February 2021 - ROTARY NEWS
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February 2021
Rotary celebrates Pongal in a village
Team Rotary News
P
ongal, the harvest festival,
is celebrated on January
14 throughout Tamil
Nadu in a grand manner. RC
Pernambut, RID 3231, involved
the community by organising
various exciting programmes and
cultural events on that day at the
Green Valley School in the town.
DG K Pandian was the chief guest.
Events such as kolam (rangoli)
competition, traditional games
and regional dances made the
programme attractive and helped
the visitors connect with our glori-
ous culture. Sumptuous traditional
lunch was also served to everyone
A child being given polio drops.
at the venue.
“The Pongal vizha has helped to
enhance Rotary’s public image in ing clubs such as the Rotary In another initiative, the club
our region,” said the programme clubs of Ambur, Gudiyattam and set up a polio immunisation camp
chairman V M Basheer Ahmed. Palligonda also participated in the at the bus stand, along with the
Rotarians from the neighbour- event. government health centre in the
town. Club president Iqbal Ahmed
inaugurated the immunisation
camp and the club members
volunteered to administer polio
ESPQTUPDIJMESFOMFTTUIBOÜWF
years old. Past president of the club
T Basheeruddin addressed the par-
ents of the infants and advocated
the need to continue vaccinating
their infants against polio although
the country is declared polio-free.
“We have to protect our children
until polio is completely eradicated
from the world and the entire
world is declared polio-free by
WHO. As of now, our neigh-
bouring countries Pakistan and
Afghanistan are reporting some
polio cases and this might be a risk
for our children as the virus knows
A gala Pongal festival by RC Pernambut. no borders,” he said.
On the cover: Schoolchildren who do not have access to online education
attend physical classes organised by RC Nandnagari.
2 Rotary News Plus FEBRUARY 2021
E-learning kits donated to
Mumbai schools
Team Rotary News
Students
in front of a
digital classroom.
T
o enhance digital learn- The club has taken up a slew initiative, the club hosted
ing among students, RC of projects for schools in the a programme titled ‘Green
Bombay Chembur West, neighbourhood in the past few school, zero waste school’ at
RID 3141, donated e-learning kits months with the aim to shape the Vidyadhiraja High School,
to Amarnath School, R M Kate the personality and skills of Bhandup, to create awareness
School and Model English School their students. A nature trail was on environment-friendly lifestyle
at a cost of `5.26 lakh. The digital organised for the Interactors of and sustainable living among
classrooms were sponsored by past Karnataka High School at the students.
president S R Balasubramanian in Mahim Nature Park with the An eye, skin and organ
memory of his late mother Sarada involvement of Rotaractors. The donation rally was held at the
Ramanath. project cost `5,000. In another ‘Parade of Chembur’ Festival
with the Interactors from
Karnataka School taking part
in large numbers. As many as
14 Rotarians and 30 Interactors
took part in the march. The
club reached out to 400 children
by providing midday meals
to them at the Aarambh, an
NGO in Turbhe, Navi Mumbai.
Stationery items including
recycled paper, pencils were
distributed to students of this
school. A mammography camp
for screening breast cancer was
held for vulnerable women from
A mammography camp in progress. low-income families.
FEBRUARY 2021 Rotary News Plus 3
A birthday party for children
TVġFSJOHGSPNUIBMBTTBFNJB
Team Rotary News
S
arvodaya Hospital for Children distributed to all the children in the Club of Faridabad. The monthly
with Thalassaemia and RC thalassaemia ward. This was followed celebration aims to help the children
Faridabad Tulips, RID 3011, CZBDBLFDVUUJOHDFSFNPOZBOEUIF improve their health and at the same
celebrated the birthday of children distribution of cheques of `5,000 UJNFLFFQUIFNIBQQZ
TVġFSJOHGSPNUIBMBTTBFNJBXIPBSF to each child sponsored by the The club as part of thalassaemia
under comprehensive care in the 'PVOEBUJPO"HBJOTU5IBMBTTBFNJB awareness initiatives conducts rallies
paediatric department of the hospital. Faridabad. Chocolates and juice BOEUBMLTUPTFOTJUJTFUIFHFOFSBM
%SBXJOHLJUTBOEGPPEQBDLFUTXFSF QBDLFUTXFSFTQPOTPSFECZUIF-JPOT publi on the disease.
A purposeful chocolate distribution drive
R
C Kanpur North, RID 3110, has
distributed around 5,000 chocolates
BNPOHUIFHFOFSBMQVCMJDUPQSPNPUF
and support the club’s service projects in
Kanpur.
#FJUBQMBOUBUJPOESJWFPSBNBTL
EJTUSJCVUJPOBDUJWJUZ UIFDMVCNFNCFSTHJWFPVU
DIPDPMBUFTUPiNBLFUIFQVCMJDSFÝFDUBCPVUPVS
projects. Whether they eat it alone or share it,
UIFZXJMMSFNFNCFSUIBU3PUBSZHBWFJUUPUIFN
BOEXJMMUBMLBCPVUXIZUIFZHPUUIFDIPDPMBUF
5IJTIFMQTJONBLJOHUIFNVOEFSTUBOEPVS
DBVTFTXFFUMZBOEBMTPXPSLTBTBHSFBUBDUJWJUZ
UPFOIBODFUIFDMVCTQVCMJDJNBHFJOBTJNQMF
way,” said club president Arun Goel.
5IFDMVCJTBMTPDPOEVDUJOHSFHVMBSMJUFSBDZ
drives in and around Kanpur. Children being given chocolates.
4 Rotary News Plus FEBRUARY 2021
Kangaroo aprons to care for premature babies
Team Rotary News
RC Alwar members with the Kangaroo aprons.
I
n order to hold their babies, and health of the child to improve With the reopening of schools
close to them to help mothers over time and where machines like for Classes from 9–12 the club was
provide the natural heat needed incubator are not used, the mother approached by schools requesting
for the baby’s growth RC Alwar, care will make the child healthy and sanitisers and hygiene kits for
RID 3053, distributed 21 kangaroo safe.” students. The club distributed
aprons at the Geetanand Infant As part of the club’s monthly sanitisers to SMD Government
Hospital. Dr Somdutt Gupta, chief blood donation drive the club col- School and the Government Sanskrit
doctor at the hospital, thanked the lect 10 units of blood. The donors School in Alwar and plans to extend
DMVCGPSJUTFġPSUTBOEQPJOUFEPVU were given a nourishment kit post the distribution in many more
that the aprons will help “the weight the blood donation drive. schools.
Sanitisers being given to a school. A blood donor being greeted.
FEBRUARY 2021 Rotary News Plus 5
A fellowship for wildlife conservation
Team Rotary News
DG B L Nagendra Prasad, RID
3190, recently launched the Rotary
Fellowship of Wildlifers for Conser-
vation. The fellowship was recog-
nised as a global group by Rotary
International with its roots in India
and a vision statement that reads:
Together we make protection of
wildlife a way of life.
Recounting the genesis of the
fellowship, its chairman Sanjay
Krishna said that it all started when
the members of RC Bangalore
Rajmahal Vilas went on a family
trip in Dec 2019 to a wildlife resort
near the Bhadra Tiger Reserve
in Karnataka. “Watching wildlife At the launch of Rotary Fellowship of Wildlifers for Conservation.
in their natural habitat not only
generated interest amongst the Attenborough, shedding light on Kenya, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri
members to work towards crea- the state’s rich biodiversity for Lanka, Ghana, Jordon and Kenya.
tion of awareness on importance Rotarians, their families, Rotarac- Interested Rotarians may get
of wildlife conservation amongst tors and friends as a multi-club ser- in touch with the chairman Sanjay
the public in general and youth vice activity with the involvement Krishna at hello@rotaryfellowshipfor-
in particular, but also encouraged 12 Rotary and four Rotaract clubs. wildlife.org.
them to explore new opportuni- The enthusiasm of the Rota-
ties for service, while having fun ractors and Rotarians led to the Polio awareness rally
enhancing the Rotary experience.” formation of the Fellowship group The district Polio eradication team
This interest resulted in watching a of Wildlifers for Conservation in of RI District 3190 organised a
special screening of Wild Karnataka, Jan 2020. The group today has 150 vintage car rally in January to spread
BÜMNOBSSBUFECZ4JS%BWJE members from India, Australia, awareness on polio and the upcom-
ing National Immunisation Day
which was scheduled on Jan 31. The
rally, organised in association with
the Karnataka Vintage and Classic
Car Club, had a participation of 44
vintage cars and seven motorbikes.
The vehicles prominently displayed
‘End Polio Now’ banners and plac-
ards and the procession drew the
attention of several hundred people
on its 170 km route. DG Prasad
ÝBHHFEPġUIFSBMMZBUUIF.BOQIP
Convention Centre, Bengaluru,
from where it went through Kolar to
PDG K P Nagesh (second from L) with Rotarians at the car rally. Honnashetthalli.
6 Rotary News Plus FEBRUARY 2021
Rotary
wheelchair
empowers
disabled
woman
Team Rotary News
Jyoti Gaikwad being greeted by Rotarians.
D
espite odds and physical dis- RID 3131, along with RC Sarasbaug if she would like some money to
ability, Jyoti Gaikwad who and EDARCH (Entrepreneurship attend a course to learn new sewing
can’t use her limbs due to Development And Rehabilitation techniques or trends, she said that
its shortness graduated with MA His- Centre for the Handicapped) donat- she looked it up on the Internet and
tory. While she runs her own small ed a motorised wheelchair at a cost learnt it on her own and therefore
business of sewing clothes and em- of `25,000. she did not need any course. Today
broidery in Pune, doctors advised her Born into a poor family, Jyoti’s she sews bags, crochet, dresses and
that that if she kept using her only mother is a fruit seller. She has to TUJDIFTUIFNXJUICFBVUJGVMÝPXFSZ
good arm to move the wheelchair, it face hurdles while graduating in MA. patterns. The clubs have donated the
will also be unable to function. Rather than succumbing to a life of motorised wheelchair as it will help
With an aim to empower Jyothi, unemployment, she took up sewing her to do well in her sewing business
Rotary Club of Pune Shivaji Nagar, for a decent livelihood. When asked in the years to come.
Children get sweaters in Surat
I
n a move to shield
children from harsh
winter, RC Surat East,
RID 3060, distributed
sweaters to 800 children
at special camps held in
EJġFSFOUMPDBMJUJFT
First, sweaters were
given to children of
sugarcane workers at
Children of farm labourers with sweaters donated by RC Surat East.
Orgam village in Bardolli
tehsil, Surat, and this was distributed the sweaters "O-/MJNCÜUNFOU Emory-Druid Hills, Atlanta,
followed by distribution to to them. We also gave camp was organised in US, RID 6900, and the
students of a corporation best quality chocolates which 117 amputees were Narayana Seva Sansthan in
school. “It was amazing to them,” said Dr Jagdish ÜUUFEXJUIQSPTUIFTJT the presence of DG Prashant
to see the farm labourers’ Vaghasia, president, RC The camp was organised Jani. The LN-4 camp was
children smile when we Surat East. in partnership with RC funded by the US partner.
FEBRUARY 2021 Rotary News Plus 7
Teacher training gets a
digital makeover in Pune
V Muthukumaran
D ue to the Covid
lockdown, RC Pune
Sports City, RID 3131,
of over 290,000. “The
project was conducted
jointly with ICEDC
was to involve one full
day of live class with
interactive modules in
Solutions (GES), the
training partners in this
programme.
conducted its teachers (Indian Career Education three sessions. “This was The district literacy
training sessions on and Development to be followed by three team is encouraging
zoom with an aim to Council) following months of mentoring, Rotary clubs to support
equip 4,840 teachers in the approval from the assignments and feedback teachers training at schools
government and gov- Maharashtra State Board with the trainer assisted in their vicinity, especially
ernment-aided schools of Higher and Secondary by the Rotarians and Anns in rural areas of Pune,
in Pune district with the Education (MSBHSHE). as active volunteers.” said Savant. Before the
latest pedagogical tools We are also supported Based on the response lockdown, 236 teachers
and concepts. by RCs Akurdi and Pune and competencies dis- were trained in classroom
This global grant Vibrant, among other played, the teachers will DPOEJUJPOTJOÜWFTFTTJPOT
project ($37,000) done local partners, in this be awarded with three as per the original plan.
with RC Albert Park, endeavour,” said Sandesh MFWFMTPGEVBMDFSUJÜDBUJPO
Melbourne, RID 9800, Savant, primary contact of by ICEDC, Australian Shifted to digital
CFOFÜUUFENVOJDJQBM the project. Council for Computers platform
and district schools with As per the original in Education (ACCE) With the uncertainty
a student population plan, the teachers training and Global Education looming large due to the
8 Rotary News Plus FEBRUARY 2021
Above: An online training session.
inputs and feedback,” Using RILM guide-
Below: Rotarians and school teachers at one of the training he said. Since June 1, lines, the implementing
programmes.
2020, the project has club and its partners will
trained 887 teachers in be presenting Nation
18 online sessions, thus Builder Awards to the
prolonged lockdown, the reaching a total of 1,123 outstanding teachers
club with the technical teachers trained in 23 in RID 3131, includ-
support from ICEDC and TFTTJPOTJODMVEJOHÜWF ing cash awards with
MSBHSHE shifted the live classes. DFSUJÜDBUFTi5IFBXBSET
training sessions to zoom At present, the recognise the role of
for two hours over three post-training online teachers in building
consecutive days. mentoring and assign- India’s future through
The resource persons ments are in progress teaching millions of
(trainers) were able to to test how much the students in schools.”
train teachers in multiple teachers have progressed Moreover, the pan-
locations with slide so far. “A training demic times has turned
presentations, interactive project which would out to a blessing in dis-
sessions and feedback. normally take more guise as it has enabled
“Majority of the teachers than a year to complete Rotary and its partners
used smart phones for PħJOFEVFUPMPHJTUJDBM to make government
viewing the training issues has now become school teachers tech
sessions at home. possible to complete savvy, so that they can
Rotarians from partner within months, thanks to impart these new digital
clubs who attended the tech platforms,” pointed skills to their students,
online sessions gave their out Savant. added Savant.
FEBRUARY 2021 Rotary News Plus 9
Club
D 2981
RC Chidambaram
Central
A waiting hall and a toilet block were
inaugurated to mark International Women’s Day
at the sub-collector’s office at a project cost
of `1.5 lakh. Rotarians took up tree plantation
on the premises as a public image building
exercise.
D 2981
RC Kumbakonam
Central
An Anbu Wall (Wall of Kindness) was
unveiled by the club to help people below the
poverty line to access food, clothes and other
household items that are donated by Rotarians,
philanthropists and large-hearted people.
The facility is located at a prominent spot
in the town.
D 2981
RC Kumbakonam East
Project Annapoorna was conducted at the
installation ceremony of the club in the presence
of DG R Balaji Babu, PDG P S Ramesh
Babu and DGE S Balaji. Around 120 persons
benefitted from this free meal project held at the
Holy Angeles Old Age Home.
10 Rotary News Plus FEBRUARY 2021Matters
D 2981
RC Nagapattinam Wings
Kabasura kudineer, an herbal concoction, and
hand sanitisers were given to the public and
auto drivers in the presence of town inspector.
Annapoorna Day was marked by distributing
food packets to more than 50 orphans and
destitute people at the Namco old age home.
D 2981
RC Vriddhachalam
In the presence of DG Balaji Babu, the club
kicked off a micro forest project (kurung
kaadugal) that adopted the Miyawaki forest
scheme. This is a pet project of the governor
who is keen to take this initiative to all the clubs
in his district.
D 3000
RC Pudukkottai City
A family get-together was organised on new
year-eve with club president K Arumugan
presiding over the event. A tricycle was
donated to a differently-abled person.
Tahsildar C Murugappan was the chief guest
at the gala ceremony.
FEBRUARY 2021 Rotary News Plus 11Club
D 3011
RC Gurgaon South City
The club joined hands with RC Gurgaon and the
Sanatan Dharam Sabha to conduct marriages
for 10 girls from underprivileged families. PDG
Suresh Bhasin was the chief guest. Sumptuous
lunch was given to over 750 guests and the
newly-wed couples were gifted with household
articles worth `2 lakh each.
D 3020
RC Machilipatnam
A handwash, water and sanitation awareness
session with demo was conducted at the primary
panchayat school in Bandar mandal. Water
bottles and glasses were distributed to over
150 students. A rally before the event created
awareness on coronavirus and personal hygiene.
D 3030
RC Amalner
An eye screening camp was conducted at
Gadkhamb village by Dr Rahul Muthe in which
23 patients were selected for operation. All the
operations were done freely by Muthe and the
eyecare project lifted the public image of Rotary
in this village.
12 Rotary News Plus FEBRUARY 2021Matters
D 3030
RC Chandrapur
A medical camp was conducted for pregnant
women at Londhili and Vyahad villages in
which 100 beneficiaries were screened for
illnesses and given medicines. Personal hygiene
kits were also given. The club distributed 100
umbrellas to hawkers at various places.
D 3030
RC Nashik Smart City
Vocational Excellence Awards were given to
seven personalities from diverse fields such as
sports, medicine, education and environment at
a gala event. The awardees thanked the club for
honouring them.
D 3030
RC Nasik
More than 100 tribal girls took part in a two-
day RYLA conducted each year for inmates
from different special homes (ashram shala).
All the expenses are borne by the club. The
participants were exposed to different facets
of leadership through interactive games and
talks by eminent people.
FEBRUARY 2021 Rotary News Plus 13Club
D 3040
RC Bhopal Hills
Around 150 blankets were distributed to needy
persons, mostly elderly men and women, at
Barkheda Bondar and Mubarakpur villages in
Huzur tehsil. Club president D C Verma, AG
J C Sharma, secretary S B Singh and others took
part in the event. Sarpanch and village heads
guided the club to select the beneficiaries.
D 3040
RC Itarsi
Flag hoisting was done at the Rotary Vradh
Ashram to mark Republic Day. Rotarians spent
time with inmates of the old age home and
interacted with them. The club took up a tree
plantation drive with the help of volunteers and
youngsters.
D 3040
RC Ratlam Prime
A hall was constructed at a cost of `5.52 lakh at
the Dilip Nagar Shaskiya School. The room will
enable students to read, eat and stage cultural
programmes. During his visit, RIPE Shekhar
Mehta saw the permanent projects of the club
such as the Nishulak Nukkad Hospital, Dilip
Nagar School and free digital lipid profile unit
and appreciated the work done by the Rotarians.
14 Rotary News Plus FEBRUARY 2021Matters
D 3053
RC Alwar Fort
The club members distributed face masks,
helmets and pamphlets at Hope Circus, a
popular tourist spot in the city, as part of
Road Safety Week and Jan Jagrukta Abhiyaan
campaign against coronavirus.
D 3053
RC Jodhpur Padmini
The new Rotary year began with a blood
donation camp at Bhopalgarh with the support
of Arun Doodi, RCC president Sunil Vishnoi and
their teams. Forty units of blood was collected
by the Rotary Blood Bank. The club has taken
up the beautification of Umaid Hospital Road
by planting neem trees on its either side and
protecting them with tree guards.
D 3060
RC Dondaicha Seniors
A blood donation camp was conducted at four
different places under the chairmanship of Rtn
Rajendra Pardeshi. In all, 247 people donated
blood and it was agreed that 50 units of blood
will be given free to the needy patients and
another 50 units will be given at discount
rates. All donors were given sanitisers and
certificates.
FEBRUARY 2021 Rotary News Plus 153PUBSZIPMETUSBĤDBXBSFOFTT
DBNQTJO,BOHSB
V Muthukumaran
A demo on providing emergency first aid to road accident victims.
I
n a major outreach partner in this awareness calling police to tip them accidents.” A team of
activity, RC Kangra, campaign. During one of off,” he said. The police doctors from the Fortis
RID 3070, is holding the camps, SDM Verma would not force a person Hospital gave a live
traffic awareness camp spoke to about 300 informing about the demonstration on how
each month in which the people who had come accident under the Good to save the life of a road
Good Samaritan laws to renew or apply their Samaritan laws to reveal victim, the precautions
will be explained to the driving licence on the about his or her identity to be taken after the acci-
participants along with need to be alert while and other details. dent and the emergency
a live demo on provid- driving, safe and also If a Good Samaritan medical help that need to
ing emergency care to keep others safe. becomes a witness, the be given immediately to
the accident victims. Dr Bhardwaj made police can record his or the patient.
The club has joined the public aware about her statement only once,
hands with the offices of the Good Samaritan and if “they don’t wish to $BUBSBDUTVSHFSJFT
sub-divisional magistrate laws that facilitate those do so, the police will not An eyecare campaign
Abhishek Verma and offering emergency first force them to become a titled Nazar was launched
block medical officer aid to accident victims to witness,” he said. Citing at the SMI Hospital,
Dr Sanjay Bhardwaj to lodge police complaints the Supreme Court Kangra, that offered free
organise the monthly without disclosing their ruling dated March 30, cataract surgeries to the
camps aimed to prevent identity. “As the number 2016, Bhardwaj said the patients from underpriv-
road accidents and offer of traffic accidents is security of the Good ileged families who get
emergency medical help increasing due to various Samaritan is now guar- no health benefits from
to victims. reasons, persons helping anteed by law, “hence, the government or were
Fortis Hospital, the victims need not dis- no one should hesitate to not covered under its
Kangra, is also a joint close their identify while help the victims of road insurance scheme.
16 Rotary News Plus FEBRUARY 2021Poor families who
have no means of liveli-
hood will be treated for
free by eye specialist Dr
Sandeep Mahajan. “We
will get the operations
done without charging
any money from patients
in collaboration with
Dr Mahajan at the SMI
Hospital. The club
through donors will pro-
vide the required number
of lens to the hospital,”
said Sunil Dogra, club
president. On an average,
three surgeries are being
done in a week and “we
will continue the Nazar
campaign without setting PDG Sunil Nagpal along with club presidents at the tree plantation drive.
any time limit or restrict-
ing the number of benefi-
ciaries,” he said. blood donation camps Nominee (2023–24) in An environmental
and providing free eye RID 3070. PDG Sunil protection campaign led
$PWJEWBDDJOBUJPO treatment. The goal is to Nagpal along with by Dogra had requested
The newly-elected serve the society to make presidents of Rotary every resident of Kangra
panchayat presidents it better,” said Dogra. clubs in Himachal to plant at least one new
and vice-presidents were Pradesh planted saplings plant near their house or
inoculated against Covid 5SFFQMBOUBUJPO on the premises of the in their vicinity.
during their swearing-in Rudraksha saplings were Rotary building. “If you have land,
ceremony at the SDM planted at the Rotary you can either plant the
office. Speaking on the Bhawan, Palampur, &OWJSPONFOUBXBSE sapling on the ground or
occasion, SDM Verma under an environmental SDM Verma awarded in a pot,” he said.
urged people to get protection campaign led the club for its work in Under the club’s
vaccinated and also by Dogra. The greening environmental protection environment campaign,
create awareness in their mission was conducted as part of Republic Himachal Pradesh
panchayat on the need to during the zone-wise Day events at the Chief Minister Jai Ram
get Covid doses. elections to the nomina- Municipal Council Thakur along with his
Dr Bharadwaj appre- tion committee for DG Ground, Kangra. cabinet colleagues and
ciated the club for taking MLAs had planted
up the vaccination cam- Rudraksh and Parijat
paign and called upon saplings in Paridhi
the Rotarains to make Ghar, Dharamshala.
it a successful mission. An eyecare campaign titled Many dignitaries
“Rotary is always ready including former
Nazar was launched that offered
to make people aware CM Prem Kumar
and serve the society. free cataract surgeries to the Dhumal and other
We are reaching out to patients from underprivileged celebrities have planted
the community through saplings. Moreover,
polio campaign, road families who get no healthcare 5,000 saplings were
safety sessions, environ- benefits from the government. planted outside the
mental protection cam- state too as part of the
paign, sanitation drives, club’s greening drive.
FEBRUARY 2021 Rotary News Plus 17Club
D 3060
RC Navsari
All members were requested to nurture at
least two trees each and with the support of
Rotaractors, the club planted 400 trees in three
venues in the town. Members took pledge to
take care of the environment. Plant species
were chosen to enhance oxygen level and the
air quality in the neighbourhood.
D 3060
RC Rajkot Greater
The club members donated lab and sports
equipment to the Jabalpur Prathmik Shala
to enhance the academic performance and
physical activities of students. The faculty and
students thanked Rotary for the donations.
D 3080
RC Dehradun Central
A workshop was conducted at the Rotary Deaf
and Dumb Centre, Geeta Bhawan, in which
a brainstorming session with various games
stimulated the participants. Rtn Atul Kumar
gifted a computer to the centre.
18 Rotary News Plus FEBRUARY 2021Matters
D 3090
RC Bhiwani Downtown
A blood donation camp was held at the
Sanskritik Sadan and 50 units of blood was
collected by the Red Cross, local chapter.
Rotarians took part with enthusiasm. Adequate
Covid protocols were observed at the venue.
D 3132
RC Akkalkot
Forty-six doctors from rural hospitals, taluk
health centres and Akkalkot Taluka Medical
Practitioners Association were honoured
with corona warrior certificates. Dr Ashwin
Karjakhede, taluk health officer, presided over
the event. Club president Jitendra Kumar Jaju
was present on the occasion.
D 3132
RC Latur Midtown
The club donated 10 barricades with its name
and Rotary wheel embossed on it to the district
hospital at Latur. This gesture will help the
hospital staff to regulate traffic and avoid
congestion at various place on its premises.
FEBRUARY 2021 Rotary News Plus 19Club
D 3141
RC Mumbai Kandivli
West
Over 500 students from Classes 1–9 including
differently-abled took part in a drawing
competition titled Udaan with a ‘Go green’
theme. The event costing `75,000 was attended
by 30 Rotarians and 20 Rotaractors.
D 3150
RC Mangalagiri
Push carts were given to 11 street
vendors under Project Aadarana. Guntur
sub-divisional police officer (north)
Durga Prasad distributed the carts to the
beneficiaries. The project costing `1.75
lakh lifted the public image of Rotary.
D 3181
RC Belthangady
An amount of `25,000 was handed over
to Sevadhama, a rehab centre for spinal
cord injured patients at Kokkada near
Dharmasthala, for buying a wheelchair for the
inmates. Club president B K Dhananjaya Rao
and other Rotarians were present.
20 Rotary News Plus FEBRUARY 2021Matters
D 3201
RC Coimbatore
Industrial City
A sports room with equipment and play
items was set up at the Satguru School,
Theethipalayam village, which will benefit
around 450 students. Dr Vinod Balaji gave
suggestions on Covid precautions at a zoom
meeting.
D 3291
RC Calcutta Magnum
A new interact club was installed at the
Vaishno Devi Academy having around 1,200
students. Interact district representative
Mousumi Bhattacharya gave an audio-visual
lecture followed by charter presentation to the
new members and office-bearers.
D 3291
RC Kasba
An awareness programme on Covid-19 was
held at the Kamala Park with two Rotarian
doctors giving their presentations. The
Covid session was held on the eve of Janata
curfew (March 22) to sensitise the general
public. Dr Abhijit Chaudhuri and Dr Kajal
Ghosal addressed the gathering by following
government norms.
Compiled by V Muthukumaran
FEBRUARY 2021 Rotary News Plus 21Sanitary pads, sanitisers
distributed at a Delhi slum
Team Rotary News
I n a community outreach, RC Delhi
Southex, RID 3011, distributed sani-
tary napkins, moisturisers, hand sanitis-
ers and face masks to girls and women at
the Andrews Ganj slum in the capital.
Sankalp Foundation, an NGO, and
RC Rajdhani sponsored the sanitary
pads and moistures. RC Delhi Southex
president Madhukar Khemka, vice-pres-
ident Praveen Jain, IPP H C Gaur, along
with other Rotarians and Rtr Sayeesha
Maini, were present at the distribution of
Rotarians distributing hygiene kits at the slum. IZHJFOFQSPEVDUTUPUIFCFOFÜDJBSJFT
Cricket tournament Earlier PDGs Dr
Girish Gune, Dr Shailesh
Palekar and Subhodh
binds Rotarians in Panvel Joshi visited the ground
to boost the enthusiasm
of the players. RC Panvel
A Rotary Premier
League Cricket
Tournament was hosted
teams from 18 Rotary
clubs in the district from
areas such as Panvel,
Team Aditya Fighters
emerged as the winners, while
Team Lawas Royals was the
Industrial Town president
Harmesh Tanna and RC
Panvel Central president
jointly by RCs Panvel Pen, Ulwe, Mahad, runner-up. Rtn Atul Bhagat
Dr Amod Divekar thanked
Industrial Town and Pune, Pimpri and was declared as best batsman
the Rotarians, volunteers,
Panvel Central, RID Nagothane took part in of the series and Rtn Pritam
sponsors and donors who
3131, at the Rajiv Gandhi the tournament. Local Kaiya the best bowler, while
made the sporting event
Sports Complex, Belapur, MLA Prashant Thakur Rtn Anand Mali was the
a huge success. Devendra
in Navi Mumbai. Six inaugurated the matches. ‘Player of the Tournament’.
Chaudhary, chair,
Organising Committee,
was praised for his behind-
the-scene work.
“The dignitaries,
spectators and various
sections of the community
admired Rotary for its
endeavour to promote
outdoor sports, team spirit
and fellowship,” said Rtn
Hitesh Rajput from RC
Winners at the Rotary Premier League Cricket Tournament in Panvel. Panvel Industrial Town.
22 Rotary News Plus FEBRUARY 2021New classroom with toilet
built in a Nashik village
Team Rotary News
A
new classroom
and toilet
block were
constructed by RC Nasik
Grapecity, RID 3030,
in place of a dilapidated
building at a zilla parishad
school at Thakurpada,
a tribal village 48km
from Nashik. “Through
a fundraising from club
members, their friend and
relatives, we accomplished
this project,” said Rajan
Pillai, IPP of the club.
“Our task was not simple,
but the enthusiasm Above: RC Nasik Grapecity IPP To undertake the construction project,
Rajan Pillai and Rotarians at the a committee was formed under Pillai.
and support from our
newly-built classroom. Rtn Suruchi Ranadive, an architect and
members converted this
dream into a reality.” Below: Rotarians and schoolchildren member of the Indian Institute of Interior
at the inaugural event. Designers (IIID), Nashik chapter, initiated
the drawings and convinced her colleagues
UPTVQQPSU3PUBSZXJUIÝPPSUJMFTBOEUPJ-
MFUÜUUJOHT5IFGPVOEBUJPOTUPOFXBTMBJE
on June 7 and the primary school building
was inaugurated on June 30, the last day of
the Rotary year.
Even though it was a major event in
this village with a population of 450 (84
families), “we could not make it a big one
due to the corona lockdown. But still few
of our members attended the inaugural
wearing masks and maintaining social
distancing,” said Pillai.
The gender-segregated toilet block
XJUIDFSBNJDUJMFTBOEÜUUJOHTXBTBQQSFDJ-
ated by all. “The smile and satisfaction on
the face of villagers after the new school
building was inaugurated is the greatest
reward for us,” said Pillai. Earlier, the club
installed a water distribution system in
this remote village solving the basic needs
of the residents who had to trek to fetch
water from a well located at a distance.
FEBRUARY 2021 Rotary News Plus 23A
fter my induction into RC
Kalladikode, RID 3201, in
July 2016, I was elevated
‘Service above Self’ for
to a higher level of thinking with
Rotary’s motto Service above Self oc- well-being of humanity
cupying the mind like never before.
In the early days of my life, the term Joseph Olikkalkoonal
‘self-service’ caught my attention
on occasions like reception parties who serves best — can be traced back Rotary Convention in Detroit,
or at hotels where such a board to the early days of the organisation. Michigan, US, in 1950 approved
was displayed. I understood the In 1911, the second Rotary Con- GPSNBMMZUXPTMPHBOTBTUIFPĤDJBM
meaning soon that I have to manage vention in Portland, Oregon, US, mottos of Rotary: He profits most who
myself if I am on a party or if I am approved the theme: He profits most serves best and Service above Self. The
in a restaurant. When I decided to who serves best as the Rotary motto, 1989 Council on Legislation es-
join priesthood after my graduation taken from the speech of Rtn Arthur tablished Service above Self as the
in BA English from the Govern- Frederick Sheldon delivered in the principal motto of Rotary because it
ment Victoria College, Palakkad, ÜSTU3PUBSZ$POWFOUJPOJO$IJDBHP would best convey the philosophy of
in 1995, I began to hear frequently in the founding year 1910. Sheldon VOTFMÜTIWPMVOUFFSTFSWJDFHe profits
the phrase Selfless Service which is declared that “only the science of most who serves best XBTNPEJÜFEUP
the core of consecrated life. I was right conduct toward others pays. They profit most who serve best in 2004
convinced that only a person who is Business is the science of human ser- and to its current wording, One prof-
JNNFSTFEJOTFMÝFTTTFSWJDFDBOCFB WJDFT)FQSPÜUTNPTUXIPTFSWFTIJT its most who serves best in 2010.
good priest or religious head at the fellows best.”
service of the people. Ben Collins, president, RC Practical applications
The primary motto of Rotary Minneapolis, Minnesota, US, Human beings must be seen as part
International is Service above Self. In adopted Service, not self as the motto of a whole ecosystem and not in
short, it means that the service for of his club. While on an outing on fragments or particular dimensions.
the betterment and well-being of the Columbia River with Rtn J E When it comes to the service of
others must be above the needs of Pinkham who invited Paul Harris, the Rotary, its philanthropic nature is
oneself. Rotary founder started a discussion the most important characteristic. If
over its relevance. Later, Paul Harris Rotary opens opportunities for Service
Twin mottos of Rotary asked Collins to address the Portland above Self, it is mainly for the positive
The origin of Rotary’s two mottos — gathering where the phrase Service, not impact on the individuald and the
Service above Self and One profits most self was met with great enthusiasm. community as a whole. The term
‘philanthropy’ was modernised by
Sir Francis Bacon who considered it
to be synonymous with “goodness”,
correlated with the Aristotelian con-
ception of virtue, as it consciously
instilled habits of good behaviour.
4BNVFM+PIOTPOTJNQMZEFÜOFE
philanthropy as “love of mankind and
HPPEOBUVSFu5IJTEFÜOJUJPOTUJMMTVS-
vives today and is often cited as the
‘love of humanity or love for humani-
ty’. What Rotary does is Service above
Self for the well-being of humanity.
The writer is a member of
RC Kalladikode and vice-principal
Yuvakshetra Institute of Management
Rotary clubs reach out to communities struck by natural disasters. Studies, Palakkad.
24 Rotary News Plus FEBRUARY 2021Rejuvenating a pond in Coimbatore
Team Rotary News
Kadaikaran Kuttai, a pond, is being desilted.
S
ix Rotary clubs of Thiagarajan and GGR The Kovai Kulangal rity in the area as it can
Coimbatore — C K Sashikumar Pathukappu Amaippu store rainwater during
Aakruthi, have signed up an assign- (KKPA), an NGO, the monsoons and also in
Centennial, Kovaipudur, ment to desilt a pond — and Kovai Journalists and irrigation as the region is
Manchester, Meridian Kadaikaran Kuttai Media Welfare Club have an agriculture belt, said Dr
and Coimbatore West — in Devarayapuram, partnered with Rotary for Nirmala Natarajan, pres-
under the leadership of Coimbatore. The cost of the project. The pond will ident, RC Kovaipudur,
Assistant Governor C T the project is `2 lakh. help bring water secu- RID 3201.
Madurai schools get a facelift
R
otary Club of Madurai
Elite, RID 3000,
brought a massive
transformation to the Govern-
ment Higher Secondary School
in Podhumbu, a village near
Madurai. The Rotarians provid-
ed 30 desk-bench sets costing
`60,000, e-learning kits worth
`70,000, sports equipment
worth ` BOEÜUUFEDFJMJOH
fans in all classrooms at a cost of
`20,000.
The project was imple-
mented under the leadership
of project heads Ram Shankar
and Muruganandham. RC Madurai Elite president Saravana Muthu interacting with a school teacher.
FEBRUARY 2021 Rotary News Plus 25The Rotary hive
Alok Beswala
D
uring the lock-
down period,
each one of us
got time to introspect
and gain more insights
about various person-
al matters. Even I had
a strange fact-finding
opportunity on a lazy
Sunday afternoon.
While I was recounting
my fortunate times, it
struck me that one bless-
ing which I have been
bestowed upon is worth
mentioning.
It is the culmination
of record numbers of
Rotary families under
one housing society.
I consider myself lucky
to be staying at the
upmarket locality of
Gokuldham which is at
Goregaon East, Mumbai.
The locality is home to a
D B Woods, Goregaon
large number of Rotary
families and to top it all, numbers. In all my home I really believe that from all the members who
the building in which I club members of RC this is the reason which stay in my building. All
stay, D B Woods, has the Mumbai Western Elite makes my housing socie- of them are proactive and
record number of Rotary are 46 in number which ty one of the sought-after enthusiastic about all the
families. I was just making is excluding Rotaractors complexes in the locality aspects of living in a com-
a wild guess to begin with who are 11 and Interact as you would never get munity. I thank my stars
and thought there could members at 26. In my such a large number of of being a part of the great
be around 100 Rotarians building we also have 20 premier club members Rotary family and happy
living in my building members from the Rotary living together anywhere to be one of the family
and to my surprise the Club of Goregaon West. in the world. I feel proud members living in the
number actually turned My wild guess of around and happy about this fact large family of Rotary at
out to be true. To check 100 Rotarians staying and cannot stop myself D B Woods, Gokuldham.
the facts, I got in touch together in one housing from sharing this with
XJUIUIFPĤDFCFBSFST complex turned out to my fellow Rotarians.
of my home club which be actually 103 members We indeed create The writer is member of
is RC Mumbai Western which is really remarkable benchmarks in commu- RC Mumbai Western Elite
Elite and here are the I must say. nity living which is seen RID 3141
26 Rotary News Plus FEBRUARY 20210ħJOFDMBTTFTGPSTUVEFOUTXJUIPVUJOUFSOFUBDDFTT
Team Rotary News
An offline class for rural students.
F or those students who don’t
have access to smart phones,
RC Nandnagari, RID 3060, has start-
education resumes’ and ‘Teachers
at your doorstep’, students from
Nashinda, Khaparkheda and Borala
With the consent of parents, the
students are being allowed to attend
APħJOFHVJEBODFDMBTTFTCZPCTFSW-
FEPħJOFFEVDBUJPOUPIFMQUIFN villages were given physical guidance ing Covid protocols such as social
continue with their school studies. by a school headmaster who was distancing, wearing mask and using
With taglines such as ‘School closed assisted by teachers in classrooms. sanitisers.
3PUBSZXPSLTIPQPOWBSJDPTFWFJOT
A series of workshops
on lymphedema
(swelling that generally
3011, in association
with Saathi & Learn, an
NGO, in which stock-
staff of various hospitals
in Delhi.
One such event
Dwarka. Dr Shashi Gogia,
president, Saathi, gave a
talk on lymphedema, a
occurs in arms and legs) ings for varicose veins was conducted at the medical situation caused
is being conducted by are distributed to the Aakash Healthcare Super by long hours of standing
RC Delhi West, RID doctors, paramedics and Specialty Hospital, on one’s legs which results
in varicose veins. DGN
Ashok Kantoor spoke on
the global activities of Ro-
tary, while club president
Arun Roongta coordinated
the event.
DGN Ashok The club distribut-
Kantoor giving ed 50 pairs of stockings
stockings to a worth `2 lakh to the
paramedic.
IPTQJUBMTUBġ5IFÜSTU
such project was done at
the Indian Spinal Injuries
Centre, Delhi, where 75
pairs of stockings worth
`3 lakh were distributed.
FEBRUARY 2021 Rotary News Plus 27Rotary medical camp brings solace to villagers
Team Rotary News
A mega medical camp
was organised by RC
Calcutta Sun City, RID
3291, at Nalua and Roydighi
villages near the city. More
than 1,000 villagers visited
the camp and medicines
were given to the needy.
Five doctors including three
doctors from the club —
R Hom Chaudhuri, Bandana
Hom Chaudhuri and Apurba
Ghosh — and nine Rotarian
volunteers participated in the
camp.
Awareness talk on manag-
ing lifestyle disorders such as
diabetes and blood pressure
and healthy diet options was
arranged at the camp.
Handwash sessions at government schools in Srirangam
A s schools have reopened for
Class 10 and 12 students in
Tamil Nadu after Covid lock-
handwashing at the government
and government-aided schools in
this temple town.
boards giving instructions on
following Covid protocols like
wearing masks, maintaining social
down, RC Srirangam, RID 3000, During these hygiene sessions, distance and washing hands fre-
organised awareness sessions 100 soaps were distributed to quently,” said R Sathyanarayanan,
on the correct procedure of each school. “We have given sign club secretary.
28 Rotary News Plus FEBRUARY 2021Felicitating farmers
Team Rotary News
R otary Club of Dharmavaram
Midtown, RID 3160, felicitated
the farmers in the town with gifts
BOEDFSUJÜDBUFT5IF3PUBSJBOT
organised a seminar to update them
with information about latest farming
technology and crop protection
NFUIPET5IFDMVCEJTUSJCVUFE
hybrid seeds, organic pesticides and
GFSUJMJTFSTUPUIFN
In another endeavour, the club
sponsored classroom furniture to the
NVOJDJQBMIJHITDIPPMJO4BOUIJOBHBS
DG Chinnappa Reddy participated
in handing over the furniture to
UIFTDIPPMBENJOJTUSBUJPO)FBMTP
participated in distributing a month’s
grocery kit sponsored by the club for
UIFMFTTQSJWJMFHFE
A math competition was
organised by the Rotarians at the
BSR School to enhance interest in From top: A winner at the math competition being felicitated by
UIFTVCKFDUBNPOHUIFTUVEFOUT RC Dharmavaram Midtown; Farmers being honoured with gifts
8JOOFSTXFSFGFMJDJUBUFEXJUIHJGUT and certificates; DG Chinnappa Reddy donating grocery kits.
FEBRUARY 2021 Rotary News Plus 29You can also read
