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.