When we saw nine-year-old Anupam ride a bicycle, his face bright with joy, and when Aarav struck the ball bowled by one of our members, our hearts swelled with happiness and satisfaction, and our eyes welled with tears,” recalled Niraj Agarwal, immediate past president of RC Tinsukia, RID 3240. Anupam and Aarav were among 30 individuals fitted with LN-4 prosthetic arms at a camp organised by the club in August at Tinsukia, Assam. The Rotary Club of Kolkata Presidency, RID 3291, partnered with the club.
Anupam had lost his right arm in an accident when he was four; Aarav was born with a congenital limb deficiency. “The beneficiaries included young children who can now attend school confidently, and youngsters who are better equipped to seek employment or vocational training,” he said.
The camp became a turning point for Rashmi Paharia, a peppy nine-year-old burn survivor, whose right arm was badly burnt and disfigured in a fire accident at home.
The camp also became a turning point for Rashmi Paharia, a peppy nine-year-old burns survivor. Five years ago, a fire accident at home left her with severe burn injuries; her right forearm was fused to her upper arm and fingers stuck together. “Her mother had brought her in the hope of fitting an LN-4 arm. The doctors at the camp advised plastic surgery instead. Immediately, we decided to sponsor her treatment in Dibrugarh,” said Agarwal. A few more procedures are planned, and her arm is expected to be fully restored. Club members Sailesh Sarmah, Rajiv Mittal and Agarwal, with businesses related to medical services, supported Rashmi’s transformative treatment in various ways.
Enthused by the success of the LN-4 camp, the club, in association with the Mahavir Seva Sadan, Kolkata, organised a three-day artificial limb and calipers camp in December. Sixty individuals who had lost their lower limb due to various reasons benefitted from the camp.
Founded 56 years ago, RC Tinsukia presently has 66 members, including 12 women Rotarians, and has the distinction of producing two governors — Kirti Ranjan Dey and M S Kumar. The club runs a vaccination centre and is passionate about promoting literacy in the community.
Eight years ago, it transformed a village primary school into a Happy School, and continues to support it with educational supplies and scholarships for students from underprivileged families. “It is our way of ensuring no child is left behind,” said Agarwal.