A Rotary dairy farm in Pune
Since 2005, RC Poona North, RID 3131, has distributed milch cows to over 2,460 women across 200 villages in Maval, Mulshi, Khed and Ambajogai taluks of Pune district. The donated cows have multiplied to become 50,000-plus cattle producing five lakh litres of milk every day.
Giving details of this mega dairy project, club president Deepak Takkar says, “our total investment is ₹9.74 crore over last two decades.” Each beneficiary has a high-yielding cow that produces over 10 litres of milk daily, which ensures a sustainable livelihood for rural families. The club has introduced scientific cattle breeding, given training on dairy management to women for improved milk yield, and sustainable farm practices, he said.
Also, 300 milk collection centres employ over 50,000 people, and supply fresh milk to over two lakh consumers.
Eye check-up for the elderly
An eye check-up camp was held at Ekamra Nilaya, an old age home, by the Rotary E-Club of District 3262, to mark Senior Citizens Day (Aug 21). Fifty-five inmates were examined through a Rotary mobile eyecare initiative in partnership with Vision Hope Express, an initiative of PDG Jayashree Mohanty.
The eye screening identified 11 elders in need of cataract surgery. The club provided meals and new clothes to the residents at the home and installed a solar water heater for their benefit.
Digi Class at rural school in Solapur
In a Happy School initiative, RC Solapur Smart City, RID 3132, provided a smart TV (Digi Class) for digital learning to rural students at the New English School, Kusur. The project was funded by a CSR grant from P P Patel & Co.
Bicycles were presented to girl students who had to walk long distances to and from this school, while two waste-segregation drums and a handwash station were also donated under the Happy School outreach. The smart TV will provide digital content to students and make classroom learning more interactive, while the handwash unit will promote hand hygiene. The waste-sorting drums will enable students to separate wet and dry waste, and promote organic composting.
Club president Basavaraj Birajdar urged students to make use of technology effectively which will help them to pursue higher education.
Mobility RYLA for visually challenged
A two-day Empathy and Mobility workshop under a District RYLA was conducted by RC Vishrambag, RID 3170, for 40 visually-challenged students at the Late Sou Sushilabai D Ghodawat Residential Blind School, Miraj.
Swagat Thorat and Swaroopa Deshpande mentored the students in various activities. During the Empathy session, Rotaractors and Rotarians experienced the daily tasks of visually-challenged people, and this helped them to appreciate their confidence and challenges. The students were taught life skills such as identifying fruits, vegetables and grains by touch and smell; walking independently with white canes; and climbing stairs safely.
The students had their first-ever mall experience as they explored the clothing shops by touching the fabrics, feeling the texture and design, and learned to use an elevator/escalator for the first time. Team-building games were also organised.