Nagpur Rotarians work for welfare of specially abled

During his recent visit to India, incoming RI ­President Mario de Camargo inaugurated a vocational centre at a residential facility put up for special children and adults in Nagpur by RC Nagpur North, RID 3030. The cost of the vocational centre was over ₹4 lakh.

Club president Manisha Manghani said that the club has been working with the NGO Sarvangin Apangvikas ­Bahuuddeshiya Kalyankari Seekhsan ­Sanstha that runs a residential facility for special children and adults in ­Nagpur. “Last year they moved to a new building built on a piece of land owned by the person who runs this NGO. But the living space for the girls and boys was very cramped and uncomfortable, so they asked us to put up two residential floors — one for girls and the other for boys,” she said. This was done last year; the vocational centre was built this year.

The club managed to get a CSR funding of ₹3 lakh from the corporate SSFM, which operates in the infra space, and whose executive director Deepesh ­Bhartiya is a new member of this club. The remaining ₹1 lakh was raised by the club members, along with white goods such as a refrigerator, kitchen implements and other utilities required. “They wanted a dining area also for the inmates who are in the age group 15–40, so we built that too,” she adds.

The NGO run by Gulab ­Dullarwar since 2002 in Nagpur manages this programme for about 100 special people — children and adults — under the project titled Jeevandhara. About 70 are ­residents — for whom this club has created comfortable residential space — and the remaining 30 are day scholars. The NGO has a longstanding relationship with this club and whenever it requires any help or additional facilities or equipment, it approached RC Nagpur North, and its members willingly provide whatever is required.

Jaipur foot

Manisha added that the club is also deeply engaged in providing the Jaipur foot, and this is an ongoing project for the last few years. Now it has really become big and expanded into a district project. Initially the club used to give about 100 to 110 Jaipur limbs a year, “but this year we are going to do it across the district and our target is 1,000. This is possible as we are working in partnership with the Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti in Jaipur which runs the Jaipur Foot programme.”

Drug abuse awareness

The club is also involved in a major project to raise awareness on the dangers of drug abuse and addiction. “Actually, the police commissioner sought our help on this issue as drug abuse is a growing problem among the youngsters in schools and colleges. So we carried out a major campaign during the Ganesh Pooja festival,” ­Manisha says.

There are over 1,000 Ganesh mandals in Nagpur during Ganesh ­Chaturthi, and inviting other district club members and Rotaractors to join them, the Rotarians covered as many mandals as possible, displaying posters, playing videos and talking about the danger that comes from drug addiction. A live podcast with the police commissioner was done.