Scaling up to gift 10,000 desk-benches to schools

Project Blue was launched with fanfare at the Excel Convention Centre in Komarapalayam in Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu, with a target of providing 10,000 desk-benches to 400 government high schools across the six revenue districts of RID 2982 in the next five years. “When we planned to give 324 desk-benches from a district grant, we found that there was a dire need for 10,000 such furniture sets from government schools. With support from Rotarians, private ­institutions and corporates, last year we delivered 1,000 desk-benches to 90 schools costing ₹36 lakh,” said IPDG A K Natesan.

The desk-benches are made locally by MSME units at various locations in Namakkal, Salem, Dharmapuri, ­Krishnagiri, Kallakurichi and Villupuram districts. Additionally, 322 handwash stations were also given to schools at the inauguration of Project Blue by TN School Education Minister K A ­Sengottaiyan who was ­accompanied by other State ministers, Namakkal Collector K Megaraj and SP R Arularasu. In the coming years, the project will be expanded to neighbouring RIDs 2981, 3201, 3202 and 3000. ­Educational institutions such as Excel Group of Institutions, Kavery Institute of Technology, ­Mahendra Institutions, Muthayammal ­Engineering College, ­Gnanamani College of Technology and Christy Group have contributed to Project Blue.

RC Rasipuram contributed $5,000 in July which was matched by a similar amount by Natesan to take up the school project in this area without delay.

Covid largesse to hospitals

RID 2982 donated a range of ­Covid-related equipment to 40 district headquarters, regional hospitals and primary health centres. “We are in the process of installing handwash stations at the hospitals,” said Natesan. The Covid donations to hospitals were supported by RIDs 5300, 5330, US, with PDG Cheab Elawar, Las Vegas, and PDG Manzoor Massay, San Bernardino, coordinating with the host RID 2982.

To prevent Covid infections, all the 71 clubs in this district are holding medical camps in which herbal and homeopathic medicines are given to the people to strengthen their immunity against the coronavirus. “So far, we have done over 95 such camps in the last three months benefitting around 50,000 people in this region. Our alternative medicines are endorsed by the district medical teams.”

All the 71 clubs in this district are holding medical camps in which herbal and homeopathic medicines are given to public to strengthen their immunity against Covid-19.

Additionally, three lakh three-­layered masks, 9,000 N95 masks (for hospitals, sanitary workers), 1,500 PPEs to six district GHs were given. An electric battery-­operated ambulance costing ₹7.7 lakh, was donated to the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical ­College and Hospital, Salem, from the Covid Disaster Response Fund.

Two Rotary Dialysis Centres

For the first time in the district, two dialysis centres were set up in Hosur and Namakkal with five machines each under a global grant project with help from RIDs 4630 and 4751, Brazil. Each centre has an RO plant, multipara monitors, fully-automatic Fowler beds and airconditioned treatment rooms. “PDG Antonio Cardoso from ­Brazil coordinated with us for the two dialysis units each costing $73,000,” said Natesan.