Spotlight on thalassaemia camps
Orthopaedic surgeon, RC Calcutta Sun City, RID 3291
This surgeon is passionate about creating awareness on preventing thalassaemia; “this is our flagship project. We have done over 300 medical and blood testing camps (GG: $35,806) that have screened around 10 lakh people, and will organise 100 more camps by the end of this Rotary year,” says Dr Ramendu Homchaudhuri. A pathology van (GG: $45,000) was flagged off for blood-testing drives.
With 150 clubs having around 4,000 Rotarians, his target is to cross the 4,500 membership mark. “So far, we have formed 10 new clubs, including three satellite clubs.” More than 5,000 school, college girls were vaccinated under cervical cancer awareness and immunisation camps (last year’s GG, in phases), “we will reach out to another 550 girls by June 30,” he says.
The clubs are partnering with the Headmasters and Headmistress Association that controls over 1,000 government schools in Bengal, and have tied up with 1,000 marriage registrars and diagnostic centres for thalassaemic and blood testing camps. “Newly married couples are given counselling, while medical centres charge only ₹100 per test,” says Dr Homchaudhuri. At Dhaska village adopted by the district in Purulia, multiple projects (worth ₹20 lakh till now) such as digging ponds, irrigation lines, and potable water are being done through club funds.
With the help of a Tata group company, “we provided drinking water to government schools (GG: $36,000).” For TRF-giving, the target is $200,000. He joined Rotary in 2006, and took up a ‘pre-hospital trauma care service’ by running 12 ambulances that benefitted over 2,500 accident victims in Kolkata. Rotary provides a ‘huge canvas’ to serve the poor, where one can reach out to infinite beneficiaries, he smiles.
Touching lives for lasting impact
Garments, RC Madras Central, RID 3234
Rotary gives an opportunity to serve the underprivileged and create a lasting impact in their lives, says Vinod Saraogi. “Clubs must engage members in project activities, so that every Rotarian has a sense of belonging, ownership and feels he/she is contributing to make a difference.” With 84 clubs and over 3,500 Rotarians, he is confident of a net membership growth of 800 and formation of 10 new clubs.
One hundred dialysis machines are being installed at various government and charity hospitals (multiple GGs: ₹8 crore) across Tamil Nadu; 750 congenital heart surgeries at Apollo Hospitals (CSR grant: ₹3 crore) by RC Madras East; a mega HPV vaccination drive reaching out to 15,000 school and college girls (multiple GGs: ₹4 crore); 50 Happy Schools (GG+CSR fund: ₹3 crore) benefitting 15,000 students; and distribution of 150 pink autos to single women to earn a livelihood (GG+CSR fund: ₹2 crore) are the highlights of RID 3234 clubs.
Under a flagship programme, 125 tribal houses have been built till now (GG+CSR fund: ₹8 crore). His TRF-giving target is $2.5 million.
His wife Usha participates in all his outreach activities, and supports Anns in women-centric projects. The Saraogis have committed to become AKS Chair Circle members. Having joined Rotary in 1982, the DG is happy “making friends and helping the needy.”