Sewing machines to empower women
In a major boost to RID 2982’s annual slogan Each One Lift One, DG S Raghavan has taken up an ambitious project of distributing 1,000 sewing machines to empower women across the district.
During his installation in Hosur in July, 100 sewing machines were given to members of an all-women RCC (Rotary Community Corps). PDG M Muruganandam, RID 3000, was the chief guest at the investiture. At the district seminar on club administration held in Namakkal in August, another set of 200 machines were distributed to 20 all-women RCCs supported by various zones at this revenue district. PDG Sam Babu, RID 3000, handed over the sewing machines to the beneficiaries.
The remaining 700 units will be distributed in Salem (400), Kallakurichi (200) and the balance 100 machines will be given to women in Hosur again. Explaining his objective, Raghavan said, “through this mega project, 1,000 women will be empowered and in total, an average of 4,000 people, that is four members in a family, will be lifted out of economic distress.” With roughly 4,000 members in RID 2982, each Rotarian would indirectly help one person in a group of 4,000 family members. “Each Rotarian will lift a person in a less privileged family, thus achieving our target of Each One Lift One, our slogan for the year,” he said.
DG Raghavan’s vision is to set up 100 all-women RCCs and distribute 1,000 sewing machines to deserving women in the district to make them self-reliant through self-employment. “For DG Raghavan, the sewing machine project is a gift to underprivileged women that would encourage, elevate and empower them to become self-reliant members in the society,” said Rtn B Navaladi Karthikeyan, GML editor, RID 2982.
