Rotary Salutes Frontline Heroes

Rotary Distributes 500 Sweet Boxes to the Health Warriors

Rotary Club of Chandigarh handed over 450 boxes of sweets to PGIMER Director Dr Jagat Ram here today.

The words cannot express the gratitude that we owe to doctors, nurses, paramedic staff fighting the pandemic to save human lives, said President Sukhjit Singh Gill of Rotary Club of Chandigarh, handing over the gifts of gratitude to the frontline heroes who are healing the suffering humanity against Covid19.

Fifty boxes of sweets would be handed over to the doctors, nurses and paramedics in General Hospital Sector 16 too, he informed.

Dr Jagat Ram, Director, along with Dr Meenu Singh from Paediatrics department received the gifts from Rotary Club of Chandigarh represented by President Sukhjit Singh Gill, President-Elect Jaspal Singh Sidhu, and Rtn Lalita Grover.

Dr Jagat Ram, Director PGIMER thanked the Rotarians especially past Rotary International President Rajendra K Saboo for his leadership assisted by senior Rotarians like past district governor Kawal Bedi who helped raise funds for the cause.

The Club had earlier paid tribute to the great congribution that the army, police, and other frontline heroes are making to protect the country and save human lives by sending the greetings and gratitude of the society towards them through boxes of sweets, including 4000kgs for army, 2000kgs for the police personnel, and now another 500kg for the medical fraternity engaged in fight against Covid19.

Rotary Club Commends Chandigarh Police on Gurpurab

Members of Rotary Club of Chandigarh gifted 500kgs of sweets to Chandigarh Police, on 30th November, as a mark of appreciation of the wonderful work that the force did during the hard times of corona pandemic. The sweets were distributed among those members of the police who were present, while the remaining were handed over to be sent to various police stations for distribution.

In his welcome address, Mr Ketan Bansal IPS lauded the contribution of Rotary Club of Chandigarh in reaching out to the police force and appreciating the work done by the police.

President Sukhjiit Singh Gill informed that the Rotarians have contributed money to send their best wishes on the occasion of Gurpurab of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji, through the efforts of Past Rotary International President Rajendra K Saboo, the guiding force of Rotary Club of Chandigarh. PDG Kawal Bedi has been a big support in raising these funds. He stated that there is a long-standing association between Rotary Club of Chandigarh and Chandigarh Police Department, and together, they have done many projects on traffic awareness, and the like.

This partnership was at its zenith during the pandemic lockdown, as Rotary Club of Chandigarh took up supplying ration and cooked food to the stranded residents. It was the daredevil staff of Chandigarh Police that came forward to distribute the cooked food and the ration to the needy.

Those present on the occasion included Rotarians Jaspal Sidhu, Dr. Nusrat Shafiq, Mandeep Singh Sodhi, and Aarti Goyal.

Rotary sends another 2000 kg mithai for army jawans

Rotarians of Rotary District 3080 have sent another 2000kg of mithai to the army jawans on boarder today. 

President Sukhjit Singh Gill informed that the Rotarians have contributed more money to send their greetings on the Gurpurab of Sri Guru Nanak Dev through the efforts of Past Rotary International President Rajendra K Saboo, Past District Governor Kawal Bedi, and the current Rotary District Governor Ramesh Bajaj.

The 2000 kg was flagged off by the President from the city to be delivered to the forward posts in Kupwara and Baramula region of Sri Nagar.

Earlier the Rotarians had sent 4000 kgs of sweets for army jawans on border on Diwali.

This is the humble tribute that we can pay to them, as the sticker on each box said, "Aap Hain to Hum Hain", said PDG Kawal Bedi. 

Rotary engages in rehabilitating fire-affected jhuggi dwellers in Saketri

Rotary Club of Chandigarh is actively engaged in rehabilitating the 47 families affected in the fire that devastated their lives on 14th November. 

President Rtn. Sukhjiit Singh Gill informed that Rotary Club had been working in Saketri village with a major community development project for the last two-and-a-half years providing sanitation, education, and health services to the children and families residing in this tenement. 

Rotarians were first to reach the site when the fire broke out at 3:15pm on 14th November and mobilised its resources to rescue the families, inform the fire brigade and the DC office. 

Today, dry ration bags were distributed to the affected residents so that now onwards they are able to cook their own meals. And the Rotary Raahat project will continue to serve these slum dwellers of Saketri

A big thanks to Rtn. Sangita Vardhan, coordinated with the local authorities to organise help, and to Rtn Dr Seema Gupta, Saketri project Coordinator, for providing the material for rebuilding of jhuggis.

The residents were immediately provided with food, blankets and masks to survive the ordeal, and a big tented accommodation was created for the affected families to spend the night. Rotarians have been coordinating with the administration for the immediate support to these slum dwellers. 

 It was on the eve of the 2018 New Year’s when Rotarians of Rotary Club Chandigarh were doing blanket distribution in Saketri that they found the slum residents in a state of absolute neglect with barely any clothes to keep themselves warm or food to eat. Rotary Club then started spearheading the community upliftment project at Saketri.  Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan Vidyalaya was brought on board as the education partner for the children.  SEWA Punjab came in for implementing a holistic participatory community development program for the Saketri slum dwellers. There are 133 families having more than 500 members that are being taken care of under this holistic development project of Rotary Club of Chandigarh The educational classes for children are being run by Rotary Club for last 2-1/2 years in association with the Bhavan Vidyalaya Chandigarh

Punjab Governor flags off Rotary's gift of Diwali sweets for Army Jawans

Four tons of sweets sent by Rotarians of District 3080 fifth year in a row 

 

In no way we can ever thank our jawans and their families for their sacrifices as they guardiour borders, said Governor of Punjab and Administrator UT Chandigarh, Shri V P Singh Badnore, as he flagged off three army trucks containing Diwali sweets. 

We in Punjab, being a border state, have one or the other relation serving in the defence services and this is commendable that Rotarians continue to remember them year after year, he said. 

He commended the Rotarians for their continued gesture of sending sweets and greetings on Diwali to jawans serving in the harsh conditions on our borders. 

The project which was initiated in the year 2016 by Rotary Club of Chandigarh at the instance of Mrs Usha Saboo wife of the former world president of Rotary International Rajendra K Saboo, has now participation from Rotarians of other Rotary clubs in the District 3080 which comprises besides Chandigarh, parts of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, UP, and Utrakhand. 

The programme continues to be spearheaded by the past district governor Rtn Kawal Bedi wife of an ex Indian Army Officer, who manages the entire logistics assisted by the past president of the club Neenu Vij and her husband Praveen Vij who takes care of the airlifting of the consignment through the Indian Air Force.

The current District Governor of Rotary District 3080 Ramesh Bajaj said that this is a humble gesture from Rotarians to acknowledge the great sacrifices that our jawans make.  

Club President Sukhjeet Singh Gill said that Rotarians are grateful to the Indian Air Force and all the Rotarians from District for keeping this project going.  He said that the project is very close to his heart having lost many close relations in defence forces during the war with Pakistan. 

The consignment of 4000 kg of mithai worth over Rs.20 lakh would be airlifted by the Indian Air Force to be delivered in the border areas of North East, China border, Kupwara, Pithoragarh areas, of Siachin, Leh.and Ladakh, informed PDG Madhukar Malhotra. 

Inner Wheel President Komal Gupta amongst others was present on the occasion. 

Sukhjit Gill is Rotary Club Chandigarh’s new President

Rotary Honours Justice Rajiv Sharma by conferring Paul Harris Fellowship

Hon'ble Mr Justice Rajiv Sharma of Punjab and Haryana High Court

Chandigarh, 6^th July:  Rotary Club of Chandigarh installed its new President Rtn Sukhjit Singh Gill and Team for 2020-21 here today through a virtual meeting in the presence of various dignitaries and prominent Rotarians from District 3080.

Rtn Sukhjit Singh Gill, who is a financial consultant took the collar of presidentship from his predecessor Rtn Surinder Pal Kaur, an ex-IRS officer.

Mr Justice Rajiv Sharma  of Punjab and Haryan High Court was the Chief Guest and District Governor Ramesh Bajaj was the Guest of Honour.

President Sukhjit Singh Gill took over the reins of the Club.
Seen with him is his wife Dr Kamaljit Kaur

Outgoing president Surinder Pal Kaur informed that the club has spent nearly Rs.1.8 crores including Rs.55 lakh during the Covid on providing medical supplies to PGI, GMCH32 and General Hospital Sector 16, besides extensively providing dry ration and prepared food to the doctors, migrant labour.

The club was able to undertake 16 children for heart surgeries under club’s Heartline project, besides various initiatives in the village Saketri, and throughout the lockdown the Club continued to meet regularly.  

On this occasion, Mr Justice Rajiv Sharma was conferred the Paul Harris Fellowship for his contribution to the environment,  by the Club contributing USD1000 to the Rotary Foundation.

Speaking on the occasion the chief guest who himself is a great environmentalist and known as ‘green judge’, Justice Rajiv Sharma said that everyone should be concerned and caring about our environment beyond our own homes.  He said global warming and other environmental destruction would lead to crisis for our earth and humanity.

He advised we must start living in harmony with nature, and respect environment and lamented the growing disharmony being caused by our dependency on technology especially the mobile phones. 

Rtn Sukhjit Gill shared the roadmap for the club during 2020-21 and said that the club shall continue to impact lives through blood donation camps, promote the flagship project with free heart surgeries through its partner hospitals, sensitise school children in menstrual hygiene and sanitation, launch of health education centre for the children of the city, and health of women and children.

Rotary Vidya Sadan in Bapu Dham shall be strengthened further to educate drop-out girls, and provide crèche facility for the daily wagers, and clubfoot treatment to children in GMCH32.

District Governor Ramesh Bajaj, guest of honour, stated that despite the continued lockdown the Club shall continue to reach out to the community come what may. Sharing success mantra with the new team, Ramesh Bajaj asked to follow ‘BMW’ i.e. prayer, Bless My Wisdom, Bless My Work,  Bless My Words, and Burn My Worries.  He advised the leadership to put up three factories for success, one, of Ice factory to stay cool; sugar factory to speak sweetly; and the third, love factory to instill compassion and love in your heart.

Earlier former world president of Rotary International, Rajendra K Saboo said that the leadership inRotary changes on 1^st July and he congratulated outgoing president Surinder Pal Kaur for her stellar achievements during challenging times and complimented the incoming team for their plans.

Assisting President Sukhjit Singh Gill in the team 2020-21 are Vice President Praveen Agarwal,  Secretary Gurvinder Saggu; Baldev Garg, Treasurer; Sonia Dhillon, Jt Secy; Dinesh Dua director club service, Vinod Kapoor, Director Vocational Service; Lalita Grover, Director Community Service; Gurmeet Chawla; Director International Service; Baldev Aggarwal Director Youth Service; Kulbir Dogra, Sergeant-at-Arms; PRID Rajendra Saboo, PDG Kawal Bedi, PDG Madhukar Malhotra, PDG Praveen Chander Goyal.

Those who joined the meeting included past district governors Ranjit Bhatia, Madhukar Malhotra, Yoginder Dewan, Manmohan Singh, Praveen Goyal,  Jitendra Dhingra,  district governor elect Ajay Madan, Usha Saboo, Inner Wheel President Komal Gupta, and Rotaractors amongst others with Rtn Dinesh Dua and Rtn Suditi Jindal moderating the session.

Past President Neena Singh recited the mool mantra of Japji while Rtn Ruchi Singla recited the Gayatri Mantra as invocations at the beginning of the meeting.

The Club was chartered on 13 May 1958 and has since grown with the city launching various projects for the community.

Rotary Club delivers dry ration in Kachhi Colony

Chandigarh, 22 April:  Rotary Club of Chandigarh delivered 1,400 dry ration bags in Kachhi Colony in village Dhanas.

Club President Surinder Pal Kaur informed that senior Rotarian Jatinder Kapur along with two young Rotaractors, Abhishek and Bhupinder, accompanied the SDM Central Shri Nazuk Kumar, and supervised the distribution of the dry ration.

 “This is the most equitable distribution system that Administration is using marking each house with house number, number of families and number.of souls living there, so that deserving families get the ration," informed Rtn Jatinder Kapur.

Dry Ration for families in sealed village Faidan from Rotarians

Chandigarh, 9 April:  Rotary Club of Chandigarh has volunteered to provide 1000 bags of dry ration after every five days, to familes inside village Faidan which was recently sealed down in the city, informed President Rotary Club Chandigarh Surinder Pal Kaur.

The supplies were handed over today to the Administration by President Surinder Pal Kaur, accompanied by past presidents Rtn Anil Khanna, Rtn Baldev Aggarwal, and Rtn Pankaj Khanna.

Deputy Commissioner Mandip Singh Brar commended the Rotarians for their continued support to the Administration in these challenging times.

Former world President of Rotary International Rajendra K Saboo informed that village Faidan located adjacent to Sector 48 which was sealed, is inhabited by nearly 3700 families (19,000 residents) who need ration supplies, and Rotary Club shall be providing 3,000 dry ration bags over a period of three weeks, i.e. 1000 bags every week.  

Each bag contains one week supply of 5kg Atta, 2kg rice, 2kgs Dal, 1 Kg sugar, 1 litre oil, 1/2 kg salt,  200gms of turmeric red chilli powder, jeera etc, costing Rs 590.

Rotarians supervise the packing of each bag at the vendors approved and selected by the Chandigarh Administration, and will be spending almost Rs.18 lakh for this humanitarian project which is being contributed by club members, informed President Surinder Pal Kaur.

The Club is already supplying daily 500 cooked meals each for lunch and dinner for junior doctors and nurses to PGIMER and 400 meals each in the afternoon and evening for the daily wage earners and migrant labours, thanks to the active involvement of Rtn Kawal Bedi, a past district governor of the club, in coordinating the activities and raising funds.

Rotarians to arrange 3000 PPE kits for PGIMER

Looking at the paucity of the PPE sets, Rotary Club of Chandigarh has organized 3000 PPE kits to be supplied to the PGI, informed former world President of Rotary International Rajendra K. Saboo.

He informed that 2000 sets are expected to reach by 6^th or 7^th April while another consignment of 1000 should be there by 16^th April, costing Rs.18 lakh.

The Club has already supplied 50 N95 masks, 25,000 3ply masks, 200 PP gowns and 10,000 examination gloves to PGIMER, informed Club President Surinder Pal Kaur, spending over Rs.12 lakh on medical supplies.

 “We are grateful to people of the city and philanthropists who have joined the cause and continue to provide financial support,” she added.

Already the Rotarians are working to provide nearly 400 lunches and dinners to the junior doctors and nurses in PGI through the Gurudwara with the coordination of Dr Anil Gupta, and gurudwara’s coordinator Sukhdev Singh.

Two meals for 400 daily-wage earners and migrant labour are also being prepared at Gurudwara Sector 8 which with the support of H.S. Narula which is being coordinated by past district governor Rtn Kawal Bedi, and distributed through SP Headquarters Manoj Meena

Another family of Rtn. Teena Virk with her husband Ravi who have been given volunteer pass by Mohali SDM, have taken upon themselves to distribute meals every day in Phase 11 industrial area, and at the slums having served over 200 people in past six days.    “It is heart-rending to see aged people and children lining up with expectant hope,” said Teena.

Sarabjit Sekhon, a member of the Inner Wheel (the women wing of Rotary) Club of Chandigarh is daily supporting daily-wage earners on her own.  Besides, the Inner Wheel Club members have taken care of nearly 50 families of the daily wagers supplying them with ration for a month.

Rtn Neena Vij and Rtn Dr Seema Gupta are taking care of 126 families with daily ration in Saketri area which is an adopted project of Rotary Club Chandigarh.   Special milk supplies have also been arranged for the children and the expectant mothers in that area.

Rajendra K Saboo informed that 2100 kg of rice was handed over to the Chandigarh Administration through Rotary’s District Governor Rtn Jitendra Dhingra as soon as the lockdown was announced, and is mobilizing another Rs.15-20 lakh for the Administration to arrange food for the daily wage earners and migrants.  

Rotarians on the forefront of the fight against COVID19

Rotarians had been doing their bit behind the scene and taking care of the medical supplies as well as feeding the hungry in the city.

Past Rotary International President Rajendra K Saboo along with members of Rotary Club of Chandigarh had been spearheading the task force to help the Administration and the medical authorities.

Rotary Club Chandigarh had been supplying N95 masks for doctors, as well as gloves and 3-ply masks for the nurses and paramedic staffs.

Already 50 N95 masks, 25,000 3ply masks, 200 PP gowns and 10,000 examination gloves have been supplied to PGIMER, informed Club President Surinder Pal Kaur. 

The Club is arranging another consignment of 1000 PPE sets for the doctors of PGIMER and 500 PPE for GMCH Sector 32, she said.

The Club has already spent over Rs.12 lakh for the medical supplies alone so far, she added, while another senior Rotarian of the Club, Past District Governor Kawal Bedi is coordinating the daily supply of 1000 food packets for the junior doctors and nursing staff in PGIMER.

In so far as the food for the daily wage earners and migrant labour in the industrial area, the Club has been organizing 400 food packets daily with the logistic support of DGP Sanjay Beniwal, besides 145 families in the club’s the adopted project at Saketri village have been supplied ration with the active involvement of Rtn Neenu Vij and Rtn Dr Seema Gupta.

The Inner Wheel Club members have taken care of nearly 50 families of the daily wagers supplying them with ration for a month.

Rajendra K Saboo informed that 2100 kg of rice was handed over to the Chandigarh Administration through Rotary’s District Governor Rtn Jitendra Dhingra as soon as the lockdown was announced, and is mobilizing another Rs.15-20 lakh for the Administration to arrange food for the daily wage earners and migrants.

There are Rotarians from other clubs especially in Mohali and Panchkula who are working closely with the Administration to manage this crisis situation.

Doing Good in the Times of Crisis

Listen to the Rotary's Voice of Good. 
Here is a podcast.
Click here to listen. 

Hats off to all the Rotarians of our Club who are engaged in doing good.

Rotary's Voice of Good was initiated way back in the year of Rtn. Neenu Vij in March 2017.   This was intended to be a Rotary's Radio Project.   Somehow it could not take off.  However, we shall continue to have the podcasts from time to time to spread the 'Voice of Good' 

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan grateful for Rotary’s partnership

At the Centennial Summit in ­Kolkata, Union Health ­Minister Harsh Vardhan praised Rotary’s healthcare programmes and urged Rotary to be part of the PM’s Ayushman Bharat scheme.

Read More on Rotary News Online