One roof, many services
The Rotary Club of Kolhapur, RID 3170, operates the Rotary Samaj Seva Kendra, “probably the only institution in our city offering a wide range of services for the poor and the differently-abled under one roof,” says outgoing club secretary Sahil Gandhi.
Located on Collector Office Road in Kolhapur, the five-storey Kendra has been serving the community since 1969. Spread over 24,000sqft, it houses multiple facilities, including a physiotherapy centre, hydrotherapy centre, stroke rehabilitation unit, a preschool for children with hearing and speech impairments, a speech and hearing centre, and a blood bank.
“The Kendra was originally built through contributions from our members and continues to function with our own funds,” says Gandhi. It was reconstructed in 2021 and has since been visited by senior RI leaders such as PRIPs Kalyan Banerjee and Shekhar Mehta, TRF Trustee Bharat Pandya, and RI Director Anirudha Roychowdhury.
The ground floor parking area doubles up as a judo training centre for children. Around 40 children attend classes every evening, and several have won accolades at the state and national levels. A ‘Wall of Kindness’ cupboard here stores clean, donated clothes and blankets, which are regularly distributed to slum and street dwellers. In 2023, an e-waste collection bin was installed to promote safe disposal practices. Over 100kg of electronic waste including old computers, switches, laptops, motherboards and mobile phones are collected monthly and sent for proper recycling.
On the first floor, the Rotary Physiotherapy Centre is equipped with modern therapeutic devices. Therapy sessions involving play-based activities and exercises are provided for children with polio, cerebral palsy and delayed milestones. A team of qualified physiotherapists and assistants ensures personalised care. On average, 200 new patients are assessed monthly, and around 2,500 patients undergo various treatments. The charges are highly affordable, and free treatment is offered to those who cannot pay. Assistive devices such as walkers, commode chairs, wheelchairs, air beds, Fowler beds and crutches are also provided at minimal rental costs.
Installed in 2021, the Rotary Hydrotherapy Centre offers therapy for orthopedic, neurological and sports injuries in a temperature-controlled pool, using underwater cycles and treadmills. Waterfall therapy is also provided for pain relief and relaxation. “We maintain the highest hygiene standards. Around 80 people, including children, benefit from this facility each month,” says Gandhi.
The Rajarshi Shahu Blood Bank, managed by the club since 1975 and located on the second floor, is equipped with an apheresis unit for single donor platelet collection. “We collect 12,000 units of blood annually through camps. We have recently introduced the most advanced NAT testing technology and have started stem cell and granulocyte harvesting to support cancer patients,” he adds.
The Parkinson’s Rehabilitation Centre, established nine years ago in association with the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Society, Mumbai, was the first-of-its-kind in the city. It offers physiotherapy, speech and cognitive therapy, Japanese therapy, counselling, yoga and dietary guidance. A monthly consultation camp is conducted by a neurologist.
In response to the mental health challenges post-Covid, the club set up the Prerna Counselling Centre in 2021 to offer mental health support and guidance.
On the fourth floor, the Rotary Speech and Hearing Centre conducts advanced diagnostic tests for children with hearing impairments. Hearing aids and ear moulds are provided at nominal rates. Annual screening camps for adults help identify hearing disorders, and corrective treatments are offered at subsidised costs.
The fifth floor houses the Vertigo Centre, the only such facility in Kolhapur. “At least five people are evaluated each month using the recently installed Video Nystagmography (VNG) system,” says Gandhi with pride, noting that this 56-year-old centre has become “a much sought-after institution, known for its commitment and service.”
