Enriching lives

Jaishree

Rotaract Club of Chennai Celebrities — a community-based club chartered by RC Chennai Celebrities in September Celebrities in September 2021 in RID 3232 — is 2021 in RID 3232 — is an enthusiastic team an enthusiastic team of 90 members led by of 90 members led by its president A Vinodh its president A Vinodh Chiranjeevi and secretary Chiranjeevi and secretary Yaser Ahmed. Yaser r Ahmed.

The club has a ‘branch The e club b has a ‘br b an a ch h club’ with 26 members in l club b’ with 26 members in Pondicherry and another Po P ndicherry and anothe h r one is being worked out on ne is i bei ing n wor o ke k d d out t in Madurai. “This is a in Madurai. “This is a new club model and the setup is like a corporate having branches in various places,” says Chiranjeevi, adding that there is adding that there is no separate president/ no separate president/ secretary in the branches. secretary in the branches. “We assist them with “We assist them with the functioning but they the functioning but they manage the fundraising manage the fundraising and identify service and d identify y service projects on their own.” pr p oj jects on n their r own n.”

The club has its own The club has its own office in the heart of of ffice in th he h heart t f of Chennai, “a rare feature Chennai i, “a a rare feature for any Rotaract club. for any Rotaract club. Rotaractors from other clubs too drop in to just relax and chat with us over a cup of tea or organise their meetings here,” he says.

‘No food wastage’ is the club’s signature project. The members, having developed a rapport with managers of marriage/ party halls, collect excess food from social, religious events, arrange a vehicle and distribute it to street dwellers, ragpickers and beggars. “We celebrate our birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions by distributing food to the underprivileged.” The club distributes groceries and had recently provided `2,000 worth groceries to 30 families whose income was affected following the long Covid-induced lockdown and the monsoons later. During the floods in November the Rotaractors braved the rains and rescued people stranded in their homes to safer places, and also distributed packed food. Pet lovers of the club got together to provide about 25kg food to stray animals.

For most projects the club has managed to raise its own funds. “But our parent club has been helping us in times of need. They supported us with `50,000 and RC Madras Mount gave us `10,000 for organising our installation event for which we spent about `3.5 lakh,” says Chiranjeevi, adding that he encourages his team to seek support for projects from corporates and business houses. “Since all members are either entrepreneurs or employed, they are quite good in raising funds.” The club has recently chartered a Rotaract club — RAC Fighter Wings Aviation College — with 62 members. They have executed two projects — rice distribution and Christmas celebrations in a slum colony. “But we have made it clear that they must raise their own funds and that we are not their ATMs. We warned them to account each rupee diligently.” The new club’s treasury has a balance of `39,000. “A ‘sponsor head’ has been appointed who drives the members to convince people and get sponsors. Now many other Rotaract clubs are replicating the idea,” he says, adding that the club has installed a fund box in their college which also draws a sizeable contribution.

RAC Chennai Celebrities is meticulous in drafting agreements with other clubs partnering for service projects or events. “We have a legal wing with two High Court advocates. For any project with partner clubs we sign an MoU and the documentation is done by our legal wing. This is probably a new concept,” says the club president.

He is a huge supporter of inclusiveness. An event manager by profession, Chiranjeevi organises his signature fashion show annually for the differentlyabled. The funds collected from the show is given to the Headway Foundation that works for their welfare. “We have a separate Inclusive wing in our club headed by wheelchair tennis player Satyamurthy Radhakrishnan. He is

RAC Chennai Celebrities president Vinodh Chiranjeevi (R) at a fashion show for the differently-abled.

employed with the State Narcotics department and mentors for other Rotaract clubs. It was his idea to conduct fashion show for the differently-abled people,” he says.

A ‘Transcent Show’ was organised by the club, jointly with RAC Madras Mount. It had a participation of 20 transgenders walking the ramp alongside other men and women. “After us RC Madras Mount also organised one such event and donated the funds collected to Headway.”

The Rotaract club, in association with its parent club, supported the doctors and nurses at a Covid vaccine camp in Alandur, a city suburb. The members campaigned for the vaccination in the locality and even helped in transporting people to and from the vaccine centre.

A ‘Know Your Numbers’ medical camp was organised with the support of a medical team from the Fortis Malar Hospitals to check blood sugar, BP and other vital parameters. Over 100 people visited the camp. A general physician was present to provide consultations.

Mammogram test A breast cancer awareness campaign was organised in association with the Fortis Malar Hospitals. The Rotaractors met women walkers in public places such as parks and beaches and talked to them about the mammogram test to rule out breast cancer. Early diagnosis increases the chances of cure they were told. A 23-women group did a rally on their bikes to spread the message under the Pink Bikethon programme. “We must have reached out to at least 1,000 women through this campaign,” he smiles.

On World Polio Day (Oct 24), the Rotaractors took out an End Polio Rally to spread the role of Rotary in polio eradication. “A flash mob was performed at the busy Gemini signal. This drew the attention of several motorists at the traffic junction.”

Club members at a park where they organised breast cancer awareness campaign.

Digital job fair About 68 of 133 youngsters got placement in various jobs through a digital job fair organised by the tech-savvy Rotaractors on the Clubhouse platform. A recently concluded Rotaract Club Premier League (RCPL) — a T-10 cricket league hosted by the club, along with RAC Vishwahita (sponsored by RC Madras Industrial Club) and 11 other co-hosts — brought all cricket enthusiasts to participate with their teams. “The event was a huge public image building exercise,” says the president. Debate competition, yoga sessions, talent show, modelling/saree/ styling workshop and an illustration workshop with Antway School of Design are some of the programmes that help in the personal growth and enhancing the selfconfidence of the club members.

Vapi Rotaractors focus on village development

Jaishree

Rotaract Club of Vapi, RID 3060, has adopted Sangadipada, a hamlet located in the interior part of Valvada, 10km from Vapi, Gujarat. The village is populated with around 1,000 people and the men are daily wage earners employed in a factory nearby. There are two government schools here — one primary with around 60 students and the other, a higher secondary school with an enrolment of 250 children. “We launched ‘Project Samarth’ this year to support the education of the students in these two schools,” says club president Pooja Shah who had decided on developing this hamlet last year even before she took over as club president. She got to know about Sangadipada during a visit to her family-owned chemical factory. “The workers told me about how underdeveloped it was and immediately I decided to provide whatever possible support I can through my club.”

The primary school had just two teachers. So the Rotaractors began frequenting the village to teach the students. “We were so drawn by their enthusiasm that we started visiting them during all festivals and commemorative days such as Teachers’ Day, Children’s Day, Independence Day etc and educate the children about the significance of such days,” she says.

The club members conducted a survey to ascertain the students’ needs. “We met the village sarpanch Satish and the teaching faculty in both the schools to understand the schools’ needs and the students’ challenges,” adds Pooja. To begin with, the Rotaractors distributed literacy kits comprising colouring books, guides and stationery to the

RAC Vapi president Pooja Shah with a little boy after gifting him a sweater.

Our dream is to make the schools so beautiful that every child in the village is inspired to come and learn. Pooja Shah

president, RAC Vapi

Above: A young participant in a colouring competition organised by the club. Below: Rotaractors celebrate a religious festival with the villagers. children. Various competitions such as elocution, debate and essay writing are conducted by the club to improve the selfconfidence in the children. “The parents and elders are also happy with the knowledge their children gain through our visits,” she says.

More recently the club, with the support of their parent club RC Vapi, distributed sweaters to the villagers.

The Rotaractors planted saplings on the school campuses and distributed some to the villagers, encouraging them to plant and nurture them around their homes. “We visit the village frequently and educate the residents about various aspects such as keeping their surroundings clean and caring for

Club president Pooja interacting with children in the village. the environment. We teach them lessons in personal hygiene and the importance of supporting their children’s education,” she says.

The club had spent about `30,000 on this phase of the project since July and it was all pooled in by the members. Next the club plans to set up a library and drinking water facility, renovate toilets and develop the playground in the schools in the coming months. Two Rotarians of RC Vapi have each committed to sponsor construction of a block and fencing the perimeter around the school. “Our dream is to make the schools so beautiful that every child in the village is inspired to come and learn.”

A medical camp and adult literacy programme are also planned for the villagers. “We did a fundraiser through which we have collected `85,000 and we intend spending it for the betterment of the villagers,” says the president of this 52-member community-based club.

RID 3170 Rotaractors on a complete service drive

Jaishree

We were happy to interact with RI President Shekhar Mehta. He was interested to know about our community service projects and how we plan to expand Rotaract in our region,” says RID 3170 DRR Vishakha Pednekar, on an exciting note, talking about President Mehta’s visit to Kolhapur in October. Mehta urged the Rotaractors to do meaningful projects based on the needs of the community they serve. “His major focus was on membership growth, and he wanted the district to add 20 more Rotaract clubs to take the total to 100,” she says. He also suggested the Rotaractors to become dual members so that they enjoy the benefits of being a Rotarian too.

The district is geared up to celebrate its 50th Rotaract district conference, ‘Aura’, on March 12 and 13, coinciding with the World Rotaract Day (March 13). The event will be hosted by RAC Mapusa in Goa. “We have a huge line-up of events to commemorate the golden jubilee year. But my focus is on promoting Rotaract among the public. People are aware about Rotary but not Rotaract,” says Vishakha.

The district’s significant projects include ‘Sabla’ which focuses on menstrual hygiene and health of women. “We visit villages and rural areas and talk to women about MHM and distribute sanitary napkins to those who couldn’t afford them.”

Under Project Garaj, the Rotaractors donate used bicycles to schoolchildren in remote areas. The project was initiated by RAC Sahyadri Pashan.

RI President Shekhar Mehta with DG Gaurish Dhond (on his left), DRR Vishakha Pednekar (on his right) and Rotaractors at an event in Kolhapur.

Schoolchildren with bicycles given to them by Rotaractors.

The club members came to know that children in Mirgaon village had to walk at least 8km daily to attend school situated in the midst of Koyna forest and there was no other mode of transport. So, many of them were irregular to school. The club came up with the idea to provide cycles to the children and the Rotaractors went about collecting used cycles from their friends and acquaintances, refurbished them and gave them to the children. So far 250 children have benefited from the project. “Now it has become a district project and we want the project to benefit at least 1,000 children,” says Vishakha. Every Rotaract club in the district is identifying remote areas where there is no proper transportation facility and providing bicycles to children to make it easy for them to ride to school and back.

The Rotaractors of RID 3170 promote literacy in villages and rural areas

A medical camp organised by RAC Homeopathy College in progress.

through the ‘Each one, teach one’ concept. They visit villages twice a week and spend time with their ‘students’ for atleast two hours daily, teaching them lessons in English, Math and Marathi. In some places the elders are included under adult literacy, says the DRR.

The Rotaractors are also keen on greening the surroundings. “At the start of the year we planted 1,000 saplings across the district. Now the task set for the Rotaractors is to nurture these plants until they grow into big trees, and also plant more saplings over the months.”

A Rotaract Entrepreneurs Network (REN) has been formed in the district on the lines of Rotary Means Business which helps to connect Rotarian-entrepreneurs on a global level. At present 80 Rotaractors of the district are members of REN, “but we are working to build a global network of Rotaractor-entrepreneurs,” she says.

On the fun side, the annual sports event hosted by RAC Krishna Valley for three days in November brought together over 200 Rotaractors and several more to cheer them. Rtn Kishor Lulla inaugurated the sports meet and DGN Nasir Borsadwala was the chief guest for the valedictory.

Earlier during June-July when several places in the district were hit by heavy floods, Rotaractors of RAC Lote rose up to the occasion and assisted in emergency rescue activities. They dealt with the aftermath of the disaster by pitching in to redevelop destroyed homes, and distributed essential items such as groceries, household articles and clothes to 4,000 flood victims. Other Rotaract and Rotary clubs helped with financial support and material.

Over 50 people were treated for various ailments at a homeopathy medical camp organised at Vengurla by RAC Homeopathy College. The club members visited the Jivhala Sevashram, an old age home, and conducted tests for diabetes, haemoglobin count, ECG and blood pressure, and gave them medicines. They also did physiotherapy for the elderly residents of the home.

On the racks On the racks

Savi and The Memory Savi and The Memory Keeper Keeper

Author : Author : Bijal Bijal Vachharajani Publisher: Publisher : Hachette India Hachette India Pages : Pages : 248; 248; `350`350

Moving into a new city oving into a new city after losing her farther after losing her farther wasn’t the best thing for wasn’t the best thing for Savi. At her new school, she Savi. At her new school, she finds it difficult to adjust, but finds it difficult to adjust, but makes new friends who she makes new friends who she initially believed were “the initially believed were “the most stuck-up of classmates.” most stuck-up of classmates.” To add to her challenges, she To add to her challenges, she is put into an Eco Club at the is put into an Eco Club at the school. Savi is the butt of school. Savi is the butt of ridicule for her poor knowledge ridicule for her poor knowledge of plants and trees. Things take of plants and trees. Things take a positive turn as she and her a positive turn as she and her new friends begin to explore new friends begin to explore nature and discover its magical nature and discover its magical healing powers. They hug trees, healing powers. They hug trees, converse with the flora and converse with the flora and provide the club with diverse provide the club with diverse information on the environment. information on the environment. The book deals with grief The book deals with grief and climate change, the other and climate change, the other pressing issue of our times. pressing issue of our times. Three Thousand Three Thousand Stitches Stitches

Author : Author : Sudha Murthy Publisher: Publisher : Penguin Random Penguin Random House House Pages : Pages : 192; `206`206

From being thrown a slipper rom being thrown a slipper by a group of Devadasis to by a group of Devadasis to making a difference in their lives making a difference in their lives through the Infosys Foundation through the Infosys Foundation and acceptance by the oppressed and acceptance by the oppressed and subjugated women, the book and subjugated women, the book deals with several gender issues deals with several gender issues and much more in a sensitive and much more in a sensitive manner. Equally appealing is her manner. Equally appealing is her narrative of her father’s love. narrative of her father’s love. Sudha Murthy takes us down Sudha Murthy takes us down memory lane, fondly recalling memory lane, fondly recalling her testing, yet enriching days, her testing, yet enriching days, at an engineering college where at an engineering college where she was the only female student she was the only female student of her batch. Later, the book of her batch. Later, the book fast forwards to recent times fast forwards to recent times where she was once judged where she was once judged by her attire and called “cattle class” by a fellow traveller at class” by a fellow traveller at the Heathrow Airport. In other the Heathrow Airport. In other chapters, she dwells at length chapters, she dwells at length on social issues including on social issues including alcoholism, conservatism, alcoholism, conservatism, exploitation and discrimination. Rumours of Spring Rumours of Spring

Author : Farah BashirAuthor : Farah Bashir Publisher: Publisher : Fourth Estate Fourth Estate India India Pages : Pages : 240; `317240;

The author poignantly he author poignantly narrates what it means narrates what it means to live under the constant to live under the constant watch of militants and the watch of militants and the strict vigil by the Army in strict vigil by the Army in Kashmir during 1990s. This Kashmir during 1990s. This hard-hitting, trauma-ridden hard-hitting, trauma-ridden account of Farah’s early life account of Farah’s early life in Srinagar recalls the death of in Srinagar recalls the death of her dear Bobeh (grandmother) her dear Bobeh (grandmother) in the backdrop of Indian in the backdrop of Indian troops and militants battling troops and militants battling across the cityscape marred across the cityscape marred by the violence with sporadic by the violence with sporadic clashes and killings, which has clashes and killings, which has become the new normal since become the new normal since then. Even ordinary chores like then. Even ordinary chores like studying for exams, walking studying for exams, walking to the bus stop, combing her to the bus stop, combing her hair, and falling asleep, are all hair, and falling asleep, are all riddled with anxiety and fear riddled with anxiety and fear in these troubling times. The in these troubling times. The book is a lucid presentation book is a lucid presentation of a teenager’s experience of of a teenager’s experience of the “violence, oppression and the “violence, oppression and subjugation of the Kashmiri subjugation of the Kashmiri people” by the armed forces. people” by the armed forces.

Compiled by Kiran Zehra Compiled by Kiran Zehra

Designed by Krishnapratheesh S Designed by Krishnapratheesh S