Rotary Club Chandigarh

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Rotarians of Chandigarh and Lahore sign Twin Club agreement

Rotarians of Chandigarh had a Twin Club agreement with the Rotary Club of Lahore earlier in 1989-90, and now this year, the IMAGINE teams from both countries tied up the knot reviving the old relationship again.

President Rtn Vinod Kapoor of Rotary Chandigarh and Rtn. Mujahid Hussain Mirza of Rotary Club Lahore signed the Twin Club agreement in the august presence of The Rotary Foundation Trustee (2022-26) Dr. Bharat S. Pandya on 22nd October and received the official confirmation from Rotary International today.

The agreement has been signed to promote friendship and understanding between Rotarians of bothy the Club; coordinate and cooperate in undertaking projects and activities of mutual interest; encourage individual or group exchanges, literature, and material pertaining to their respective Rotary activities; and may also undertake joint projects.

The agreement shall be valid for a period of 10 years.

What is the theme for Rotary year 2023-24?

Every year, the Rotary International President, who takes over the leadership role, inspires the Rotarians with a new theme. The theme for Rotary year 2023-24 given by R. Gordon R. McInally is to “Create Hope in the World”.

“The goal is to restore hope — to help the world heal from destructive conflicts and, in turn, to help us achieve lasting change for ourselves,” he said addressing the incoming leadership from around the globe at the International Assembly.

The tradition of crafting a theme is credited to Percy C. Hodgson, Rotary’s president in 1949-50. When Hodgson addressed the International Assembly in 1949, he impressed upon the incoming leaders that they had a “glorious opportunity to impart Rotary knowledge” and that “lack of Rotary knowledge can be a deterrent to the successful operation of a Rotary club.” Hodgson’s 83-word theme, which included a list of four objectives, was substantially longer than today’s punchier themes, but it captured his hope that incoming leaders have essential knowledge of Rotary.

Punjab Governor flags off army trucks with 7000 boxes of Diwali sweets from Rotarians

Chandigarh, 19 October 2022

Shri Banwarilal Purohit, Governor of Punjab and the Administrator UT Chandigarh, flagged off trucks loaded with sweet greetings and blessings from Rotarians at Punjab Raj Bhavan in the presence of Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo and his wife Usha Saboo, District Governor VP Kalta, Past District Governors Madhukar Malhotra, Praveen Chander Goyal, President Vinod Kapoor of Rotary Club Chandigarh, and members of Inner Wheel and many other senior Rotarians.

Every year the number increased and this year, the participation of the Rotarians beyond Chandigarh had been tremendous on a call from Rajendra K Saboo, and the District Governor V P Kalta of District 3080, the response was manifold and this year Rotarians and Inner wheel members, have managed to send seven tones of pure desi ghee sweets worth Rs.35 lakh to the forward areas.

Rotary President Vinod Kapoor informed that the project was conceived five years back in 2016 by Mrs Usha Saboo wife of former world president of Rotary International Rajendra K Saboo, and the Rotary Club of Chandigarh made it to an annual feature.

‘Aap Hain to Hum Hain’ is the essence with which the sweets are sent to the jawans in forwarding areas to acknowledge their dedicated service to the nation.
Current Rotary District Governor V P Kalta, expressed gratitude to every Rotarian in Rotary District 3080 which comprises Chandigarh, parts of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, UP and Utrakhand for their overwhelming response to the project.

‘See and Learn’ programme launched under Youth Service

Continuing with our efforts to do more, we launched a new program, called ‘See and Learn’, for students of our Interact Club Schools. Under this program, we shall be taking students of classes 11 and 12 to various Industries to give them exposure of different vocations/career options. In the schools which don’t have senior secondary classes we shall take students from Class 10.

Under this program, we took 100 students from DPS, Chandigarh, in four batches of 25 each, to Drish Shoes, Panchkula where they were taken on a guided tour of the factory, followed by a question-answer session and refreshments. We express our gratitude to PP Atmaram Singh and Rtn. IS Paul for offering to host the students at Drish.

It is hoped that this activity will make a meaningful contribution to the development and decision making of our the youth, in their crucial years of learning.

Rotary Vidya Sadan launched at Bapu Dham

We have launched a new project ‘Rotary Vidya Sadan’ at Bapu Dham. We shall be running a crèche and after school classes for children of the Bapu Dham area and also continue to run our Basta Project at the same premises in the afternoon. The place has been fully renovated. Some essential furniture, toys and games for the crèche are being added.

We are presently running three classes for students of various ages. We are also providing mid-day meals to all the students. The staff includes three teachers, one supervisor-cum-teacher and a cook, a nanny-cum-helper.

Over 100 children are currently benefiting from the project, in addition to more than 50 young girls in the afternoon Basta Project. Once the project is streamlined, we shall increase the number of beneficiaries and keep on upgrading the facilities. We are hoping to have around 200 students enrolled in the project. We shall also be planning various activities for the benefit of the mothers of the students and also hold medical camps for the students on a regular basis.

Twinning with Rotary Club of Cairo Nile Valley, Egypt

We have signed a Twin Club Agreement with Rotary Club Cairo Nile Valley in Egypt and henceforth shall be cooperating in so many perspectives; whenever convenient; and whenever possible:

1. Develop friendship and mutual understanding
2. Encourage and organize the exchange of visits
3. Assist Rotarians and their family members to contact/correspond among each other, especially those with same classification, profession, business or vocation
4. Promote fellowship and service through vocational contact, meetings and related friendly activities
5. Joint service projects, whenever possible
6. Initiate steps to strengthen the future of Rotary in respective areas/countries

We shall also be working on friendship exchange, among other things like collaborating on Rotary projects.

Walkathon at Sukhna Lake to observe World TB Day

tb run

On the World TB Day (March 24), the Department of Paediatrics PGIMER and Rotary Club Chandigarh teamed up for TB-Free Chandigarh.

A walkathon was organized at Sukhna Lake, which marked the beginning of a partnership towards global initiative to End TB, and generate public awareness.

Dr Jagat Ram, Director, PGIMER, flagged off the walkathon in which Rotarians, Rotaractors, staff of PGI, students of Nursing and citizens participated. Rtn. Dr. Meenu Singh, head of Advanced Paediatric Centre at PGI and Project Chair said that “Chandigarh harbours nearly 3,000 notified TB patients and approximately 250 paediatric patients. Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER and Rotary Club Chandigarh have teamed up to combat TB in Chandigarh through a series of event like screening for patients in residential colonies and organising public awareness campaign.”

This curable disease is still the world’s deadliest killer, claiming nearly 4,000 lives per day globally and through a concerted efforts by WHO and different global agencies since 2000, nearly 54 million lives have been saved. In 2018, Prime Minister of India gave a clarion call to end TB by 2025, five years earlier than the global target.

PRIP RK Saboo expressed that with a concerted effort of all the stakeholders it is possible to have a TB Free Chandigarh.

The theme of World TB Day 2019, ‘It’s time’, put the accent on the urgency to act on the commitments made by global leaders to scale up access to prevention and treatment; build accountability; ensure sufficient and sustainable financing including for research; promote an end to stigma and discrimination, and promote an equitable, rights-based and people-centered TB response.

On 24 March 1882, Dr. Robert Koch had officially announced the discovery of bacterium causing TB and it is this day each year which is observed as world tuberculosis day, to raise the public awareness about health, social, and economic consequences of the dreadful disease.

₹25 lakh given to five families of Pulwama Martyrs

In a unique initiative, Rotary Club of Chandigarh and Kings XI Punjab contributed ₹25 lakh to the five families of CRPF jawans martyred in Pulwama attack.

On 19 March, cheques of ₹5 lakh each were presented to the next of kin by President A.P. Singh, DG Praveen Goyal, officials of KXIP, captain of KXIP, Ashwin, and player Mandeep, in the presence of Senior DIG CRPF Punjab, V.K. Kaundal, and other senior Rotarians, at a function organized at Hotel Aroma.

Families of martyred CRPF jawans from Punjab and Himachal, namely, Jaimal Singh from Dharamkot, District Monga; Sukhjinder Singh from Tehsil Patti, District Taran Taran; Maninder Singh Attri from Dinanagar, District Gurdaspur; Kulwinder Singh from Tehshil Anandpur Sahib, District Rupnagar; and Tilak Raj from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh were the beneficiaries.

President A.P.Singh said that three years back we had initiated the project of sending 5000 kg of sweets every Diwali to the jawans at the border, and now we are grateful to KXIP for making us a vehicle of doing good for the Pulwama martyrs as well. “This is a small contribution to the affected families to help them face the financial challenges and also to send a message that we care,” he said.

The requisite amount was raised in a matter of just 10 days.

So many persons present at the event got emotional as the details of the families of martyrs was read out and the cheques presented. The DIG spoke highly of the efforts of KXIP and our Club to help the families financially.

We had also offered to take care of one girl child in terms of providing free school and college education but none of the five families have a child who can avail of this offer. We also offered to take care of a young wife of a martyr if eligible for college education. CRPF officials will discuss with the affected family and let us know.

Inspire to Empower session for students of RVTC

On 19 March, we tied up with TATA Communications to hold an Inspire to Empower session for the students of Rotary Vocational Training Center. The purpose of the session was to train students for job interviews, prepare their resumes, teach them to handle different work situations and conflict resolution. Over 60 students attended the session and were motivated to follow their interests with passion.

Heartline project update

Surgery #718: Jitendra Yadav, 14 years old Boy from village Dawankara, District Gharwa (Jharkhand), was successfully operated at PGIMER, Chandigarh, by Dr. Anand Mishra, on 22nd January 2019. It was a case of Mitral Valve Replacement (MVR). His father Mr. Ram Lal Yadav is working as labourer.

Surgery #719: Komfal, 21 years old woman from village Chhapnata, District Rolpa, Gaurigaon (Nepal), was successfully operated at PGIMER, Chandigarh, by Dr. Rupesh Kumar, on 6th February, 2019. It was a case of double Valve Replacement (DVR). Her husband is working as a peon.

Surgery #720: Gursahib Singh, 8 years old Boy from village Datarpur-Morinda, Tehsil Chamkaur Sahib, District Roopnagar (Punjab), was successfully operated at PGIMER, Chandigarh, by Dr. Anand Mishra, on 26th February, 2019. It was a case of VSD closure and Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR). His father is working as security guard.