Rotaract News January 2023 by Rotary News

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@Rotaract_India

@RotaractNewsIndia

January

2023

(Quarterly)

en Hutt of RC Berry, Australia, paraglides from Kala Patthar, a peak in Nepal with a view of the Everest summit, as part of his expedition to raise funds to end

polio. I’m not a doctor, I can’t treat kids for polio,” Hutt told filmmaker Joe Carter, who has since produced a documentary about the endeavour. “But what I can do is help the cause in probably a bit of an unusual

way.” He estimates to have raised more than $200,000 for End Polio Now, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s 2:1 match. Source: Rotary, Feb’23 issue

Joe Carter

Flying high for a cause

Inside

6 Enhanced opportunities await Rotaractors

32 Concert for a cause 38 Rotaract, a buzzing spot at Sophia College

Combatting addiction among Mumbai’s sanitation workers

30 Cleaning a river in Kerala

Rotaractors spread love with free hugs

Aeromodelling lessons for children

On the cover: RI President Jennifer Jones honoured by district Rotaract leaders at the Visakha Vista zone institute.

talent showcased 50 Transgender in Coimbatore

ovarian health 52 Spreading awareness JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

RI Director Dr Mahesh Kotbagi RI Director A S Venkatesh

Rotaract News Editor Rasheeda Bhagat

District Rotaract Representatives 2022–23

Zone 4, 5, 6 & 7 2981

Vinodh Chiranjeevi A

2982

Bharathraj Dhanapal

3000

Manikandan T

3011

Ankit Arvind Singh

3012

Siddhant Arya

3020

Prathyusha Varma Mudunuri

3030

Sanaiel Naseem Ahmed

3040

Tanmay Kushwah

3053

Deependra Jadon

3054

Parth Ghanshyam Raval

3060

Shivani Tushar Shah

3070

Deepika Sharma

3080

Shivansh Sharma

3090

Ankit Gupta

3100

Anirudh Khanna

3120

Sachin Upadhyay

3131

Akash R Chikate

3132

Prasad Kailas Warad

3141

Gemin Shah

3142

Adil Khan

3150

Rohit A V V

3160

Sarvagna Vaishnavi Ginka

3170

Aniket Jadhav

3181

Nikhil R K

3182

Mahalasa Kini

3190

Joseph Wilson

3201

Kishore Babu Balasubramanian

3203

Shreevarshan Sadasivan

3204

Shyam Mirshad

3212

Mohan Sundareswar R

3232

Gowtham Raj

3240

Sandip Das

3250

Nandini Bangar

3262

Abhilash Boitai

3291

Soumik Nath

Deputy Editor Jaishree Padmanabhan Senior Sub Editor Muthukumaran V Sub Editor Kiran Zehra Administration and Advertisement Manager Vishwanathan K Designers Gunasekaran L Krishnamurthy N Krishnapratheesh S Send all correspondence to

ROTARY NEWS TRUST rd

3 Floor, Dugar Towers, 34 Marshalls Road Egmore, Chennai 600 008, India. Phone: 044 42145666 e-mail rotarynewsmagazine@gmail.com facebook @RotaractNewsIndia twitter @Rotaract_India instagram @Rotaract_India website www.rotaractnews.org Published by Rotary News Trust from Dugar Towers, 3rd Flr, 34, Marshalls Road, Egmore, Chennai 600 008.

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Editor’s Note

Conviction, enthusiasm and energy of youth

n a recent project done by the Rotary Club of Addiction Prevention in Mumbai, RID 3141, in which over 620 sanitary workers were given awareness, counselling and screening for various kinds of cancers, hypertension, diabetes, etc, a high percentage of addiction was found for both tobacco and alcohol. The heartening part is that while 20 Rotarians from this and another Rotary club conducted the project titled ‘Deaddiction and cancer screening for Sanitation workers,’ they took help from 25 Rotaractors from two community-based Rotaract clubs in Mumbai — RAC of Medicrew and RAC Caduceus. All the 25 Rotaractors were so deeply engaged in the work, that RCAP president Dr Nilam Gada said “they were extremely energetic and very involved, had a no-complaint attitude, were very flexible and hardworking.” Apart from helping with crowd management, filling forms, assisting the doctors, their partnership was a big help because they included doctors and medical students and were a tremendous help in screening the sanitation workers for BP, sugar, etc.

In every major Rotary event conducted and attended by senior Rotary leaders from both India and Rotary International, the increasing importance given to Rotaractors cannot be missed. That is because you, dear Rotaractors, do whatever you do with passion, energy, enthusiasm and a dedication which is surprising from your age group. At Visakha Vista, our recent zone institute in Vizag, convened by RI director Mahesh Kotbagi, I was deeply impressed by the confidence and conviction with which Madhura Mundada, international service chair and LGBTQ director from the Rotaract Club of Ruia, Mumbai, put forth her views on diversity, and the justice and equity required for those with a sexual orientation in the panel discussion on diversity chaired by RI director Vicki Puliz. Since both her parents are Rotarians, when Madhura joined her college, there was a Rotaract club “and I immediately knew I wanted to join it.” When she was told by her club leaders that this was its 10th year and they would like to start an LGBT chapter and “could I lead it, I readily agreed. They said but people can assume you are from the LGBTQ community and I said but everybody is from the LGBTQ community!” She said she came from “a small town where people don’t understand what LGBTQ is… they just don’t have any idea about it. You asked what Rotary could do, I’d say let’s start educating people at the school level, bring this issue in the syllabus. I can tell you that if a few years ago you had asked me about diversity, I would have been blank. So people need to learn about it at a younger age.” To make RI’s new mantra of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion come true, especially in a relatively conservative India, we need many more such bold voices… which come wrapped in both confidence and conviction.

Rasheeda Bhagat

JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS 5

Enhanced opportunities await Rotaractors Jaishree

s Rotaractors world over will have to pay membership dues of $5 and $8 from January 2023, RI President Jennifer Jones explained the benefits to them at the Rotaract seminar, Symbiosis, that was part of the Visakha Vista zone institute. “Paying membership dues will help us give you a valuable Rotary experience and it will make you take Rotaract seriously. In the coming years you will understand its value so much so that you’ll invite your friends for the experience. When I joined Rotary I didn’t understand what value it can add to my life. I am now a better leader, being

in Rotary, and I am better in governance, finances, and public speaking,” she said. Jones pointed out that Rotaractors are now part of several Rotary committees. “One of the most coveted committees is our international convention committee. I have put our Rotaractors here. When we were discussing ideas for our convention, the best ones came from the Rotaractors,” she said, adding that they have also been made RI president’s representatives to district conferences. “We need fresh ideas from young, capable leaders like you. If we want something done in Rotary, we Rotarians form a committee and

have lots of meetings. Whereas you would have already figured out the issue and moved on to the next one,” said Jones, amidst applause. Batting for dual membership, she said, “If you find a Rotary club attractive, join the club. Or start your own club and run it how you want it. You are our future. No, you are the now. You are going to decide what Rotary will look like in the next couple of decades. And one of the things you are going to teach us is gender parity.” Earlier RIPN Stephanie Urchick inaugurated the seminar in the presence of former World Rotaract Committee chair PDG Ravi Vadlamani,

RI President Jennifer Jones releases the poster for the mega blood donation programme, Mahadan, at the Rotaract session in the presence of RI Directors Mahesh Kotbagi and Drew Kessler, PDG Ravi Vadlamani and district Rotaract leaders.

6 ROTARACT NEWS JANUARY 2023

RID Vicki Puliz with (from L) PDRR Ganesh GT Bhat, DRR (3190) Joseph Wilson, Rtrs Impana and Abhishek.

event chairman RID 3131 PDRR Arjun Dev and RID 3020 (host district) DRR Pratyusha Varma.

bserving that Rotarians in their 30s and 40s are more in India than in the rest of the world, RI director Vicki Puliz said that this

situation creates better opportunities for Rotaractors. “We want your ideas and perspectives to make our organisation strong. You are key to how we continue to provide value and relevance to our members, our communities and to the world,” she added. RI director Drew Kessler urged the Rotaractors to join Rotary early. “When I joined Rotary at 20, I was the youngest in my club, and today

at 41, I am still the youngest. I look forward to seeing someone younger join my club.” Urging them to be dual members, he said, “This way you don’t have to give up your Rotaract identity to join Rotary. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or who you are. All that matters is the pin — the Rotary or the Rotaract pin.” Recalling his experience when he joined his Rotary club, Kessler said,

RIPN Stephanie Urchick inaugurates the session in the presence of RID Vicki Puliz, PDG Ravi Vadlamani, PDRR Arjun Dev and DRR Pratyusha Varma. JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

“My club members didn’t see me as a 20-year-old. When I thought that I had no business sitting amongst such accomplished individuals, they saw me as a potential Rotarian. They took me under their wings, mentored me, and made me what I am today.” A strong advocate for bringing business into Rotary, he said, “I know we are the No 1 service organisation in the entire world. But we started

with one individual who brought together his business friends for the purpose of networking. If I have a business to give someone, I’d share it with a like-minded friend who is a Rotarian instead of a non-Rotarian friend. Rotary is a network of like-minded individuals. They want to see each other do well.” Now that Rotaract clubs can participate in Foundation grants,

the RI director said, “Once you realise the power of our Foundation you will contribute in a big way. I believe in giving from the heart and not just reaching into our pockets. I want Rotaract clubs to first receive a grant, and see the impact it has in transforming a community. That will inspire you to give voluntarily. I don’t want people to give because they have to, people should give because they want to.”

ddressing the reluctance among Rotaractors to pay membership dues, Vadlamani said, “The challenge is in the mind because you have not yet realised the value of Rotaract as much as you love your pizza. You say that $5 and $8 is expensive. Break the shackles in your mind that money is everything. What matters is the experience and education that Rotary gives. If you have to reach new horizons, you must dream big.” DRR Pratyusha said, “it was an amazing opportunity for us Rotaractors to meet our Rotary leaders up close. They inspired us with their speeches.”

RI Directors Drew Kessler and Mahesh Kotbagi. 8 ROTARACT NEWS JANUARY 2023

Pictures by Jaishree

An Annet cricket star V Muthukumaran

t was a huge knock by 26-yearold Narayan Jagadeesan for his Team Tamil Nadu, playing with minnows Arunachal Pradesh at the Vijay Hazare Trophy cricket match, 50 overs a side, one-day format, in Bengaluru recently. It brought this lanky, wicket-keeper batsman into the spotlight of world cricket. His father, Rtn CJ Narayanan from RC Coimbatore Metropolis, RID 3201, has one constant advice for his son: “Keep up the concentration to earn the blue jersey.” During his power-packed innings, Jagadeesan broke seven world records in List-A cricket — highest individual score (277); consecutive five tons; fastest 200 runs in 114 balls; fastest 250 runs; highest partnership for any wicket (416); highest opening partnership; and highest team total of 502. Next day, the national dailies went gaga

over the triumph of this Coimbatore lad. His parents, Narayanan and Ganga, are optimistic that their son is on the way to finding a place in the national team. “He is capable of many such splendid performances,” says his father. Having played for Tata Electric Company, now Tata Power, in Mumbai for eight years from 1980, Narayanan is well aware of the rigours of modern-day cricket, especially the T20 format that frustrates even the toughest player in world cricket. Jagadeesan started playing cricket at the age of four at the Stanes Anglo Indian HS School; and represented the district Under-13 at nine. “After completing BCom at PSG College six years ago, he did MBA at Sri Ramakrishna College. Throughout his academic journey, he played cricket with a rare passion, and made his first-class debut for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy match

against Madhya Pradesh in 2016–17,” recalls his father. And got a maiden ton in his debut match, to boot! His mother Ganga and sister Sharada can’t wait to see him perform for Team India. “With prayers on their lips, they look forward to him batting for the country. God willing, my son will climb up the ladder,” smiles Narayanan, who joined Rotary in 2007. While he is not worried that Chennai Super Kings has released his son, “I am confident that he will be picked up by a good team in the IPL auction.” RCs Coimbatore Metropolis and Coimbatore Manchester honoured the player with Young Achiever Awards. Earlier, he was felicitated at the RID 3201 conference. “My only aim now is to live the present without thinking about the future and enjoy playing cricket,” quips Jagadeesan.

Rtn C J Narayanan (centre) with (from L) his son Narayan Jagadeesan, wife Ganga, daughter Sharada and her husband Kirthi Krishnan.

JANUARY JA JJAN ANU AN UA ARY RY 20 2 2023 023 R 023 02 RO ROTARACT OT O TARA RA ACT CT NEW NE N NEWS EEW WS

Combatting addiction among Mumbai’s sanitation workers Rasheeda Bhagat

1100 RROT ROTARACT OT OTA AR ARA RACT RA T NEWS NEW EWS JANUARY JA JAN AN NU UAR ARY 2 2023 023 023 3

orkers who provide sanitation services to any of our big city corporations or municipalities lead a tough life. “We all know that they provide an invaluable and essential public service that is key to safeguarding not only the environment but also the health of citizens, and keep working despite a lethal pandemic, devastating floods or any other calamity. But most of the time they have no government policies or comprehensive health insurance to take care of their health needs,” says Dr Nilam Gada, president of RC Addiction Prevention in

Mumbai, RID 3141, that was chartered only last year. It has only 15 members, and as the name of the club suggests, its main focus area is combatting addiction and substance abuse. In one of its discussions on the high levels of tobacco and alcohol addiction and abuse among sanitation workers of Mumbai, the members noted that hailing from marginalised and poor strata of society, with no government policies or laws or any health insurance, they are exposed to various occupational and environmental hazards putting both their health and lives at serious risk.

It is no secret that the hard physical labour and drudgery involved in cleaning the metro’s gutters, sewers and underlying passages, gives the workers little cause for cheer, making it easy for them to fall victims to substance abuse. Intake of tobacco and alcohol has become a normal part of their life as this intoxication allows them to work in filthy conditions, she says. Therefore, “most of the workers face health risks including cancer and heart-related problems, vascular diseases, paralysis due to stroke, and lung illnesses due to chewing tobacco, smoking and

Left: Dr Nilam Gada, president, RC Addiction Prevention in Mumbai, examines a sanitary worker.

Right: A medical camp for sanitary workers.

JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

consuming alcohol. She adds that the club members were extremely concerned when given the statistics that compared to the general population, in which the incidence of tobacco consumption, as also cancer is around 20 per cent, in this group (sanitation workers) it is as high as 51 per cent.

ence the club launched a project titled

12 ROTARACT NEWS JANUARY 2023

‘Deaddiction and cancer screening for sanitation workers,’ because it had to first find out how many people were at risk, what kind of medical treatment or preventive care and counselling they required, etc. The amount raised, by this club, along with RC Mumbai Sobo, to meet the cost of this project, was `1.8 lakh. The target group chosen for this comprehensive project which included education and awareness, counselling and screening for different

Below: Nilam Gada, Els Reynaers, president, Rotary Club of Mumbai Sobo, and Rotaractors.

kinds of ailments such as hypertension, eye defects, diabetes, high sugar levels, low haemoglobin due to iron deficiency, and various kinds of cancers, was 622 sanitation workers in solid waste management from the Lower Parel area of Mumbai. Dr Nilam adds that 125 of these were women, and tobacco addiction was found in many of them. Alcohol addiction was more common among the male workers. Education remained the main focus of the project

and at the camp it was explained to the addicts that substance abuse had the danger of causing cancer and other serious complications. Women were taught self-examination for breast cancer and to watch out for signs and symptoms of cervical cancer. The screening included checking blood pressure, blood sugar and haemoglobin levels and both dental and eye check-up were also done. Cancer screening involved looking out for oral cancer by visual

examination, breast cancer by manual palpation and Pap smear test was done for cervical cancer. Medication for deworming, iron and calcium supplements as well as multivitamin tablets were provided to the entire group for 1–3 months as required. However, added the club president, “Our core focus stays on deaddiction where we educate them, give them individual counselling along with free access to our teleconsultation services, consultations with the

The incidence of tobacco consumption, as also cancer, is

20% among the general population, while it is

51% among the sanitation workers

psychologist and follow up action for six months. We’ve referred them to support groups that are in their vicinity to reinforce motivation and experience sharing as this has a proven track record of being the most effective way of maintaining sobriety.” About the results of the screening, Els Reynaers, president, RC Mumbai Sobo, says that of the 622, 44 per cent had high blood pressure and 21 cent had elevated sugar levels, but despite that

JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

very few were on medication required for both these conditions. About 47 per cent had low haemoglobin levels and they have been put on multivitamins and iron tablets. Nearly 20 per cent needed cataract surgery and they have been referred to three Rotary clubs in Mumbai which are organising free cataract surgery for the underprivileged. Pre-cancerous oral lesions were found in 22 per cent, including women, and breast abnormalities in about 10 per cent and cervical cancer in five women. About 40 per cent were addicted to tobacco and 53 per cent — more than half —, mostly men, were found addicted to alcohol. Cases requiring cataract or retinal surgery or dental procedures were referred to appropriate hospitals. As they are all government workers, some of the cases were also referred 14 ROTARACT NEWS JANUARY 2023

to government or charitable private hospitals.

t is heartening to know that apart from the 20 Rotarians from the two clubs who were actively involved in executing this project, 25 Rotaractors were also deeply engaged in the work. Asked about their experience in working with Rotaractors as partners, Dr Nilam says, “They were extremely energetic and very involved. They had a no-complaint attitude, were very flexible and hardworking.” Apart from helping with crowd management, filling forms, assisting the doctors, their partnership was a big help because they were members of two communitybased Rotaract clubs of Mumbai — RAC Medicrew and RAC Caduceus. “They were either doctors, interns or

The club wants to replicate this project for another

25,000 sanitation workers of Mumbai

medical students and were a tremendous help in screening the sanitation workers for BP, sugar, etc,” she added. On future plans Dr Nilam, a dentist by profession, says they want to replicate this project for another 25,000 sanitation workers of Mumbai and is considering going in for a global grant too. On the time frame, she says that BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) has 24 wards and for ease of implementation “we will do one ward at a time; we’ve already covered two. There are about 1,000 workers in each ward but not everybody turns up for a health screening camp.” Luckily, the club has great cooperation from the Maharashtra government as the beneficiaries are all government workers. “Last time they gave us a big auditorium of a BMC school for our camp,” she adds.

he Rotaractors of RAC Dexterous, RID 3232, celebrated Pongal, the harvest festival, with transgenders in Chennai. “We hired a wedding hall for a day and invited around 50 transgenders for Pongal celebrations,” said club president Roshitkumar. This is the third consecutive year the club is celebrating an inclusive Pongal festival. Students from three city colleges also participated in the festivities. The programmes included a ramp walk, rangoli and cookery competition, and cultural performances. The Rotaractors had arranged several games to make the day interesting. At the end of the day saris were gifted to the visitors, after a feast of festive meals.

Celebrating Pongal with transgenders Jaishree

A visit to the beach The Rotaractors took the physicallychallenged people enrolled with a foster home in Tiruvottiyur, a suburb near Chennai, to the Marina Beach. “Twenty volunteers took 50 wheelchair-bound people in a bus and helped them feel and touch the waters of the Bay of

Right: Rotaractors helping wheelchairbound people to enjoy at the Marina beach in Chennai. Below: A transgender receives a sari as part of the Pongal celebrations organised by the club.

Bengal. We pushed their wheelchairs on a special ramp put up by the Tamil Nadu government on the beach,” said Roshitkumar. The project was titled Let the waves touch the feet. For many of them this was their first experience visiting the beach, he added. After spending two hours, soaking in the atmosphere and listening to the crashing of the waves on the shores, they were treated to a sumptuous plate of snacks, after which they were dropped back at the home. JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

Rotaract nurtures creative skills V Muthukumaran

otivating and providing career guidance to school students have earned kudos for Rotaractors of RAC CEG (RID 3232) at the Anna University campus. In its 20th edition, Project Vizhithiru (be vigilant) is the flagship event of this club at the College of Engineering, Guindy, and over the last two decades, “we have reached out to 10,000-plus students across government schools in and around Chennai,” says P Gopinath, club secretary. With a tagline ‘… to achieve your dreams,’ the Rotaractors engaged the

students in project and expo phases with a segmented approach to groom them for future challenges. “In the project phase, two batches of 20 members each visited two government schools to perform science experiments and demos to students. The aim is to invoke creative thinking and related skills among them so that the quest for learning is kindled in them,” explains Gopinath. The experiments covered subjects like Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology and they were also demonstrated by Rotaractors. Around 100 students were trained in project

experiments by Rotaractors. In the next expo phase, 500 students from four government schools visited the Vivekananda Auditorium at the college campus for a day full of packed events — career guidance, motivation sessions and exhibition by students. “After getting the nod from the government officials, we arranged travel for all the students to our campus, provided lunch and snacks, and visited their stalls where they briefed us on the science models they had exhibited,” he says. Earlier, the career guidance was done at the schools by a team of

School students exhibit their science concepts at the college campus under Project Vizhithiru.

16 ROTARACT NEWS JANUARY 2023

Rotaractors with children of migrant families holding gift hampers on Christmas-eve.

Rotaractors, “but in the last few editions of Vizhithiru, we are holding it on our college campus where the students also have an opportunity to showcase their science talent.” Project Sangarsh with a tagline ‘transforming lives’ is a ‘music concert for a cause. “This year, we will hold the fundraiser event in April and our permanent venue is Music Academy where around 2,000 people attend the musical. Some of the popular playback singers render memorable and hit songs. The proceeds from ticket sales will be spent on projects for beneficiaries like transgenders and tribals,” explains Gopinath, a 4th year student of BE, Manufacturing. However, due to Covid they could not hold the concert in the last two years and “in the last edition, we used the proceeds to build a toilet block at a children’s home in Tirunelveli. We identify the beneficiaries across Tamil Nadu and come up with a concrete plan to reach out to them.” On Christmas-eve, the Rotaractors distributed toys and gift hampers to 30 children of migrant families living in a settlement near the college

Rotaractors give a demonstration at science project in a government school. campus. A Christmas cake was cut and distributed to them. Great support Sponsored by RC Madras South, this Rotaract club has branched off from RAC Anna University, formed around 40 years ago, but not in existence now and has given birth to three other clubs

to represent different engineering colleges on the vast campus. With around 100 members, “we get financial support and mentorship from our parent Rotary. If we approach them with a project plan, the Rotarians readily agree to provide resources and help us to find sponsorship,” says S Suja, club president. JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

Rotaractors spread love with free hugs Kiran Zehra

f you happen to be at Khao Galli, near Ram mandir, or a mall, or at a local park in Bhubaneswar on a Sunday evening you will find a group of Rotaractors holding placards offering ‘Free Hugs,’ or an invitation saying ‘Let’s talk,’ and even positive affirmations such as ‘This too shall pass’. All these are part of RID 3262’s Rotaract initiative to spread mental health awareness and help people feel better.

Rotaractors displaying placards. 18 ROTARACT NEWS JANUARY 2023

It was DRR Abhilash Boitai’s idea to start a mental health awareness programme in his district. “It's not unusual to experience mood swings after being through Covid. It can take a while to process what we've been through — sickness, loss of a family member or friend, loss of job, low or no income. We wanted to reach out to everyone and let them know that they are not alone and that together we can all get through the bad times,” he says.

Above: People participating in an impromptu dance Left: A Rotaractor hugs a stranger as part of the mental awareness initiative carried out by RID 3262.

Talking about the initiative, project coordinator Durdana Begum, says, “we were inspired by the original Free Hugs campaign, a social movement involving individuals who offer hugs to strangers in public places. The hugs are meant to be random acts of kindness — selfless acts performed just to make others feel better.” The campaign was started in 2004 by Juan Mann, an Australian, and it became famous internationally in 2006 as the result of a music video on YouTube which had 78 million views. Durdana explains that 100 Rotaractors throughout the district formed local teams, designed posters and selected different hotspots in the city where they could approach people and offer them ‘free hugs’ or lend an ear to listen to their problems. At a recent mental health awareness event Rotaractors broke into an impromptu dance and invited passersby to join in. “Everybody danced their heart out and we too felt very energetic after that. This wasn’t part of the campaign but it was fun,” she says.

Rotaractors across the district have completed close to 10 rounds of mental awareness campaigns like these at different places. “People whom we haven’t met before in our lives opened up to us about their biggest problems in life, because they knew we wouldn’t judge them and we, being a third person, were distant enough to see the bigger picture.” A young man who recently had a breakup shared his story with Durdana and “after talking to me he said, ‘I feel like the weight has been lifted off my chest. I feel a lot better’.” Satyabratra Kar, zonal Rotaract representative says, “we need to create a chain of events like this across our Rotaract districts. Covid lockdowns have brought a sense of fear and anxiety around the globe, leading to short-term as well as long-term psychosocial and mental health issues… therefore, leading to higher suicide rates. I urge every district to plan mental health awareness programmes.” JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

Where fellowship

bonds Rotaractors V Muthukumaran

riendship and fellowship create a strong bonding among the 48 Rotaractors at RAC DSMS College, RID 3240, as “we allow all members to speak at our weekly club meetings on Friday. We give them adequate time to air their views, come out with project ideas and at the end of the club

meet, they give us feedback on how to improve the functioning of our club,” says club president Sourish Kumar Kundu. Expressing optimism about the growth potential of this four-year-old club sponsored by RC Durgapur Smart City, he says, “there is a short break in Rotaract activities as we are preparing for our semester

exams. But we will resume our initiatives and projects in February with the usual vigour.” Fluorescent bands will be tied on the neck of stray dogs and cattle to protect them against speeding vehicles on the highways during the night in a special drive, he says. “We are planning a mega traffic

A 4km walkathon being taken to create AIDS awareness.

20 ROTARACT NEWS JANUARY 2023

Rotaractors distribute new and sparingly used clothes to families in Kamalpur village.

awareness rally cum anti-plastic drive. Rotaractors will distribute jute and cotton bags to those using plastic bags on the occasion. During the rally, the public will be sensitised on the need to follow traffic rules to avoid accidents and road fatalities,” explains Kundu, a third year student of BBA. In August, through Project Anudaan bags of new and sparingly used clothes were distributed to 40 needy families at Kamalpur village on the outskirts of Durgapur. “We collected around 35 units of blood at a blood donation camp on our college campus in which students, Rotarians and teaching faculty attended to make it a success,” says club’s immediate past president Anubhav Bhakat. To mark World AIDS Day (Dec 1), a 4km walkathon was staged with Rotaractors holding placards and banners to create awareness on the disease among the city residents.

We allow all members to speak at our weekly club meetings and give adequate time for them to air their views, and come out with project ideas. Sourish Kumar Kundu president, RAC DSMS College

Anti-drug programmes An online programme on drug abuse had over 140 participants including Rotaractors from across RID 3240, college students and Rotarians. “A guest lecture followed by an interactive session made the virtual event a huge hit among the students. With a positive feedback, we are planning to hold a physical event in February-March, but this time a much bigger event with a series of lectures and day-long sessions,”

explains Bhakat, a unit manager at a private bank. Having been a Rotaractor for three years, he says, “though I have graduated from the college, I continue to be an active member of this club. Over the years, I have exchanged letterheads with Rotaractors from other districts and neighbouring countries including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh; shared project ideas and best practices with them.” On the future ahead, Bhakat says, “in the next one year I want to become a member of either RCs Burdwan or Durgapur Smart City, my parent Rotary. But I will be dual member for I want to retain my Rotaract identity as long as possible as this youth body gave great opportunities to learn and shape up my life.” Like his president Kundu, he too enjoys the strong fellowship that this Rotaract club promotes among the members. JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

Aeromodelling lessons for children Jaishree

Rotaractors and children with the aeroplane models.

built a plane and I am going to become a pilot,” gushes young Rajan excitedly. It was undoubtedly a memorable day for him and the 50 boys residing at the TISSO Home, an orphanage in Tirupur. Not everyday do these children get to learn something as exciting as aeromodelling and the nuances of flying an aircraft, all thanks to the Rotaractors of RAC Tirupur Young Generation, RID 3203. Five Rotaractors, along with the NCC Airwing cadets of the K S Rangaswamy College of Technology in Thirumuruganpoondi, Tamil Nadu, visited the orphanage and taught the children all about aeroplanes under the club project, Rocketry. “The children were amazing and eager to learn. It was indeed a big day 22 ROTARACT NEWS JANUARY 2023

for them. Their enthusiasm was infectious,” says club president Shabareesh. The orphanage is close to the heart of this 45-member club sponsored by RC Tirupur Thirumuruganpoondi. “We visit the children almost every month and spend time with them. We try to fulfil their wishes through our project — Chinna chinna aasai (Little wishes),” he says. Stationery material, reference guides, footwear and dresses are some of the items the club members have gifted the children at the home. “Sometimes they would request us to take them to the movies, or on a picnic. Recently we took the children to the movie, Rocketry: the Nambi effect, and that piqued their interest in aircraft,” smiles Shabareesh. Through Project Aram, the club secretary Sathiswaran, a national-level

Left: A Rotaractor teaching aeromodelling to the children at the TISSO Home.

taekwondo expert, is teaching the skill to the children since last year. “Two months ago, three children won awards at the state-level taekwondo championship held in Kanyakumari, and 13 children won awards at the district-level championship held six months ago,” he says. The club plans to continue its focus on the development of the children at the TISSO Home. Under its Project Saki, the club has been organising awareness sessions for cervical and breast cancer, and menstrual hygiene in the women’s colleges in the city and its surrounding villages. JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

eeting RI director A S Venkatesh at his office in Chennai during a three-day car rally to promote organ donation has been a “big motivation for our team of four Rotaractors from RID 3203,” recalls DRR S Shreevarshan who led the rallyists under Project Ride 2 Rise a Life. The three-day car rally covered a distance of 1,600km passing through eight RI districts in Tamil Nadu to spread the message among the public and Rotarians. “RID Venkatesh advised us to take up long-term, sustainable projects and also focus on selfdevelopment of Rotaractors in our

Project Namma Bhavani is working to restore Bhavani River. Around 50 Rotaractors are volunteering and helping in the documentation process of this five-year project.

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Huge public image projects in RID 3203 V Muthukumaran clubs,” says the DRR. “We briefed him about our campaign to promote organ donation across Tamil Nadu.” During the Coimbatore leg of their journey, the four Rotaractors — Sreevarshan, Rtrs R Manikandan, Santhosh Kumar and Sathish Kumar — were honoured at the Yuva festival for youth hosted by RC Coimbatore Texcity. The rallyists also met DGs V R Muthu, RID 3212, and V Selvanathan, RID 2981, in the course of their campaign. The car rally was sponsored by RCs Mettupalayam, Karamadai and DRCC Dr Ismail. “Without their financial support, the project would

have been a non-starter,” says Shreevarshan.

roject Namma Bhavani is working to restore Bhavani River, a major source of drinking water in Erode and nearby villages. Around 50 Rotaractors from RAC Vellalar College of Engineering and Technology are doing volunteering work and helping in

the documentation of the mega river clean-up being done by a number of Erode clubs led by RC Gobi. “Namma Bhavani has bagged the Best Public Image Award for zone-5 at the RI Convention in Hyderabad, 2022. We still have a long way to go in river restoration as it is a five-year project,” he says. Members of RAC Providence College are distributing packed food to needy and feeding stray dogs in a monthly project. “We prepare food at our homes and pack it with banana leaves instead of using plastic or silver foil,” says the DRR. A mega awareness rally was staged by RACs Government Arts College, Ooty, and JSS, Ooty, in partnership with two Rotary clubs in Nilgiris

Left: A Rotaractor giving a food packet to an elderly woman.

to mark International Girl Child Day (Oct 11). “We also conducted a seminar on empowerment of girls after the rally.” To create interest in rocketry, 10 Rotaractors from RAC Tirupur Young Generation visited TISSO orphanage home and “gave a demo with exhibits on aeromodelling to 50 students,” says A Dharanidharan, district Rotaract secretary.

hreevarshan is confident of “collecting the mandatory dues from our clubs in FebruaryMarch without any hitch.” There are 74 active clubs with over 840 Rotaractors in RID 3203. He joined RC Pollachi Royalz in December to become a dual member. He turned Paul Harris Fellow after giving $1,000 to TRF in January. Recalling his eight-year journey in Rotaract,

Clockwise from top left: DRR S Shreevarshan presents a memento to RI Director AS Venkatesh at his office in Chennai during the car rally titled Ride 2 Rise a Life; DRR Shreevarshan (L) with his team during the car rally; DRR Shreevarshan along with PDG KA Kuriachan to his left and PDG E K Sagadhevan, 2nd from R, Rotarians and Rotaractors at a project to promote organ donation.

the DRR says, “the experience not only improved my personality, but helped me to achieve great results in my business.” A political analyst and trader of chemical products, he is a regular at the Rotary club meetings, but “I will involve in its projects and community initiatives from July,” he adds. JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

A ‘fruit forest’ by Chennai Rotaractors Kiran Zehra

muddy pathway behind the Aarupadai Veedu Institute of Technology (AVIT), Chennai, leads to a green patch of land, that has now been cleaned and cleared of garbage dumped in it, and the wild bushes pruned. The space now boasts of a ‘fruit forest’ being set

up by RAC AVIT, RID 3232. “We had the whole campus abuzz when we walked in with forks, shovels, and spades,” quips club president B S Kavin Harshith, adding that “many non-Rotaractors helped us in the cleanup and digging pits to plant 100 fruit saplings.” This year the club wanted to start a sustainable project and

“with the help of our partners — RC Chennai Spotlight and Delfingen Foundation, Chennai, we could make this happen,” he says. A fruit or food forest is “a powerful way to grow food by mimicking the structure of a forest. It is like the Miyawaki forest, except that it can help you work with nature to grow

more food with fewer resources.” Deeksha, the project chair, came across the term ‘food forest’ when her team was researching ideas. “Keeping in mind the space we had and our desire to do a sustainable project, this sounded like a good idea. Everybody in the club was excited when we spoke about growing and harvesting local fruits

Rotaractors after performing a flash mob at a mall in Chennai. 26 ROTARACT NEWS JANUARY 2023

Rotarians of RC Chennai Spotlight and staff members of AVIT College at the plantation site. like papaya and guava with our own hands,” she says and adds “this was also an opportunity to start a project that will bring our future club members together while improving the environment.”

Saplings of guava, cucumber, gooseberry, custard apple, papaya, mango and pomegranate were planted on the campus. “If you want to see a young forest in its splendid bloom, do visit our

college,” says Harshith. As for the harvest, “we won’t be around to see the trees bear fruits. It will be left to the club members and college administration to decide what they want to do with the produce.”

ast year the club visited Arungundram, a village near Mahabalipuram, to celebrate Independence Day. “A teacher informed us that the village school had no library and it will be very helpful if our club could set up one,” says club secretary M K Manobala. Club members have started collecting newspapers from neighbours and friends to sell them and raise funds to start a “small and meaningful library at the village school.” Recently thirteen club members organised a flash mob at a mall in the city for cancer awareness. They also highlighted the danger of tobacco use as one of the major causes of the disease.

JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

Mulund Rotaractors help young and old V Muthukumaran

RAC Mumbai Mulund South secretary Mansha Dedhia (right, back row) and Rotaractors with elderly women at an old age home during Diwali.

clutch of diverse projects and programmes enables the Rotaractors of RAC Mumbai Mulund South, RID 3141, to reach out to less privileged children and families, thus earning goodwill among the communities. “We have 100 members including lawyers, bankers, financial analysts, entrepreneurs, students and businessmen, who contribute generously for our projects,” says Mansha Dedhia, club secretary. The community-based club was revived 17 years ago, “after we got it re-chartered on November 25, 2005 as it remained inactive for long years before that. Now, we are 28 ROTARACT NEWS JANUARY 2023

into full steam with community projects,” says Archie Chhadwa, club president. Project Period Pride creates awareness on menstrual hygiene among rural women and less privileged girls through interactive sessions. “So far, we have done a campaign in which 30 girls from an NGO took part and over 65 sanitary pads were distributed in that event. We have distributed over 300 hygiene pads to rural women at a village in Badlapur,” she says. Under Project Aarogyam, a RID 3141 initiative, over 200 students of Navbharat Nutan Vidyalaya, Mulund, were diagnosed for general illnesses, dental woes and had their ‘basic physiotherapy evaluation’.

It was a satisfying moment for a team of 10 Rotaractors who visited an old age home to spend Diwali with 25 elderly inmates under Project 2nd Innings. “We distributed sweets, delicious items like farsaan; and diyas to celebrate the festival,” says Archie. They also had fun games and interacted with the elderly people. In a unique donation drive, the Rotaractors collected worn-out shoes and slippers and got them recycled and refurbished. “We donated over 650 pairs of footwear after they were mended under project The Sole Purpose,” she says. Similarly, they collected over 500kg of e-waste, old furniture, books and other discards, all of which were upcycled

Old shoes, footwear were recycled and donated to needy children. and refurbished before they were donated to less privileged families under Project Eco Warriors. Fun activities like Zumba session and craft-making were conducted for patients at the Regional Mental Hospital, Thane. With the aim to upgrade the anganwadis in Bhiwandi, “we donated weighing scales and Infantometers to six childcare centres where sessions on complimentary feeding were held for lactating mothers (Project Aanchal).” Rotaractors went miles (Smile-A-Thon) to spread smiles among 170 children at three impoverished colonies in and around Mulund. “We distributed gift bags consisting of muffins, snacks, compass boxes, notebooks and stationery,” says Mansha.

A hygiene kit being given to an elderly woman.

Rotaractors donate gadgets to a childcare centre in Bhiwandi. Around 100 hygiene kits were distributed in Mulund and Badlapur for needy families. Project Umeed (hope) offered Rotaractors an opportunity to spend time with HIV-positive people at an NGO. Fruits, stationery and other daily essentials were distributed to them.

Club president Archie Chhadwa (2nd from L), to her left secretary Mansha Dedhia and Rotaractors at the e-waste collection drive.

An awareness campaign on AIDS/ HIV was conducted at a mall. Enjoyable journey Pursuing a diploma in pre-school management, Archie, a home tutor, says, “Rotaract has so much to offer and right now, I am enjoying every moment of being a Rotaractor. Once the time is ripe, I will become a Rotarian.” She joined Rotaract four years ago. Agreeing with her, Mansha, a UG student in Business Management, too wants to “be a Rotaractor as long as possible. But I will become a Rotarian to continue my service.” Both of them are thankful to their parent Rotary, RC Mumbai Mulund South, “whose members support us with resources once we pitch our project ideas to them.” JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

Cleaning a river in Kerala Jaishree

harathapuzha, the second longest river in Kerala, is an important source for irrigation, drinking and other uses in the state. It is also home to a diverse array of plants and aquatic life. The river spreads across Palakkad and Malapuram districts and enjoys cultural heritage too. The famous Kerala Kalamandalam is located on the banks of this river in Shoranur.

Considered the ‘Nile of Kerala,’ the river is hence also called ‘Nila’. However, in recent years, the river has become polluted due to the dumping of industrial and household waste, sewage and other pollutants. This pollution can harm or kill marine life and can be harmful to humans if the water is used for drinking or irrigation.

Twenty members of Rotaract Club of Rising Stars, RID 3201, recently participated in cleaning the river as part of a programme called ‘Swachh Nila’. “Our activities attracted public interest and we were able to raise awareness about the importance of protecting and preserving our natural resources,” says club president K Ajith. Cleaning a river is a complex and an

Rotaractors with the garbage bags after cleaning the river Bharathapuzha.

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ongoing task that requires cooperation of multiple stakeholders, and implementation of a variety of strategies. “By taking action to protect and preserve the Bharathapuzha river, we want to set an example for others to follow and make a positive impact on the environment,” he adds. Project Dhrishyam The Rotaractors began the new year 2023 with a

Above: Rotaractors accompanying the differently-abled children to the movie theatre. Left: Preparing ela ada, a delicacy for Onam.

fun-filled movie session with the differently-abled inmates of the Polygarden Rehab Centre which is rehabilitating, treating and educating mentally-challenged, epileptic and psychiatric patients from across Kerala. “For some of them it was a maiden experience,

while 60 of the inmates enjoyed the theatre experience after 18 years,” says M Suparna, past president of the club. Tickets were booked for a Malayalam movie, Malikapuram, at the Laddor Cinemas, Ottapaalam. The Rotaractors too joined the Polygarden family for the movie.

The theatre management made special arrangements to make the movie-watching experience comfortable for the visitors. Project Madhuram Earlier, on Sept 10, the club celebrated Onam festival with the elderly people of the Abhayam

Old Age Home. Ela ada, a traditional delicacy especially prepared for the festival, was cooked in a Rotaractor’s home and distributed among the inmates of the home. “It was a team effort with all our members pitching in to prepare the dish. It is made by steaming rice flour pancakes with coconut-and-jaggery filling wrapped in a banana leaf. It certainly was a special Onam for all of us,” says Suparna. The two-year-old club was sponsored in 2020 by RC Palghat. JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

Concert for a cause Jaishree

Arjun Kanungo performing at the fundraiser music concert.

otaract District 3141 organised the ‘Arjun Kanungo Live,’ a music concert at the Phoenix Market City in Kurla, Mumbai, to raise funds for the district project, Umeed, an initiative to fund paediatric heart surgeries, curb malnutrition and provide clean drinking water for the underprivileged. RAC Mumbai Downtown partnered with the district for the music

32 ROTARACT NEWS JANUARY 2023

show which attracted over 1,200 people and 450 Rotaractors. “This is probably the first mega Rotaract fundraiser in our district,” says club president Toral Mazmudar who runs an event management company. RAC Mumbai Downtown, the oldest Rotaract club in the district, is on its 51st year and “this project is a fitting tribute to our legacy. All of us had so much leadership and

Right: Arjun Kanungo auctioning the painting which is held by club president Tarol. DRR Shah is on the right.

DRR Gamin Shah with club president Tarol Mazmudar (R).

management lessons to learn from the event,” she says. The organising committee was supported by over 50 Rotaractors, divided into teams to implement various strategies for the effective completion of the programme. The huge footfall for the fundraiser was made possible due to the massive publicity it enjoyed. Special stalls were put up in colleges and other public places, and the programme was promoted on both print and digital media, and through influencers. “We tied up with Radio Mirchi who ran a contest for us and two lucky winners won free VIP passes for our concert. We also had a special giveaway arranged for Rotaractors and one lucky winner got a chance to meet the star of the night, Arjun Kanungo.” Upcoming Bollywood singer Himanshu Kohli and his team performed the opening act before Kanungo had the audience grooving to music for two hours. He helped Rotaract District 3141 auction a painting, the proceeds of which was also donated to support Project Umeed. RAC Mumbai DT had invited 35 children from an NGO and it was their maiden experience of a live concert, says Toral. DRR Gemin Shah who attended the concert spoke about the district project and the causes it supports to garner contribution from the public. A two-minute video on Project Umeed was screened at the concert. “It was a beautiful experience to be a part of Project Umeed. It’s just the beginning, a lot more to go!” smiles Toral who joined Rotaract two years ago. JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

Rotaract leaders of

Andhra V Muthukumaran

t is an eye-opener to know that a small town in the Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh is empowering youth and girl students through its twin Rotaract clubs — RACs Young Leaders and Sabala, RID 3020 — which have students of SPACES Degree College as members. “Our college offering arts, commerce, sciences and management courses is located in Payakaraopeta, a small town surrounded by villages. Sponsored by RC Tuni, we are a 14-year-old club for male students, while girls are represented by RAC Sabala,” says Pardha Saradhi Ayyangar, president, RAC Young Leaders. With just 40 members, the club has done well-designed projects that speak volumes of their innovative spirit. Around 200 people at Aratlakota and Mangavaram villages were sensitised at Project Vana Paatham camps on the need to “conserve nature, protect our trees/plants, and understand the crucial role of biodiversity in nurturing various forms of life on planet Earth,” explains Ayyangar. Having a tagline ‘celebrating life with plants,’ the special camps of Vana Paatham (path of trees) also distributed 450 saplings to villagers and students who were administered a pledge to nurture the trees till the 34 ROTARACT NEWS JANUARY 2023

Above: SPACES Degree College principal K Veerraju (centre), to his left is club president Pardha Saradhi Ayyangar, second from right is RAC Sabala president Lahari with Rotaractors, students and faculty. Left: RAC Young Leaders president Pardha Saradhi (left) and RAC Sabala president Lahari plant a sapling during Project Vana Paatham.

end. More than 100 students from their college took part in a literary contest related to conservation. Online Google meets were conducted under Project Maithri (friendship) where Rotaractors from 60 clubs in India, US, Russia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, among others, exchanged cultural ideas, letterheads; enjoyed fun games; and shared notes on future projects. “Our tagline ‘celebrating friendship beyond borders’ crisply puts forth the aim of Project Maithri,” he says.

‘Vande’ projects Competitions in spoken and written Sanskrit were held for the Rotaractors of RID 3020 and students of Sampradaya, an institute in Hyderabad, under Project Vande Geervana Vani (salutions to Mother Sanskrit language). At the online seminar, scholars, Dorbala Prabhakara Sharma and V Gopalakrishna Shastri, gave lectures on ‘necessity to learn and speak Sanskrit in the modern era.’ DG Bhaskar Ram felicitated the scholars. In the second ‘Vande’ event — Vande Guru Paramparaam (salutations to our teachers), 39 lecturers and teaching staff at SPACES College were felicitated by Rotaractors at a thanksgiving ceremony. “We are planning a series of programmes under ‘celebrations’ and ‘Vande’ taglines in the coming months,” says Ayyangar, a 3rd year student of BSc (CBZ). “Our sister club, RC Sabala with 60 members joins us in all our project activities and we work closely with them.” RC Sabala president A Lahari says, “both the clubs strive together for the overall development of communities around us through joint planning and execution.” Visionary educationist SPACES College foundercorrespondent Ch V K Narasimha Rao started Sri Prakash Educational Institutions in 1977 and later on, the degree college was added to the group in 1993. “Narasimha Rao and his son, Rtn Vijay Prakash, joint secretary, guide us with both moral and material support and encourage us to take up ambitious projects,” says Ayyangar. The club bagged four top awards at the zonal Rotaract conference titled Samastham in Kakinada. “Along with RC Tuni president N Satish and college principal K Veerraju, who mentors them on a daily basis, the father-son duo is the pillar of strength and we are inspired by their words and deeds,” he adds. JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

A special classroom by the bridge Kiran Zehra

t a slum near the Poonamallee bridge in Chennai underneath the shade of a few trees RAC Chennai Central, RID 3232, has set up a classroom. Every Sunday the place is abuzz with 20 children ardently

taking notes and listening to the lessons being taught. “This week they will start learning the names of fruits and vegetables in English, state capitals and addition in math,” says G Keerthi, the club president.

Left: A club member helps a child to write.

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Above: Rotaractors interact with the children. Below: A child participates in a true or false exercise.

The club, in partnership with Lure for Life, a Chennai-based NGO, has started the Bridge initiative “to improve the learning outcomes of poor and underprivileged children in the slums. These children suffer from disparity and deprivation and are engaged in ragpicking and other menial jobs. Some of them do not go to school regularly and a few are likely to drop out,” says M Lavanya, the club secretary. Apart from basic education for these children, Rotaractors also conduct special sessions on English speaking, writing and reading, art and craft, exercises and yoga, soft skills, life skills and social awareness. “We have come a long way from where we started. These kids who don’t want to miss a single class now were once totally uninterested and didn’t even want to be part of this classroom.” Club members had to think of interesting games, rewards, and ideas to keep them engaged. “This is not a regular classroom and there is no compulsion for them to sit here. We had to be on our feet to keep them engaged. It was challenging,” says project chairman S Kokila, adding that “it feels great to see a good number of children showing up regularly for these classes and involve themselves energetically. We can only imagine what they could achieve if they had access to formal schooling.” The club is also providing them with a basic educational kit and replenishing their pencils and notebooks whenever needed. “We can see the change in their behaviour from the time we started in September 2022. There are no ‘slum kids’ as some people address them. There are only children who happen to live in a slum. They are not different from other children and they learn what you teach them at the same speed a child in a private school would do,” says Kokila. The club had also organised special programmes for these children on Diwali and Christmas. JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

Rotaract, a buzzing spot at Sophia College V Muthukumaran

RAC Sophia College for Women president Srishti Chawla (3rd from L), Rotaractors and police women at Project Atma Raksha.

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fter going through difficult Covid times over the last two years, RAC Sophia College for Women, RID 3141, in South Mumbai is bristling with activities and has become a happening spot with happy and excited faces all-around. “Our members are able to connect with physical events and programmes, as we are able to appreciate and enjoy the impact they have, attracting more students,” says Srishti club president Srish s ti t Chawla. year While la llast st yea eaar the membership stood at 180, thiss yyear ear it has already Rotaractors feel touched 256 Rota taractors who fee ta fosters that “our club fos oste os t rs more bonding te than dance, and fellowship tha an the nature, dance drama and cultural al clubs clubs which are also Havactive in our college,” she smiles. Hav ingg over 250 members after the Covid Rotaractors at the sanitary napkin collection and donation drive at the college canteen.

pandemic is a “huge achievement. This record growth is despite the stiff competition we have from other niche clubs which try to attract students.” Project Atma Raksha (selfprotection) trained 30 college girls in martial arts to protect them against stalkers and predators. “A team of 5–6 Mumbai police personnel gave a demo and taught us some basic self-defence techniques,” says Maryam Aarbi, club secretary. In July last year, they volunteered at a blood donation camp hosted by RC Bombay Central, their parent Rotary, in which around 80 units of blood was collected. Around 35 Rotaractors made sandwiches at the college canteen and distributed the snacks to the poor children in the nearby localities. “Due to frequent exams, we could not take up projects that we wanted to do, but in the coming months we will implement them that will fetch us more visibility,” says Maryam, a 2nd year student of BA, English. Mentorship RC Bombay Central provides the resources and guides the Rotaractors

in their project execution. “Whenever we conduct an event or programme, our parent Rotary extends all support like lending us the Rotary hall or sponsoring key resources for our project,” says Srishti. She cites the installation event with the Rotary club pitching in with `11,000 to make it a memorable moment. Out of the annual dues of `650 per Rotaractor being collected, “around `410 goes to RI for the new mandatory dues, `100 for the district fund and the balance is used by the club.” Srishti and her team are looking forward to staging a two-day cultural fest, Phoenix, “which will attract a footfall of over 1,000 including Rotaractors, students, Interactors and Rotarians.” This will be their fourth edition of Phoenix which drew a large number of students ever since “we have removed the registration fees last year.” Doing her third year, dual BA, Economics and Political Science, Srishti is interested to become a Rotarian and “take up service projects after I return to my native Allahabad, UP, once I complete my studies here.” JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

Promoting menstrual hygiene Jaishree

ince the start of this Rotary year, we have distributed 520 reusable sanitary pads and 300 alert whistles among young girls and women around Mumbai,” says Dr Aayushi Kacheria, president, RAC Bombay Hanging Gardens, RID 3141. The club began their menstrual hygiene programme since 2019, and it has grown to be an impactful project among the underprivileged girls and women in the slums and tribal areas around the city. “We have distributed at least 2,500 napkins so far. We have scaled up the project now with a target is to distribute 1,000 pads every year,” she says. On an average the project costs `2.5 lakh annually. The funds are raised by the members through donations from their known circles. “Initially some of the Rotaractors used to bake cookies, cakes, bread and cupcakes, and

40 ROTARACT NEWS JANUARY 2023

the proceeds from the sale would be contributed into the kitty for the project. Post-Covid we have stopped doing that.” Aayushi, a general practitioner and pursuing post-graduation in medicine, trains volunteers to educate young girls and women about menstrual hygiene, follow good menstrual health and to avail the benefits of using reusable sanitary napkins. “We make sure that the girls/women do not feel uncomfortable in any way. We also invite the boys to the lectures. Our aim is to break the taboo

A medical camp in progress.

surrounding menstruation, and make it all more inclusive so that men become more sensitive to women’s health,” says the club president. This year, along with the reusable sanitary pads, the Rotaractors distributed alert whistles provided to them by the parent club, RC Bombay Hanging Gardens. The electronic device has a button which, when pressed down, gives out a shrill whistle to alert people in the neighbourhood. “This is particularly useful for working women who travel in deserted places and women in the villages where they visit the fields at night to attend nature’s call,” she explains. Medical camp The club has been organising health camps in association with its parent club, RC Bombay Hanging Gardens, and its Interact

Above: An awareness session on menstrual hygiene for village women.

Reusable sanitary napkins being distributed to adolescent girls.

clubs, since 2015. This year, on Christmas-eve, the team set up a camp near the Nepean Sea Road in Mumbai. Doctors provided counselling for various illnesses, and medicines were distributed to the patients. Eye and dental check-up, blood pressure and diabetes tests were also part of the health camp. Spectacles,

sponsored by the parent Rotary club, were given to patients with eyesight disorder. Over 250 people benefitted from the camp during the day. During Covid, the clubs together staged a mega vaccination camp in Mumbai. On World Kindness Day (Nov 13), the club members distributed notes of kindness

to 100 strangers at the Marine Drive. “Each note had a special message of hope and words of kindness and gratitude, aimed to brighten up the day for the recipients. We asked them to pass on the note to someone they meet, so as to make happiness and hope a chain reaction,” she says.

JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

Adithya Rotaractors train youth for employment V Muthukumaran

t the time of registration two years ago, RAC Adithya, RID 3201, got classified as a community-based club despite its location on the campus of Adithya Institute of Technology, Coimbatore, and meant for students of this college. “We are trying to rectify this wrong grouping with the help of

Rotarians and soon we will get tagged under the institution category,” says J Harsha Vardhan, club secretary. Under its district priority project, VIBGYOR, which has seven areas of focus, an event titled ‘one-day workshop’ was held at the seminar hall of the college. “Around 120 students from various colleges in Coimbatore were trained at the career guidance

and placement sessions. The focus was on industrial skill sets and making the students market-ready for companies to absorb them once they finish their studies,” explains Vardhan. An HR company, Adaivom Singaram shortlisted some of the students at the workshop for job placement after conducting a round of training and counselling sessions.

College students and Rotaractors at the one-day workshop on career guidance.

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RAC Adithya president M Akash (centre) along with students at Project RRR. (Right) A student gets a memento. Project RRR (named after a Telugu film RRR with a racy song Naatu, Naatu that bagged the Golden Globe Award) was launched to “motivate tribal students to think and aim big.” Here, a team of 10 Rotaractors and career counsellor Mythili went to Tinkle Sevaa, an NGO, to provide guidance to around 60 tribal students living in that special home.

In February last week, the members have planned to distribute seed balls to over 120 government school students, under Project Vithaigal (seeds), for them “to plant them in dry, arid places where there is no vegetation. The students will nurture the saplings till they grow into trees,” says Vardhan. A tentative project is on the drawing board to create awareness

on organic farming among farmers. “We will urge them to avoid using fertilisers, instead will encourage them to use organic inputs and manure for growing crops.”

Pillar of strength Last year (2021–22), the club joined hands with RACs Coimbatore Institute of Technology and Coimbatore Majestic to host Rotaract discon titled Elite. “It was a huge success. But at the end of it, we faced a shortfall of `92,000 in final payments. Our parent, RC Coimbatore, intervened and cleared all our dues,” explains Vardhan, a 4th year student of B Tech (IT) who has been a Rotaractor for three years. Their parent Rotary has also sponsored five other Rotaract clubs, all of which are active. While the Rotarians help in executing Rotaract projects through sponsorship and by providing resources, “around 7–8 Rotaractors attend the weekly Rotary meetings and observe their interactions,” he says. On Rotary mentorship, club president M Akash, batch mate of Vardhan, explains, “if we submit project bills and other expenditure proofs, our Rotary club reimburses a major part of the pending amount. They guide us by giving fresh ideas and new project initiatives which we follow.” At the start of the Rotary year, annual dues of `200 per head is collected from Rotaractors. JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

Teaching children new skills Kiran Zehra

embers of RAC Saveetha School of Management, RID 3232, have been spending a lot of time with schoolchildren, teaching them new skills and important lessons. Recently the club, in association with RC Chennai Mitra, conducted a self-etiquette awareness programme for the students of the Chembarambakkam Government School, Chennai. The session guided children on the essential skills needed to build and enhance self-confidence, to

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present their best side and make the most of the opportunities that come their way and help them express themselves appropriately. A few of the topics covered included importance of etiquette, grooming, personal hygiene and basic communication skills. The club had previously conducted a drawing competition for the students of this school on the topic of sustainable waste

management as part of their Christmas celebration. The students came up with creative artwork showcasing the use of dustbins, importance of plantation drives, and a few drawings to illustrate sustainability. Gifts, crayons and chocolates were distributed to the students. Under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), the club conducted a good touch, bad touch awareness programme called Nirbaya at the school. The activity-based, interactive programme educated the children to identify the various forms and patterns of sexual abuse and how to correctly and confidently report them to their parents or teachers. A practical session on martial arts was organised by the club, along with RAC A Rotaractor giving crayons to the school children.

Rotaractors with the students during an etiquette awareness programme.

RKM Vivekananda College, Tiruninravur, a suburb near Chennai. The programme imparted basics of self-defence knowledge to the girl students and silambam, a South Indian martial art form. The main aim was to make the girls more confident by empowering them to defend themselves in times of danger. In partnership with Lakme Academy, Chennai, the club

conducted a personal grooming programme for its members. It focused on personality development, presentation skills, power dressing and other etiquette. The beauty experts shared tips on skincare, haircare and makeup improvement. Under Project Yadhumanaval (she is everything), the club recognised single mothers.

JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

Rotaract transforms a village near Chennai V Muthukumaran

or the 50 Rotaractors of RAC Hindustan University, RID 3232, “it has been a life-changing experience at the week-long camp in Sirudavoor, a village near Thiruporur panchayat, 50km south of Chennai. We took up multiple projects including a census of the village under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) to submit a development scheme in that central government portal,” says club president PM Harikrishnan. Groups of Rotaractors knocked on the doors of villagers for enumeration of their family details, caste, income, literacy level, livestock they possess, and diseases, if any, they were

inflicted with. “We covered 400 houses and prepared a census survey which was uploaded in the UBA portal, along with a project proposal for which we are eligible for a central grant of `1.5 lakh,” he explains. Named as Mission Swasth (healthy), during their week-long stay at Sirudavoor they organised a series of medical camps including exclusive ones for eye, dental and veterinary in partnership with Sankara Nethralaya’s Orange Vision Centre, Pammal; Chettinad Hospital; and Chengalpattu Veterinary Hospital. “Around 350 villagers were screened for chronic ailments and medicines were given to patients,” says Harikrishnan.

An eye camp in progress at Sirudavoor village.

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During their stay at the Thiruporur Government Middle School, “we cleaned the school campus, painted the walls, after which we did the same work at the ration shop and anganwadi buildings.” A traffic awareness rally was conducted to sensitise the public and students with the help of Thiruporur police in which placards and sign boards were used to deliver messages on safe driving, wearing helmets and observing the traffic rules. Rotaractors conducted games and competitions on Swachh Bharat (Clean India) for government school students, and prizes were given to the winners. A cultural programme titled Healthy India was also staged with the help of students and youngsters. On the last day of their camp, the Rotaractors visited Mahabalipuram and “took up cleaning of the main seashore that was littered with plastics and discards thrown by tourists. We urged the locals and shop owners to keep their area clean by not littering their surroundings.” On the first day, a derelict pond near Sirudavoor was cleaned with

Rotaractors after the clean-up of a pond near Sirudavoor village.

Painting the government school building.

Creating awareness among students and villagers.

the help of volunteers from the Environmentalist Foundation of India, an NGO working to preserve nature. NSS bodies from Hindustan Group of Institutions were partners at the Rotaract activities in Sirudavoor.

A Rotaract team taking census.

Great mentor Chartered eight years ago, the 160-member club was sponsored by RC Chennai Capital. Rtn Ashok Varghese, pro-chancellor, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, is mentoring the Rotaractors and “he donates liberally for our projects.” The college has adopted five villages under the UBA scheme. A monthly due of `80 is collected from members. JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

A sanitary napkin vending machine for a government school Kiran Zehra

ith an aim to improve attendance and academic performance of the girl students at VLB Janakiammal Girls High School, RAC Coimbatore CACIL, RID 3201, in association with the RC Coimbatore New Gen and Innerwheel Club Of Coimbatore East, installed a sanitary napkin vending machine worth `6,000. Students from economically weak background study in this school. The vending machine was installed

as an effort to encourage them to attend school regularly even during their periods, explains Mohammed Farhan, the club president. The sanitary pads have been sourced from Bliss Natural, an organic napkin manufacturing startup based in Coimbatore. At the inauguration of the machine, students were taught how to use the facility and ways to safely and hygienically dispose off the napkins. This was followed by a menstrual hygiene awareness session A sanitary vending machine was donated to VLB Janakiammal Girls’ High School by the club.

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for the students. In another initiative the club organised a mental health awareness programme for students studying in Classes 4–8. “We were shocked to learn that many of them have witnessed, if not experienced, domestic violence. It is important for us to talk about their mental health as children are exposed to violence in their homes. Some of them are also victims of physical abuse and are at serious risk of long-term physical and mental health problems. Children

who witness violence between parents are at a greater risk of being violent in their future relationships,” says Farhan, adding that the club will work with experts who will “discreetly address individuals who need help.” In association with the Perur Town Panchayat, Coimbatore, the club conducted a cleanliness drive followed by a hygiene and sanitation awareness programme for the conservancy workers. Under Project Zakkath the club distributed food packets and slippers to beggars. Club dues? No problem The club president says that the membership dues to RI for this year is `11,480. ”We have so far collected `8,000. I am sure we will collect the balance amount soon.” For Rotaractors who find it difficult to pay `1,500

Rotaractors on a cleanliness drive at Perur, Coimbatore.

A Rotaractor distributing biryani as part of Project Zakkath. (annual membership) “we have split it into two instalments so that it becomes easier to pay. Some of our members also pitch in to pay for those who can’t. We don’t have problems with paying

dues. It only makes things more organised for us.” The club has planned a big PR and fundraising event in February and plans to use the funds for “meaningful club projects.” JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

Transgender talent showcased in Coimbatore V Muthukumaran

s the first woman president of 20-yearold RAC PSGCAS, RID 3201, Prachi Jaiswal says, “two most important aspects of being a Rotaractor are community service and fellowship, which I really enjoy doing along with my big team of 60 members at this club.” Recently, they staged Project Loud & Proud, an open mic event for the LGBTQ community in Coimbatore to exhibit their talent in music, dance and drama.

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“Around 40 transgenders came out of their closet and showcased their diverse skills which were appreciated by the audience,” says Prachi. Chief guest Kalki Subramaniam, a transgender activist, thanked Rotaract for holding a unique show that put the spotlight on the third gender. “A new stage has opened for the queer community to perform and get recognition from the people at large,” they said. Under the district priority project (DPP), VIBGYOR, which

Above: Rotaractors and transgenders at Project Loud & Proud. Left: A play by transgenders.

focuses on seven focus areas of Rotary, “we are doing a monthly project, Educate. In this, we visit orphanages and government schools to hold interactive sessions, seminars on topics that are relevant and sought after by the teaching faculty.” So far, the Rotaractors had done four visits to institutions and covered topics such as peer pressure, menstrual

hygiene and issues that help in in the betterment of children by honing specific skills. The club representing the students of PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, is known for conducting its signature event, Quiz Trac, a quiz competition for schoolchildren and for the public under the open category. “We will be holding the 20th edition of Quiz Trac in March and expect at least 170– 200 school students and around 500 members of the public in the two categories,” explains Prachi, a third-year student of BSc (Maths with Computer Science). Rotaractors take part in their parent Rotary, RC Coimbatore Midtown’s weekly meetings once or twice a month. “We conducted events for school Interactors

after the club was started by their parent Rotary. Rotarians guide us in our initiatives, but till now we had not sought any monetary help from them,” she says. During the Rotaract weekly meetings, the five Avenue Committee heads for club, community, professional, international and DPPs make presentations and air their views on new projects which will be discussed and decisions will be taken after brainstorming sessions. “I would like to become a dual member, but with just one-year experience as a Rotaractor, I am looking for more exposure and project experience in Rotaract. My wish is to become a Rotarian and an active member of my parent, RC Coimbatore Midtown in the next few years,” she adds. JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

Spreading ovarian health awareness Jaishree

e want to understand the communities’ needs and deliver what is really essential and beneficial for our people. In this way we can do the best in Rotary,” says Shivaramakrishnan, president, RAC Kumaraguru College of Technology, RID 3201. From our interactions with youngsters and even adult women, we realised that many of them had no

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knowledge about PCOD/PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Disease/Syndrome). Studies show that one in five women suffer from PCOS in India and public awareness about it is therefore essential,” he adds. PCOD is a condition in which ovaries produce several immature or partially mature eggs. This happens due to poor lifestyle habits, obesity, stress and hormonal imbalance. ‘Polycystic’ means many cysts, and PCOS causes

Clockwise from top: Members of RAC Kumaraguru College of Technology; A boy from the Sathya Nagar slum shows off his dancing skills; Girls in rapt attention at an ovarian health awareness session in a school; Dictionaries being distributed to students in a government school.

Rotaractors playing games with clildren at Sathya Nagar, a slum near Coimbatore.

clusters of small, pearl-sized fluid-filled cysts in the ovaries. PCOD/ PCOS can cause missed or irregular menstrual periods, excessive hair growth, acne, infertility, balding and weight gain. Women with this disorder may be at higher risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems and endometrial cancer. The club devised a programme to create awareness among school children about the disorder. Dr Nithya, a gynaecologist and a PCOS expert, was signed up to give the first lecture on the topic at the Shri Nehru Vidyalaya School in Coimbatore for 250 students from Classes 9–12. “The first step to managing PCOS is awareness. With a clean, plant-based diet and holistic lifestyle the condition can be managed. Symptoms such as irregular periods and pelvic pain are not something to be ignored and getting it checked is necessary. This was emphasised in the lecture,” says Shivaramakrishnan. Carnival for slum children The club members, along with Rotaractors of RACs Sri Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Sankara College of Science and Commerce, recently visited Sathya Nagar, a slum on the suburbs of Coimbatore and organised a one-day carnival for the children. Games, entertainments, food and gifts formed part of the carnival. “It was a soul-satisfying day for all of us because the locality was a neglected one, and it lacked basic amenities such as water and electricity. There were just thatched huts all over the place. Despite this depressing scenario, it was so good to see the cheer in the children that day,” says the club president. The club is planning another visit to the colony soon to provide essential items such as water bottle, dresses and footwear for the children. The Rotaractors visited a government school in the town on Independence Day and distributed dictionaries to 135 students of Classes 4–8. JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

A helpline for mental wellness in Coimbatore V Muthukumaran

ith fears of recession and job cuts, the youth in Coimbatore are under more stress now than before the Covid pandemic. To fight depression, anxiety and stress, a mental health cell is offering counselling through a helpline number on the district Rotaract portal, rotaract3201.org. “The helpline also fixes appointment with doctors and psychiatrists for patients in need of diagnosis and treatment,” says A K Thanghapantieyaan, aka Thangha, district secretary, correspondence, at RID 3201. A weekly Project Talent Hub opens up opportunities for Rotaractors in RID 3201 to hone and exhibit their skills in various fine arts such as singing, dance, drawing and painting, stage plays and acting to the public at large. “Right now, we have 50 Rotaractors who are actively involved in showcasing their talent and in the coming months, we will attract more members as the project is gaining traction with good attendance from the public,” he says. Pleased with the success of the three-day RYLA which groomed 50 Rotaractors including 12 from the Philippines and Nepal in leadership qualities and skill sets required to face life challenges, Thangha says, “five speakers and trainers engaged the youth through interactive sessions and field games that brought out the spirit of camaraderie among them.” In December, RC Coimbatore Texcity, his home club, hosted the third edition of Vinaithodu (touch the sky) in which Roots Group director Kavignar Kavidasan gave an inspiring talk on ‘How to reach great heights in life’. Over 300 college students took part in the lecture event and “we had received

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Participants of a painting workshop at the Project Talent Hub.

Rotaractors at a training session on public speaking provided by Rtn Pon Rathnavel. a very good response from the college authorities over the last three years for this motivational session.” DRR Kishore Babu, who has initiated Project Talent Hub and mental wellbeing helpline, is looking forward to “launch a mega community project with the involvement of all the clubs and Rotaractors.” On the Rotaract dues, he says, “clubs are willing to pay the annual fees as members are now aware of the add-on benefits of being a Rotaractor. But membership growth is still a challenge and we will tackle it with new strategies.” The Rotaract

Trainers Cell led by district secretary, admin, Mohamed Afsar guides a team of trainers-cum-club advisors. “We have training modules for clubs on how to implement programmes and give them project-specific mentorship,” says Afsar. A Rotaractor for seven years, Thangha, an HR executive in an IT company, says with over 3,000 Rotaractors in 128 clubs across Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, and Idukki, Kochi, Palakkad and Thrissur in Kerala, “we are poised for rapid growth through impactful projects.”

In Brief Man runs a marathon for 365 days Gary McKee, a North England resident, ran a marathon every day of 2022 to raise money for cancer treatment. He ran 26.2km every day before going to work, completing 15,300km during the year. He has raised £1 million for Macmillan Cancer Support and West Cumbria Hospice in North England.

Solar-powered car Dutch company Lightyear has officially commenced assembly of a 4 – 5 passenger electric vehicle that charges wherever there is daylight, whether parked or on the move. Named Lightyear 0, this long-range solar car, with a starting price of ǧ250,000, charges on the go and gains up to 70km of range per day from the sun.

Chennai safest for women in India A study conducted by talent strategy consulting firm Avtar, which analysed cities on five metrics — ease of living, safety, women’s representation rate, and women’s empowerment initiatives, has ranked Chennai as the top city in India for women’s safety with a score of 78.41 in the million-plus population category cities. The other cities in the list include Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai, in that order.

Creating opportunities for disadvantaged youth Rare Recruitment, a London-based manpower company, is creating opportunities for disadvantaged young Britons at some of UK’s most prestigious companies. The firm uses a radical algorithm called Contextual Recruitment System to identify talent from disadvantaged backgrounds and has so far ‘contextualised’ 1.7 million applications since it began in 2015.

Blue bonds to protect the ocean The Nature Conservancy’s Blue Bonds for Ocean Conservation strategy will unlock $50 million as part of a debt-for-nature refinancing programme for the island nation of Barbados which is reeling in debt and tackling low tax revenue. The Nature Conservancy announced it will work with partners to buy a piece of Barbados’ national debt and refinance it to facilitate the nation’s goal of protecting 30 per cent of its territorial waters.

Compiled by Kiran Zehra; Designed by Krishnapratheesh S JANUARY 2023 ROTARACT NEWS

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Rotaract News January 2023

Articles inside

In Brief

A helpline for mental wellness in Coimbatore

Spreading ovarian health awareness

V Muthukumaran

A sanitary napkin vending machine for a government school

Rotaract transforms a village near Chennai

Teaching children new skills

Adithya Rotaractors train youth for employment

Promoting menstrual hygiene

Rotaract, a buzzing spot at Sophia College

A special classroom by the bridge

Rotaract leaders of Andhra

Concert for a cause

Cleaning a river in Kerala

Mulund Rotaractors help young and old

A ‘fruit forest’ by Chennai Rotaractors

Huge public image projects in RID 3203

Aeromodelling lessons for children

Where fellowship bonds Rotaractors

Rotaractors spread love with free hugs

Rotaract nurtures creative skills

Combatting addiction among Mumbai’s

An Annet cricket star

Enhanced opportunities await Rotaractors

Conviction, enthusiasm and energy of youth