Rotary’s magic touch in the Northeast

District 3240 is a vast area comprising the eight States of the Northeast and the northern part of West Bengal. The district is a striking mix of heterogeneous communities with varied hues of culture. Here, each of the 88 Rotary clubs tailor their own mega projects to define their impression of service through Rotary.

Here are some of the unique projects, implemented by the clubs with the help of global grants, that have touched the lives of people across the region over the years.

Public toilets

Seven Rotary clubs have installed ‘pay and use’ toilets in the seven major cities of Guwahati, Shillong, Agartala, Imphal, Dimapur, Aizwal and Silchar. This endeavour was the brainchild of PDG Arijit Endow. While travelling across the States with PRIP Kalyan Banerjee and PDG Kalpana Khound, they noticed a severe dearth of public toilets in the region, and thus the project took shape, says Giti Bujarburuah, a member of RC Gauhati South. The toilets were constructed with the financial support of a global grant of $73,650 from The Rotary Foundation and District 5020, the USA.

The clubs have signed MoUs with the local civic bodies and NGOs for the maintenance of the toilets. “All the toilets are clean and well-maintained. Our Rotarians make surprise checks regularly,” says Giti.

Arsenic-free water

The Nalbari district of Assam has severe arsenic contamination in drinking water sources. Arsenic is a serious cause of concern as prolonged consumption of the contaminated water can cripple or even kill a person. So the Rotary Club of Guwahati South undertook an initiative to purify water by removing arsenic, through specially designed large arsenic-removal plants. “We have installed these plants in 17 schools so that the children can enjoy safe drinking water, free from chemical,” says Giti. The project was implemented through a global grant of $69,000 with RC Tacoma, D 5020, US, and TRF.

Hospice for the terminally-ill

RC Gauhati West, in association with the Deepshika Foundation, established a hospice at Mirza in the South Kamrup district of Assam to care for the terminally-ill and provide palliative care for them. A global grant of $31,156 was supported by TRF and Hsinchu Chu-Chiann Rotary Club of D 3500, Taiwan for the purchase of furniture and medical equipment for the hospice.

Dialysis Centre

The Rotary Kidney Care Centre established at the Dreamland Nursing Home in Durgapur, West Bengal, by RC Aerocity Durgapur, is a huge boon for the people of the region. The three-bed dialysis centre was set up with the help of a global grant of $53,150 with international partners such as RCs Moorpark, Elkhart, Bakersfield East, Bakersfield North, Grover Beach, Pismo Beach (Five Cities), Moorpark Morning, Semi Sunset, Cayucos Seaside, Thousand Oaks, Indian Wells Valley, Newbury Park, Goleta Noontime and the DDF of Districts 5240, 6540, 3240 and TRF.