Health camps to handmade crafts

For Kumudh, a 50-year-old woman from Zari, a tribal hamlet 60km from Nashik, threading a needle was once an impossible task. “My husband has just two shirts, and the buttons kept falling off. I would try everything to get the thread into the needle but failed and had to rely on my daughter or neighbour for help,” she says. Now, with the spectacles she received at a medical camp organised in her village, Kumudh threads the needle with ease.

This medical camp, organised by RC Nasik, RID 3030, in collaboration with the Sanay Foundation, Pune, addressed the pressing healthcare needs of Zari’s residents. Specialists in dentistry, ophthalmology, gynaecology and general medicine provided free consultation to over 250 villagers. Fifty people, like Kumudh, received free spectacles, while 40 others were identified for cataract surgeries, which the club will fund.

With the nearest PHC 30km away, villagers struggle to access medical care, especially women who need awareness on menstrual health and hygiene.
– Omprakash Rawat, President, RC Nasik

“The setup was simple, with tables, chairs and cloth partitions, but the purpose was to provide much-needed healthcare to the community,” says Vinayak Deodhar, a club member. Coordinated by club member Makarand Chindhade under the guidance of club president Omprakash Rawat, the camp was a response to a request from the village sarpanch. “With the nearest primary health centre 30km away, villagers struggle to access medical care, especially women who need awareness on menstrual health and hygiene,” explains Rawat.

This camp is part of the club’s sustained efforts to uplift Zari where, over the years, the Rotarians have implemented transformative initiatives, including smokeless chullahs, solar street lights, water conservation projects and toilet construction.

Since 2019, the club has also been running a farmers’ market every Sunday. A special event was organised in October to support local women’s self-help groups and tribal entrepreneurs. In collaboration with the Maharashtra government’s Tribal Development Corporation, the market featured over 50 women entrepreneurs showcasing products under the ‘Shabari’ brand, including homemade chutneys, papads, embroidery and bead jewellery. With over 1,000 visitors, the market recorded a turnover of ₹2 lakh.

“We plan to hold similar flea markets quarterly, providing a platform for these women to showcase and sell their products, and improve their livelihoods,” says Rawat. The project was chaired by club member Rajeshwari Balajiwale.