The Club's 50 years' celebrations had been grand. In fact, these resulted in a series of activities that continued for a fortnight and provided the foundation for many on-going activities for the Club. Each activity/programme chairman contributed excellently to the planning and successful execution of the activity, which not only brought together and involved the Rotarians and their families but also provided a grand window to the community at large to share the accomplishments of Rotary.
May 1 saw the photo exhibition, "Golden Memories from the History of Good" that featured some select moments of club's history over the years, captured by Rtn. S.P.Handa, who happened to be the first photographer in the city, and was famous for his studio, Chandi Studio, in Sector 17. Some of the recent activities were compiled on composite posters on major projects.
May 3 brought together schools and teachers from 30 schools, since 418 entries were received from children for 'Save the Girl Child' campaign. Rtn.Neena Singh with her team worked meticulously with the Education Department of Chandigarh Administration, and encouraged children to participate. It was an overwhelming response, and some of the ideas that were thrown up by the children were simply astounding. However, it was the initiation and the front-runner of the Club's major initiative against female foeticide, Hamari Beti (our daughter).
On May 5, leading Rotarian doctors of the Club left their clinics and drove down into the narrow lanes of Bapu Dham colony, almost on the outskirt of the city, to conduct a medical camp. Nearly 400 patients were examined and treated for dental ailments, eye problems, gynae, ENT, and general health. So much so, 72 patients who were identified to be suffering from cataract, were referred to Grewal Eye Institute, owned by a Rotarian eye surgeon, Dr. Grewal, who offered to provide free cataract surgeries. What better way to serve!
Gift of Knowledge was the next programme that was launched on May 6th, under which 30 bright boys and girls of 9th standard who otherwise cannot afford higher education due to financial problems, have been selected for special education and counselling, as well as scholarships for higher studies at the college and university levels.
On May 8, the Rotary International President Elect D.K. Lee and his wife Young Ja Lee, flew in from Korea to take part in the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Accompanying him was Mr. Ashok Mahajan, Rotary International Director. The evening function brought in over 300 delegates from all over Rotary District 3080 that made every Rotarian proud of being a part of this never-ending journey.
On May 9, the Club had planned 'Children's Day Out' for economically challenged kindergarten children from Bapu Dham colony. Fifty of them had gala time, as they climbed up the double-decker bus of the tourism department for a round of the city. And to flag them off, RI President Elect DK Lee, came specially and interacted with them.
However, his departure on May 9 did not mark the rest day, as Rotarians again got busy preparing for the launch of 'Hamari Beti' programme. On May 12, Monday, the well-known campaigner and a missionary of female foeticide program, Mr. Justice Vijender Jain, Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, was the chief guest, along with several other eminent judges including Mr. Justice Rakesh Garg, Mr. Justice Jaswant Singh, Advocate General Mr. H.S. Mattewal, former judge of Supreme Court of India, Justice Sodhi, were present.
'Hamari Beti' (our daughter) is a major initiative that the Rotary Club has taken in association with Fortis Hospital Mohali against female foeticide. A helpline was also initiated for the mothers-to-be.
But this certainly is not the end, as the Rotarians now get ready for the next step...another project that could reach out to the people in need.
