Wheels to ease disability

When Maheswari (20), a polio ­victim, requested SSK ­Thiagarajan, a past ­president of Rotary Club of ­Dharapuram, D 3202, to help her in some way, little did she realise that she will get a brand-new Scooty, to ease her commute between home and her workplace. The Rotarian ­sponsored the two-wheeler, ­specially ­customising it to ­support her disability, and ­presented it to her in the presence of the District Governor P M ­Sivashankaran, on the World Polio Day.

DG P M Sivashankaran handing over the keys to Maheswari in the presence of PDG George Sundararaj and spouse Priscilla and club members.
DG P M Sivashankaran handing over the keys to Maheswari in the presence of PDG George Sundararaj and spouse Priscilla and club members.

Maheswari works in a Xerox shop in Dharapuram and is happy and full of praise for Rotary to have gifted her the vehicle that will make her ­commute far easier and comfortable. “And a big thank you to Rotary for its dedicated efforts in eradicating polio from our country. It is heartening to realise that no more children will be ­paralysed by this killer virus,” she added, with a teary smile. The day was also ­commemorated with a rally organised by the club to create awareness about Rotary’s efforts in polio eradication and sensitising people to keep their surrounding clean and free of garbage.

Handwash stations in schools

The club is working earnestly on ­educating school students about basic hygiene and ­sanitation. Energised by the loads of ‘thank you’ and cheery smiles from students and teachers at N ­Chinnaswamy Pillai ­Municipality HS School for the installation of ­handwashing station on the ­premises, Club ­President S Easwaran is buoyed up to take up the WinS project to more ­government schools. “It cost us around ₹60,000; we are happy that nearly 500 students are now ­regularly using the facility and work is ­underway in four more panchayat schools to ­provide similar facilities,” he said.

A handwash station being inaugurated in the Chinnaswamy school.
A handwash station being inaugurated in the Chinnaswamy school.

P S Saravana Subbiah, a ­Rotarian from Erode, provides the ­handwash facility at a ­concessional rate of ₹10,000 a unit. The ­Rotarians impart ­awareness on ­handwash and ­personal hygiene to students at ­regular ­intervals. “So far, nearly 850 students from 15 schools have ­benefitted from our WinS ­programme,” said Easwaran.

The Club Secretary M Kalidas listed out few other projects being done by the club. These include a play zone ­costing ₹50,000 set up in a residential locality; regular visit to an old age home, cheering the senior ­citizens there with utility kits, gifts and nutritious food; and providing ­stationery materials, school bags and lunch boxes to schoolchildren.

 

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