Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures

On March 8, tomorrow, the world would be celebrating the International Women's Day.  This year, the theme for world-wide activities is, CONNECTING GIRLS, INSPIRING FUTURES

If every International Women's Day event held in 2012 includes girls in some way, then thousands of minds will be inspired globally.

Thousands of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.

It is sad that in certain parts of our country the female foeticide is a disgraceful act that people indulge in.  Some women succumb to family and societal pressures to get rid of the female fetus even before birth, just for a stupid, irrational craving for a boy child. 

Though 'Hamari Beti' , an initiative of our Club to sensitise the people against female foeticide is endeavouring to make a difference and change people's attitudes, the task is challenging. 

A recent survey by a student journalist in the village Mubarkpur near Chandigarh, revealed how a lady had to undergo five abortions to avoid the birth of girl, thanks to sex determination test being conducted by unscrupulous doctors, and finally, she was able to conceive a boy, who was born mentally challenged.  

Think about this. 'Hamari Beti' needs to be protected. We need to own up the responsibility and put our foot down to curb any such inhuman act against the girl child the moment we learn about it.  

Connecting Girls would always inspire future...a better future for everyone.  

Another light has gone!

Dr S.K. Duggal is no more. Born on 6th May 1937, Dr. Duggal was a highly respected individual who was most humble, generous, and a committed Rotarian. He joined Rotary in 1969 and served the Club with aplomb on various assignments. Though I had known him for the last two decades on professional basis, and had the opportunity to work with him when he was the President of Chandigarh Management Association, I found him a thorough professional, transparent and honest in his dealings, and would call a spade-a-spade whenever he felt so, besides demonstrating effective time management in all his meetings. Whether it was CMA, the Executives Club, and later as President of our Club, he would announce the time of starting and closing the meeting, and would strictly follow the timing, whether anyone was present or not.
He had been a great support when I had the opportunity to work with him in 2005-06. As Club Secretary, he would stick to the schedules and make sure that all correspondence and records are managed well. It was a great learning experience for me.

And yesterday at the Chandigarh Management Association's Foundation Day function, everyone was asking about him, and as is his habit to be meticulous and punctual, at 7pm he asked Mrs. Duggal to inform the CMA that he would not be able to come due to ill health.

Little did we know that he would just quietly move away from this mundane world to his Heavenly Abode.

Our heartfelt condolences to him and pray to Almighty to give strength to his family to bear this unbearable loss.

Another RCC planned

Thanks to the endeavours of Pres. G.S. Lakhmna, and Rtn. Hassan Mejie, RCC Chair of Rotary Club of Chandigarh, a preliminary meeting was held in Sector 38West with the residents of the slums rehabilitation colony built by Chandigarh Housing Board. With more than 2000 people resettled in this new housing complex built for the slum dwellers, the Rotary Club identified various challenges the new settlement faces. In order to make it self-sustaining, an RCC has been planned in this resettlement colony to work towards better sanitation, hygiene, upkeep of the parks, beautification, adult literacy, health, creche facilities etc, in which the RCC members would work together.
The preliminary meeting held today with the ladies and other residents, the agenda was set very clearly and hopefully next week another meeting will be held to start the process of empowering the residents for upgrading their lives.
All members are requested to join in with their suggestions to support the RCC. CJ

Medical Camp at Colony No 5

Our Club and the RCC at Colony No 5 are making sure that the residents remain healthy and in case of any health problem, it should get identified immediately and attended to.
In order to provide health cover to all, especially the residents of colony, our Club and RCC are holding the third medical check up camp on Sunday, 29th November from 9am till 2pm.
The Doctors from our Club assisted by team from their respective clinics are conducting the medical checkup for gynae, pediatrics, skin, eyes, ENT, and general medical problems.
We shall be requiring extra hands at this camp, and hence, your presence anytime convenient to you for at least one hour would be of great help.
Please get in touch with Pres G.S. Lakhmna, or Rtn. Neena Singh or Rtn. Hassan Mejie, immediately, or report at the camp in Colony No.5 tomorrow morning.
CJ

Blood Donation

The most noblest of the act that anyone can do at any time... in fact every three months is to give blood.
On 25th and 26th, we saw two blood donation camps that Rtn Hassan Mejie conducted for the Club at Fatehgarh Saheb. The local administration was actively involved and the team of doctors from Rotary Blood Bank Society Blood Resource Centre, led by Col. Dr. R.S. Shah was there.
The Deputy Commissioner and other district functionaries were present on the first day. On the second day, Mr. Rajan Kashyap, Chairman of our Blood Resource Centre was the chief guest and even on the second day DC visited the place.
Our heartiest compliments to everyone who made these camps a success.

Dental Health Workshop for Teachers

Bharat Prakarsh Foundation, dedicated to spreading literacy and led by our Rtn Neena Singh, joined hands with our Club to organise a Dental Health and Hygiene workshop on 7th November for the school teachers and volunteers who teach never-gone-to-school children in Dhanas. 

The teachers and volunteers of Dhanas AIE Udaan Centre which operates inside Government Senior Secondary School, village Dhanas (near Chandigarh) attended the workshop in the clinic of our famous orthodontist, Rtn. Dr. Gautam Munjal. 

Club President Rtn S K Duggal and Secretary Rtn Anil Chadda also attended the workshop.The teachers were given a detailed audio visual presentation for teaching correct dental habits so that these can be taught to the children at the center, as also demonstrated the right brushing techniques which every teacher learnt.  

The teachers were given samples of toothbrushes and tooth paste tubes for distribution to these children.

Next week it is planned to give to these children,  stationery (copies,pencils and crayons) and some refreshment.

There are three Udaan centers running in Dhanas with 90 children from poor economic strata between the ages of 6-14years. Of these 90 children,71 are graded at Class 1 level so we will be catching them young and impressionable for good habits and mainstreaming.  

Give Blood!

Every 2 seconds, someone somewhere needs blood in our country. And you alone can save their lives...just by spending 5 minutes of yours to give your blood, voluntarily. Rotary Club of Chandigarh, had been on the forefront of encouraging voluntary blood donation. And the commitment is being carried forward with much more fervour and dedication.
On 5th July, our Club is organising the first major community service project, by organising a Blood Donation Camp in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, at 9:15am. Our thanks to the Bar Association for their cooperation.
Members are requested to look for opportunities, and approach the educational institutions, their corporate friends and business associates to partner with us in this noble cause, and every individual, of course, can celebrate life by just visiting the Rotary and Blood Bank Society Resource Centre in Sector 37, Chandigarh, and donate blood, every three months...so that someone can live!

Installation on 9th July

Rtn. Arvind Mehan shall formally take up the reins of club leadership from the outgoing President Rtn. Man Mohan Singh, on Monday, the 9th July.
The installation function is scheduled at 6pm at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Sector 27, Chandigarh.
Dr. Kiran Bedi, Director, Bureau of Police Research and Development, New Delhi, is the Chief Guest.
All are requested to participate with their spouses and families.