Nourishing communities
The Rotary Club of Wadhwan City, RID 3060, is operating the Annapurna Rath to provide dinner at ₹5 a plate under its project, Bhukhya ne bhojan (food for the hungry). Since its launch in 2021–22, the initiative has provided over 1.4 lakh meals in Surendra Nagar, a twin city of Wadhwan, Gujarat, says club president Hita Jani.
Every evening between 5.30 and 7.30pm, a truck delivers hot, nutritious meals including rotis, gravy, khichdi and buttermilk to slum colonies. The food is kept fresh in casseroles, and a sweet dish is added to the menu on festive occasions. “We charge ₹5 per plate to ensure the recipients maintain their dignity. Those who can’t afford this nominal amount are not turned away,” she explains. On average, 150 people benefit daily from this service.
The project operates 365 days a year, primarily funded by the Rambhojnalay Trust led by philanthropist Dhanjibhai Patel and Dr Yashwant Patel, father of club member Karthik Patel. The daily cost of ₹2,500 is often covered by club members who sponsor meals to mark special occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries.
The 60-member club, now in its 25th year, has five permanent projects to its credit. Among its earliest achievements is a garden developed during the Rotary Centennial Year which remains a landmark in the community. “People here identify us as the ‘gardenwalli club’. It has helped in enhancing our public image,” smiles Hita.
Other flagship initiatives include a dialysis and a thalassaemia centre, established in 2020 when Hita’s husband Prashant Jani was district governor. These centres serve 25–30 people every day. “Over the years we have installed 13 machines at the dialysis centre. Our club sponsors breakfast for patients and their caregivers at both the centres through a dedicated fund,” she says.
A vocational training centre was inaugurated last Rotary year with the help of CSR grants and it is equipped with computers, CSC machines and sewing machines to train men and women in industry-related skills. The centre also trains youngsters in karate, chess and carrom.
