RURAL SECONDARY SCHOOL ADPOTED BY ROTARY CLUB OF RAJKOT

ROTARY CLUB OF RAJKOT HAD ADOPTED “RAJESHA SECONDARY SCHOOL” AT VILLAGE BHADLI, TALUKA JASDAN, DISTRICT RAJKOT IN CURRENT ROTARY YEAR.

BHADLI IS A VERY SMALL VILLAGE HAVING POPULATION AROUND 5000-6000. IT HADN’T ANY FACILITY FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION – (STD. 08TH TO STD. 10TH) AND STUDENTS OF VILLAGE GO TO JASDAN WHICH IS 20KMS FAR FROM THE VILLAGE TO GET SECONDARY EDUCATION. THIS AREA IS COMPATIVELY BACKWARD AND POOR DUE TO LESS RESOURCE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMING.

THE SCHOOL BUILDING WAS BUILD WITH THE SUPPORT OF DONORS LAST YEAR. THE SECONDARY SCHOOL WAS STATERD IN CURRENT ACADEMIC YEAR BUT SCHOOL DIDN’T HAVE ANY BASIC FACILITIES FOR BETTER ENVIORNMENT FOR STUDENTS. AT PRESENT, ONE CLASS EACH OF 50-60 STUDENTS FOR THREE STANDARDS ARE RUN.

IN RESPONSE TO APPEAL, ROTARY CLUB OF RAJKOT HAD TAKEN INITIATIVES AND DONATED SCHOOL BENCHES AND FURNITURES WORTH RS. 1,20,000.00 TO THE SCHOOL. TOTAL 60 BIG SCHOOL BENCHES, 02 STEEL CUPBOARDS, 06 TABLES & CHAIRS FOR TEACHERS WERE DONATED TO THE SCHOOL. AFTER HAVING INFRASTURTUCRE OF SCHOOL BENCHES VILLAGE HAD GOT EXAMINATION CENTRE OF BOARD EXAMINATION OF 10TH STANDARD FOR THE FIRST TIME.

IN THE MONTH OF JUNE, ROTARY CLUB OF RAJKOT WILL DISTRIBUTE EDUCATION KITS CONTAIN SCHOOL BAG, NOTEBOOK, PEN, PENCIL ETC. TO THE SCHOOL STUDENTS. TO MAKE RURAL STUDENTS MORE COMPITITIVE AND KNOWLADGABLE, ROTARY CLUB OF RAJKOT WILL START KNOWLEDGE CENTRE OF LIBRARY AND COMPUTER LAB WITH MULTIMEDIA AND INTERNET IN COMING YEAR.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROJECT - "MILK CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY"

Nani Amreli village is 20 kms away from Rajkot city and its surrounding has huge non agriculture land. This area has significant number of cows and buffaloes and has very good milk production of around 700-800 liters everyday.

Initially this milk used to be purchased by the milkman (bharwad) community at very low price of Rs. 15-18 per liter in absence of proper system.

Rotary Club of Rajkot made an understanding with Rajkot Dairy and as per understanding, whatever milk is produced in or surrounding area of Nani Amreli village to be purchased by the Rajkot Dairy as per National Dairy Development Board’s prevailing rates based on milk fat percentage.

Rotary Club of Rajkot established a Co-operative Society called “Mandali” at Nani Amreli village. It also purchased the machine to measure milk fat from National Dairy Development Board on rental basis. A deaf & dumb person was trained and educated to operate machine to measure milk fat.

All members of this co-operative society named “MAHILA MANDALI DUDH UTPADAN” are women and is run solely by them with the help of one deaf & dumb person. In recent past this co-operative society is registered as “ROTARY COMMUNITY CORP” – RCC with 58 charter members.

At present Women Milk Co-operative Society collects 300-400 liters everyday at Rs. 3.00 per fat percentage and supplies to Rajkot Dairy. The co-operative society gets commission of one fat percentage i.e. Rs. 3.00 per liter from Rajkot Dairy. In last six months, the co-operative society has made profit of Rs. 125000.00 and will give gift to its members at the end of the year. To maintain daily account of each and every milk supplier of the co-operative society, manual daily register is maintained and on every ten days payment is being made.

This project of Rotary Club of Rajkot gives TRUE Empowerment to Rural Women.

DIGITAL CLOCK CUM PUBLIC AWARENESS SCROLLING MESSAGE BOARD - "END POLIO NOW"

A huge Digital Clock cum  Public Awareness Scrolling Message Board - "END POLIO NOW" board of 13 feet x 06 feet was installed by Rotary Club of Rajkot on the enterance gate of International Cricket Stadium at Bahumali Bhavan Circle, Race Course Ring Road. It was inaugurated by the worthy hands of DG Major S K Sharma and IPDG Dr. Surendrasinh Parmar on 06.03.2010.

The Race Cource Ring Road is one of the prominent and busy roads of Rajkot city. Slogans and Messages in any language about Polio Eradication and other Projects and Activities of Rotary International and Rotary Club of Rajkot will be displayed to enhance public image of ROTARY as well as to create awareness in public. The digital clock showing ROTARY TIME and Temprature.
 

SPORTS EQUIPMENTS TO RURAL PRIMARY SCHOOL

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Shri Manubhai & Smt. Pramilaben Domadia Prathmik Shala at Hajapara is one of nine schools built by Rotary Club of Rajkot after Earthquack of 2001. Rotary Club of Rajkot has adopted these schools and provides infrastructure for better education and hygenic life style. On 05.02.10, Donors Shri Manubhbai & Smt. Pramilaben, Project Chairman Rajesh Kothari and I visited the school and donated indoor - outdoor sports equipments like Footballs, Cricket Kits, Carrom Board, Chess, Ludo etc. In recent past, Computers, Water Purifier, School Benches donated to the school. Hajapara village is very poor, backward and isolated village only 15 kms away from modern city Rajkot. Last year, one day picnic was organised for students most of them visited Rajkot for the first time.. Surprising!!!

BLOOD DONATION CAMP ON 105th ANNIVERSARY OF ROTARY

On the 105th Anniversary of Rotary International - 23.01.2010, RC of Rajkot jointly with RC of Rajkot Greater and RC of Rajkot Metro organised Blood Donation Camp at Rotary Bhavan. "RAKTDAN - MAHADAN" sounds very true when many Rotarians, Family Members & Friends, Students and even office staff took the opportunity to fulfil their self motivated duty towards society. Target of 105 units of blood on 105th Anniversary of Rotary have been achieved and total 107 units were collected. At the end of the camp, I persnolly felt satisfied not because of success of the camp but with these 107 units we can save many lives, many Thalasamic children. It's a motto of Rotary "Service Above Self". 

SCHOOL BEANCHES & FURNITURE TO RURAL SCHOOLS

Rotary Club of Rajkot has donated 60 School Benches (big) and School Furniture worth Rs. 100,000.00 to Bhadali Middle School,Village - Bhadali, Nr. Jasdan, District - Rajkot on 25.01.2010. To provide better infrastructure to village primary schools, RC of Rajkot donates about 150-200 School Benches to rural primary schools every year. This year, RC of Rajkot has donated 50 small and 120 big School Benches to the Schools of Metoda, Rataya, Wankaner and Bhadali village.

"POLIO ERADICATION" - TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

"POLIO ERADICATION" - Dream of every Rotarian since last 25 years and our Dream will come TRUE only if we give our efforts to do so. On 07.02.2010, Natioanl Immunization Day, members of RC of Rajkot and students of R P Bhalodia College joined their hands for this noble cause.

Around 40 students in a group of 10 students each along with Rotarians went door-to-door in three slum areas of Rajkot where booth immunization is significantly low to the average and motivated children and their parents to go to Polio booth for Polio Vaccine Drops. One team went to ST Bus Stand where two booths were allocated to RC of Rajkot and total 435 children were indentified from the buses and taken to the booth for Polio Drops.

TOGETHER WE CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE and WE WILL...

SEMINAR ON "DYSLEXIA : DISABILITY OR GIFT?" FOR SCHOOL TEACHERS

RC of Rajkot jointly with RC of Rajkot Greater organised a seminar on "DYSLEXIA : DISABILITY OR GIFT?" for school teachers, principals, students & parents on 07.01.2010 at Rotary Bhavan, Rajkot. Mr. Richard Whitefield, the key note speaker came all the way from UK to throw some serious light on the subject. Ms. Anjali Hardikar and Dr. Deepa Raja delivered motivational and encouraging speech. Total 178 delegates attended the seminar.

INBOUND GSE TEAM FROM ATLANTA, USA VISITED SARLA KAMDAR ROTARY PARK

Inbound GSE Team from Atlanta, USA RI District 6900 visited environment project of Rotary Club of Rajkot during its visit to Rajkot on 05.01.2010. Team Leader Rtn. William Barney III planted a tree in dedication of Rtn. Roy Strickland, District Governor, RI District 6900, Georgia and made "FRIENDSHIP FOR EVER" bond between two districts stronger. Sarla Kamdar Rotary Park was developed by RC Rajkot on 45000 sq mtr barren land in R.Y. 2006-07 and the project awarded Significant Project by Rotary International.

INBOUND GSE TEAM FROM RI DIST 6900 INTERVIEWED ON BIG FM RADIO

Inbound GSE team from Atlanta, USA RI District 6900 visited BIG 92.7 FM Radio on 06.01.2010 during their visit to Rajkot. All members of GSE Team, GSE Team co-ordinator PP Rajesh Kothari and President of Rotary Club of Rajkot Rtn. Ketan Joshi were interviewed and the same was on air on 07.01.2010. President Ketan and PP Rajesh Kothari gave information about Rotary's Group Study Exchange Program while each GSE team member shared experience about Rajkot city and people of Rajkot. It was a unique experience for them to get an opportunity to express their feelings on air and It was also beneficial to enhance public image of Rotary International and Rotary Foundation.

"BAL RAMATOSAV" OF HIV+ CHILDREN

On 17th Jan 2010 morning, "Network of People Living with HIV+" organised "BAL RAMATOSAV" for HIV+ children living in Rajkot city. Total around 100 children registered with this organisation and every month they arrange get-to-gather of HIV+ children and their care takers. Out of 100 children, 57 are orphan. These children lost their parents due to AIDS and living uncertain life as Orphan Children. Whenever I got an opportunity, I share joy and happiness with them. I celebrated "Rakshabandhan", "Janmashthami", "Makar Sankrati" with them and realised that these children need acceptance from society. YES, we have to educate the society to accept HIV+ children.
Rotary Club of Rajkot distributed 5 in 1 Game as token of love to all participants of "BAL RAMATOSAV"

"PREM PATANG" KIT TO LESS FORTUNATE CHILDREN ON MAKAR SANKRAT

President Ketan loves to celebrate festivals with less privileged children and since last many years he with his friends and members of RC of Rajkot distribute “Prem Patang” kit contains “Patang-Dora, Chikki, Ladu, Bor, Chocolate, Wafers” to around 600 Orphan, Deaf & Dumb, Mentally Challenged, HIV+ children on the evening of preceding day of Kite Flying Day.

The distribution of “Prem Patang” kits was started on 13th January 2010 at 03:30 pm from Home for People Living with HIV+, Special Home for Boys, Home for Mentally Challenged Children, Special Home for Girls, Apang Bal Gruh, Virani Deaf & Dumb School, Kathiawad Balashram (Boys) & Kathiawad Balashram (Girls).

Large number of Club Members and Friends with Spouse and Children joined President Ketan to share an evening with less fortunate children to spark a bright light in their life.

"END POLIO NOW" - ROTARY'S GIFT TO NEXT GENERATION

On 10th Jan 10, our club decided to support Polio Plus program in different way and identified four slum areas of the city where ratio of booth immunization is low compared to average. A team of 7-8 members in each area visited every home and motivated children for Polio Drops by giving Whistles, Masks and Biscuits A team of Raiya Dhar Slum area was led by President Ketan, Chhotunagar Slum Area by Rtn. Nimesh Parekh, Hinglaj Nagar Slum area by Rtn. Bharat Thumar and S. T. Bus stand team by PE Rtn. Piyush Panchasara. Total around 1000 biscuit packets were distributed to slum children.

SEMINAR ON "IMAGES AND REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN INDIAN LITERATURE"

Two days State Level Seminar on "Images and Representation of Women in Indian Literature" was organised by RC of Rajkot jointly with Jasani Arts & Commerce College, Rajkot on 19th & 20th December 2009 at Rotary Bhavan. More than 700 delegates - Professors & Students were registered for the seminar and presented their papers on the subject.
In the inagural Function President Ketan gave Power Point Presentation on Club Activities, PP Rtn. Suresh Gandhi gave an overview of Rotary Foundation's Programs & Activities in general. Key note Speaker of the function was Professor Dr. Naresh Ved, Ex Vice Chancelour of Bhavnagar University and Professor Dr. Shridhar Rajeshwaran, Head of Department of English, Kutch University.
A Souvenir of paper submitted by the participants and Message of President Ketan and Activities of RC of Rajkot was also published on the occassion.

PROJECT VISIT BY DG MAJOR SHARMA ON HIS OFFICIAL CLUB VISIT

DG Major Sharma on it official club visit of Rotary Club of Rajkot visited many community service projects of the club. He visited Rajkot Cancer Hospital at where a Mammography Machine was donated under Matching Grant. He visited another Matching Grant projects of Dialysis Machines & X-Ray Machine donated to B. T. Savani Kidney Hospital. He donated 10 free Dialysis to poor and needy patients. Kind hearted DG Major Sharma responded to need of more Dialysis Machine & Ventilator and declared his monetary support to donate it in due course. He also visited Milk Co-op Society "Mahila Mandali Dudh Utpadan" run by village women at Nani Amreli. He was impressed by the initiative taken by RC Rajkot for forming the Milk co-op society and a maidan women RCC of the District.

ONE DAY PICNIC FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

A one day picnic for senior citizens of “Old Peoples Home” was organized by our club on 11.10.2009. In the morning at 07:00, more than 45 Seniors accompanied by Bhajan Mandali, President Ketan Joshi , Rtn. Pramay Chhatra and volunteer friends of President Ketan started from Rajkot . They were taken to Swaminarayan Temple – Gondal, Bhidbhanjan, Parab Vavdi, Junagadh and Virpur. All enjoyed delicious breakfast and lunch and returned to Rajkot at 09:00 pm. It was a unique project and a rare opportunity to be SHRAVAN of many Senior Citizens.

FREE DIABETIC CHECK-UP CAMP

Third in a row Free Diabetic Check-up Camp was organised jointly with Shri Bhuvneshwari Aushadhalaya by Rotary Club of Rajkot under its awareness campaign for Blood Sugar Level. Total 91 persons were checked for Blood Sugar Level and 67 out of 91 found at high blood sugar level.

20 SCHOOL BENCHES DONATED TO RURAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS

In the month of October, 20 School Benches were donated to Two Rural Primary Schools, Sodiya Primary School (15 benches) and Rataya Primary School (05 benches). At Sodiya Primary School, Rotary Club of Rajkot has donated total 55 benches (40 benches last year and 15 benches in current year) under District 3060 School Bench Project.

ROTARY VOCATIONAL AWARD TO MS. BIJAL DAMANI, OUTSTANDING YOUNG EDUCATOR AWARD WINNER

In Vocational Month October, Rotary Vocational Award was awarded to Ms. Bijal Damani, who has been conferred with prestigious OYEA (Outstanding Young Educator Award) for the year 2009. She is the First Asian Indian to receive this award from ASCD (Association of Supervision and Curriculam Development). ASCD's OYEA program recognises creative and commited teachers and administrators under the age of 40 who are making a difference in the lives of children. Ms. Bijal Damani has not only made RAJKOTIAN proud but has made entire nation very proud. The Rotary Vocational Award was awarded to her by worthy hands of Municipal Commissioner of Rajkot, Shri Bramhabhatt on 10.10.09 at the joint meeting of all four Rotary Clubs of Rajkot.

SHARAD PURNIMA CELEBRATION AT RAJWADI PALACE

Sunday, 04th Oct 09 this date will be remembered by all members who attended the ROYAL Sharad Purnima celebration hosted by our ROYAL IPP Upendrasinhji at his ROYAL abode HAVA MAHAL. First all members visited the world famous mind boggling Vintage Car Collection. The Orchard Palace, where the cars were displayed, itself is a megnificent beauty of old architecture. (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam fame) The group picture of all in front of ROYAL Saloon was the price collection for all. Everyone enjoyed Garbas and Dandias with live orchestra. The Prachin Raas played by ten Rotary Couples was the best among all. The pleasunt surprises were the duets by President Ketan & Khyati and Upedrasinhji & Gauri.