When Kerala was devastated by floods in 2019 and the homes of hundreds of people were turned into rubble, RI District 3211 PDG Dr Giju Alexander George, and his wife Ramani, both AKS members, were thinking of helping out in some way with the funds they had donated to TRF, by converting some of their donation into a directed fund. Through this route, the Rotarian can get back 95 per cent of his contribution for doing a service project of his own choice.
Their keen desire to help has resulted in 12 beautiful homes being built for flood victims in Kottayam district at a cost of Rs.1.14 crore. The homes were inaugurated by RI director M Muruganandam in April.
Inaugurating the project, Muruganandam, who was accompanied by his spouse, Sumathi, said that this humanitarian project aimed to provide housing to 12 flood- affected families. “I am happy that the houses are built on land allotted by the local panchayat in the names of the beneficiaries, ensuring ownership, dignity and long-term security to these people.”
This “great gesture, made possible through a directed gift from PDG George, and carried out despite so many challenges, obstructions and obstacles, stands as a tribute to compassion and service. It will help devastated families to rebuild their lives with stability, hope and a renewed sense of purpose.”
This great gesture will help devastated families to rebuild their lives with stability, hope and a renewed sense of purpose.
— M Muruganandam, RI Director
Recalling the genesis of the project to build these homes, Dr George says that around that time, their Rotary district had a project to put up shelters and build houses, and PDG E K Luke was in charge of this project.
The Kerala government had published a list of people who had lost their houses in successive natural calamities and needed assistance and funds to rebuild them. “So, every panchayat and every municipality had a list of names, as the devastation caused by the floods was huge. In the Thalevala Parambak, near Vaithiyam, the list had 12 people whose homes had to be rebuilt. Luke contacted me and asked me if I could help,” he recalls.
Candidly, Dr George admits that initially he was not interested because he lives in Kollam, which is far off, about 100km, from this place. “So I said, I have got no interest in doing this project. But my wife, who is from Kottayam district, and a past Inner Wheel District 321 chairman, said, ‘why are you reluctant; this is my district, and why don’t you take care of my district?’ ”
The husband came on board and agreed that they would direct some of their AKS funds toward building these 12 homes.
But a terrible tragedy struck him when in 2022 he lost her following a massive heart attack.
By this time, the stone-laying ceremony was already over, and their club RC Quilon West End suggested that since this was a directed fund which had gone into a global grant to build these homes, it should be named Rotarian Ramani George Memorial Housing Project, which has been done.
Dr George is grateful to RC Quilon West End members “who helped me to complete the project. Some of the members supervised the construction work. Two of our members have worked as chief engineers in their careers and another member is an architect, and they all helped me in a big way to ensure supervision of the project.”
Asked to elaborate on what Muruganandam was referring to when during the inaugural ceremony he complimented him for continuing and completing the project despite many challenges, obstructions and obstacles, Dr George explained that the first challenge was related to the area being a hilly region which was badly eroded by the landslides during the floods.
A plateau had to be created and a lot of digging and removal of the earth were required, which again involved getting government permissions. Even as they would get permission, more rains would follow, and the district collector would ask them to halt all work.
“There were huge environmental concerns, and it took almost two years for us to get the plateau formation done. On top of that, the contractor who had taken on the job, fell ill, resulting in additional delay of another year.”
RID 3211 DG Tina Antoney, who had another dream project to build a Rotary village on land donated by a Rotarian, saw that project fall through due to some problems related to rules and regulations, and “was very happy to get involved in this project. It was a much smaller project but she was keen that it should be completed during her term, which happened.”
Dr George also acknowledged the interest taken by PDG John Daniel, “who lives barely 10km from my house and was always available to help out with information about global grants — he was a former RRFC — and he also took keen interest in this project. Earlier, during Covid time, we had worked together to give out ventilators worth ₹3.6 crore.”
He adds that the enthusiasm and interest of so many people ensured the completion of this project, which was a global grant, “with a silent international partner from UK, who acted as an observer, without making any monetary contribution.”
His daughter and a member of the same club (RC Quilon West End), Dr Anjana George thanked all the members of the club for their support and the district panchayat officials who had helped in completing the project. The event was attended by club members, DG Tina, DGN Meera John, her husband John Daniel and other past governors and RI officers.