Hamari Beti

Celebrating womanhood.  Sensitising people against the scourge of female foeticide. Taking action to correct the skewed male:female ratio in our country.
With this mission in mind our Club has renewed its efforts in this direction and proposes to take up projects that can bring about a positive change in our society. Under the leadership of Rtn Neena Singh, "Hamari Beti" would be one of the focus area.
Members would recall that as a part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of our Club, we had started this project. A school painting competition and slogan writing contest marked the beginning of this project which received tremendous response.  There had also been a tieup with Fortis Hospital, and the new Committee under the Community Service avenue would be renewing its ties with Fortis as well as forging new ones with the Hospitals around the tricity.
Already our Club has created a CAUSE on Facebook, and a new Group, HAMARI BETI,  has been created there to associate more and more people with this cause. And surprisingly there is great response from some of the youngsters. One girl has penned a poem and put it up on our page. Surely, if young people understand the issues, they perhaps would be ready to meet this challenge as they step into their married lives. Or even otherwise in their homes too.
So get going. Be a part of this mission. Save girls from extinction. 

Ring in the New!

Congratulations to every Rotarian as the new Rotary year dawns today.
It is a matter of great pride for Indians to have an Indian leading the Rotary world, Rtn. Kalyan Banerjee.
As we move ahead with ambitious plans and visions to make a difference in the lives of the people around us, the mantra that Rotary International President Kalyan Banerjee has given to the world is, "Reach Within to Embrace Humanity".
Thanks to the excellent leadership of Rtn. Neena Singh, who has launched an ambitious "Swachh Jiwan Abhiyaan" in Colony No.5.  Rotarians, Rotaractors and Inner Wheel members of our Club got together in large number and participated in the rally which was flagged off by young Municipal Commissioner of Chandigarh, Ms Prerna Puri, IAS.

The next batch of 25 girls from the colony for female adult literacy programme joined the "Roshni" school being run by our Club at RCC.  A set of books, notebooks and stationery was distributed to these young and not-so-young women from the colony who wanted to be a part of the adult literacy.

Read more about today's project's report at our Facebook page.  Are you a member on our Facebook presence? Not yet? Click here and Join the Action !

Applications invited for GSE Team to UK

For 2011-12, the Group Study Exchange team shall travel to United Kingdom in September 2011.  The last date for submitting the application is 18th June 2011 to Rotary Club of Chandigarh at Rotary House, 107A, Sector 18A, Chandigarh. 

Young Professionals working or residing in Chandigarh, (Rotarians and their blood relations are ineligible), can apply for this programme immediately before 18th June 2011.

Detailed criteria can be seen on Rotary International's website. (Click Here)

You can download the application form for GSE here

50 Glorious Years of Service to Humanity

Our Club is fortunate to have an iconic figure in Past Rotary International President Rajendra K. Saboo and his gracious wife Usha Saboo, and doubly privileged to have his constant guidance and support.  Fifty years ago they entered the portals of Rotary through our Club, in May 1961, and today, shine on the Rotary firmament like a bright star...of which we are proud of. 

Next meeting, the 16th of May 2011 is dedicated to this amazing couple who have touched the lives of people around the world in numerous ways.  To celebrate their 50 years of service to the humanity, the Club is having a special meeting followed by fellowship over hi-tea. 

You are requested to join with your families and have an open house with them in a face-to-face interactive session, wish them many more years of togetherness in Rotary service. 

Rotary Cares!

On 13th April, a 10-year old Karan, son of a rickshawpuller Raj Kumar from Ambala Cantt was brought to the PGI, after he suddenly fell down while playing with his friends.  His legs could not bear his weight and he was unable to walk.  Carrying him in his arms, his father reached PGI paediatrics department where he was diagnosed with landry guillain barre syndrome (LGBS) - a nervous  disorder affecting the peripheral nervous system. Ascending paralysis, weakness beginning in the feet and hands and migrating towards the trunk, is the most typical symptom. It can cause life-threatening complications, particularly if the breathing muscles are affected or if there is dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. The disease is usually triggered by an acute infection.
There world was literally shattered as the doctors requested for special injections worth about Rs.60,000 to be injected to Karan to stop the spread of the disease. 
The housewife, Anu, who is a math tutor, and had brought the child from Ambala where Karan's mother worked as a maid, approached various sources, including our Club. While she herself shelled out Rs.30,000 immediately from her own savings to buy the first lot of injections, we sent out the appeal and within a few hours the remaining Rs.30,000 were arranged. 
Our special thanks to the Rotarians and others who responded immediately, especially  the Saboo family, Rtn AP Singh’s sister Supreet Dhiman and her Can and Will Foundation, Rtn. D.P. Singh, Rtn. D.V. Bhatia, Rtn. Lalita Jagmohan Singh, Rtn. Dr. Prashant Jain, and Rtn. C.J. Singh. 

Thanks to the prompt support by poor patient coordinator in PGI Dr. Anuradha Jatana for interacting with the doctors and the chemist M/s Kumar Brothers, Karan is now well on his way to recovery. He was relieved on 20^th May since the disease stopped spreading.  The boy would require physiotherapy to restore the working of his limbs.

Karan went back home smiling, and when what he wants to be, he shot back, “I want to be a doctor”.