1000-member milestone. We owe this growth to the leadership and foresight of our Past
Chairman, Er. Dr. B.P. Ronge, Founder Secretary &Principal of SVERI, to whom we are profoundly
grateful.

In another proud moment, we inaugurated three new student chapters, further enhancing our
center’s reach. We also introduced the “Distinguished Member of IEI Solapur Center” recognition to
recognize and celebrate members for their outstanding contributions. Retiring members with over
three decades of service were duly honored at the AGM, fostering unity and goodwill within our
community.

Our “Industry Connect” initiative continues to flourish, with 10 new industries added to our MoU list
this year. A highlight of the year was the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Eminent Award ceremony, where seven
distinguished industrialists were recognized for their contributions to engineering and society. We
were honored to have Er. Arvind Doshi, a leading industrialist, present the awards, and his inspiring
words have paved the way for new ventures and opportunities at the Solapur Center.

We also took great pride in felicitating Er Ankur Pandhe, a prominent housing developer, for his
remarkable achievements on the global stage. This great event would not have been possible
without the generous support of our sponsors, including Laxmi Hydraulics Pvt. Ltd., Vasant Vihar
Realty Pvt. Ltd., P.P. Patel Powder Metallurgy, and the Pramod Sathe Group. We are deeply thankful
to them for their continued partnership.

While we celebrate the remarkable milestones we’ve achieved, we must also reflect on the profound
losses we’ve endured. The engineering fraternity mourns the passing of many great minds, including
Mr. Ratan Tata, a legendary figure and the architect of India’s industrial growth. His legacy will
forever inspire generations. Closer to home, we deeply feel the loss of two great souls -CA
Laxminarayan Sheral, our trusted Auditor and supporter, and Er. Ulhas Shinde, Chairman of IEI
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Center. Their contributions were immeasurable, and their absence is
deeply felt. We extend our heartfelt condolences to their families during this time of sorrow.

As we approach the 15th AGM, I extend my gratitude to the IEI HQ officials, the State Committee,
Honorary Secretary, all Past Chairmen, and Principal Dr. Ashok Upadhyaya of Government
Polytechnic for their steadfast support. Special thanks also go to our IEI staff, Mr. N.N. Pawar and Mr.
Swapnil Kasar, for their invaluable assistance.

With the newly elected committee members for 2023-25, I am excited to continue our mission and
build upon the successes of the past year. I congratulate and welcome the new team and express my
appreciation to the Board of Scrutineers for their excellent oversight of the reelection process.

Thank you once again for your continued trust and support.

Er. Dr. Mohan S. Deshpande
Chairman

IEI Solapur Center