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During 1970’s the club was successful to get anti-polio vaccines with the help
of a club at France and the same were distributed to the children through the
Government General Hospital. Pondicherry. During the initial years the club was
concentrating in organizing Health Camps in the rural villages, projects to
help the disabled, blood donation camp, recognizing the outstanding students
etc., During 1970’s the achievement of the club was the construction of
Children’s Traffic Park which was inaugurated during November 1973.
Mass marriage programme was organized during the year 1881-82 and mega eye
camps were organized several times. District Assembly was organized by the club
for the first time during 1985 and again during 1992. Vocational Services
projects were given importance from the year 1984. Comprehensive Health Camps
in the remote villages and the vocational training programme for the
underprivileged women were organized in a big way during 1991-92.Ideal Home
Exhibition was organized successfully from 1988 to 2003 and this helped the
club to raise funds for the projects and also build a sizable amount for the
corpus of the club.
The construction of “Rotary Working Women’s Hostel”, a unique and innovative
project of Rotary Club of Pondicherry was taken up during 1985 and it was
completed during the year 1987. Initially the ground floor and first floor
construction was taken up and on account of the good demand for the Hostel
(waiting list often exceeded 35). The Club took up the construction of the II
floor during 1991-92. Well Known for its excellent administration 64 working
women are now enjoying the safe shelter. The Hostel is considered as the “SAFE
HOME” for the stay of the workingwomen who come to Pondicherry for employment.
The total cost of the project is 20 lakhs and the Central and the State
Government has given capital grant of 90% for the construction of the building.
The club has contributed the balance 10% for the construction building and in
addition a sum of Rs. 3,00,000/- was spent for the purchase of furniture and
other accessories. The admission is purely on first come first serve basis and
the members are allowed to stay in the Hostel for maximum period of three years
only to provide an opportunity to the new comers to stay in the Hostel. The
hostel is running on “no profit-no loss basis”. An eleven member managing
committee appointed by the Rotary Club of Pondicherry looks after the welfare
of the Hostel members. With its objective of providing the basic facilities and
security for the women who approach them, the hostel has well addressed their
needs so far. The remarks of the visitors of the hostel at various occasions
also showcase the tidiness and discipline maintained there. Along with its
public image, the hostel stands out in its perfectly maintained principles and
the rest of its services when compared with the others.
For the Golden jubilee year the Club has organized a good and novel programme
“Basic Life Support Training Programme” for autorikshaw drivers. The reason for
selecting the autorikshaw drivers is because they are the people who are called
for help in taking the victims of accident to the nearby hospitals. The Club in
association with Sharmila Edward Good Samaritan Society and Police Department,
Govt. of Pondicherry organized the program in batches. Four training programs
were organized and more than 300 autorikshaw drivers in Basic Life Support
Programme.
The Club has learned the art of executing mega projects with the financial aid
of the Rotary Foundation from 1998. The Club under the Matching Grants
Programme of The Rotary Foundation executed the following projects.
1. 1998 – 1999 – X-ray machine costing Rs. 6.10 lakhs was given to Certh
India, Pondicherry. International Sponsor of the project – Rotary Club Namur,
Belgium.
2. 1988 – 1999 – Children Opportunities Grant – Rs. 10.40 lakhs –
Hepatitis – B immunization programme for children below the age of 12. The
Project was fully funded by TRF under the children Opportunities Grant Program.
3. 2000 – 2001 – Construction of 10 Low Cost Shelters costing Rs. 5.35
lakhs at Koonichampet village, pondicherry. The International Sponsor of the
project – Rotary International District 1620, Belgium.
4. 2000 – 2001 – Construction Of Over Head Tank to provide safe drinking
water to 750 students of Bonne Nehru High Scholl, Thirukkanur Village,
Pondicherry. Total cost of the project was Rs. 1.85 Lakhs and the international
sponsor to the project was Rotary Club of Clouis High Plains, RID 5520, U.S.A.
5. 2001 – 2002 – Avoidable blindness Project – 1186 patients were
screened and 206 patients underwent IOL surgery. Thus this project has helped
to restore vision to 206 poor patients. The project costing 0.60 lakhs was
funded by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International
6. 2003 – 2004 – Congenital Neurological Deficiency Children
Rehabilitation Centre, Kottakuppam. This project costing Rs. 9.52 lakhs
provided the much needed toilet facility, safe drinking water, equipments and a
Maruthi Van for the transportation of the children. The international Sponsor
of the project was Rotary Club of Sebastapol, California, RID 5130 U.S.A.
7. 2003 – 2004 – Computers Costing Rs. 3.92 lakhs were donated to
Ramakrishna Vidhyalaya Higher Secondary School, Pondicherry and Subramania
Bharathiyar English High School, Thirukkanur, Pondicherry. The International
Sponsor to the project was Rotary Club of Wynnum & Manly, Australia, RID 9630.
8. 2005 – 2006 – Computers Costing Rs. 1.65 Lakhs were provided to Saint
Joseph’s English High School, Pondicherry. The International Sponsor of the
Project was Rotary Club of Wynnum & Manly, Australia, RID 9630.
9. Golden Jubilee Year Project – To provide 70 Benches and Desks,
Construction of toilet block and to provide safe drinking water which will
benefit 1200 Students of Holy Flower English High School, Kariamanikkam
Village, Pondicherry. The total cost of the project is 4.5 Lakhs and the
international Sponsor to the project was Rotary Club of Wynnum & Manly,
Australia, RID 9630.
10. 2006 – 2007 – we have given rural health care van to st. joseph of
cluny hospital at melsithambur village, via vallam, gingee thaluk, villupuram
district with the project support of Rotary Club of Leon de Seon, France. RID
1710
11. 2007 – 2008 – 25 sets of table and chairs, 236 sets of benches and desks were provided to government higher secondary school, Devanur, Gingee Taluk, TamilNadu costing Rs. 5.06 Lakhs. The international sponsor of the project was Rotary Club of Wynnum & Manly, Australia, RID 9630
12. 2008 – 2009 – 25 seater mini bus was handed over to Shanthi Bhavan Ashram, Chinna Kalapet, Pondicherry) costing Rs. 7.57 Lakhs. with the project support of Rotary Club of Leon de Seon, France. RID 1710
13. 2008 – 2009 –Ten computers and One LCD projector to Jawahar Higher Secondary School, Koodapakkam. And Ten computers to Sankar's Vidyalaya Higher Secondary School, Villianur donated under MATCHING GRANT project costing 4.57 Lakhs funded by The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International & Sponsored by Club of Wynnum and Manly, Australia RID 9630
Our Club is an effective club as per the norms of the Rotary international
since the Club membership has been either increased or sustained, implemented
successful projects, supported the Rotary Foundation and it has developed
leaders capable of serving in Rotary beyond the club level. The Club in its 50
years of service to the community has produced one District Governor to lead
the District during the year 1998 – 99. Many of our club members have expertise
knowledge on the administrative procedures of the Rotary. Our Club is one among
the few clubs in our District that follow the rules and regulations as laid
down in the Manual of Procedure of Rotary international. Our members can feel
proud that they are members of a prestigious club that has completed 50 years
of successful service to the community and I am confident that the never-ending
journey for service will continue for many more years.
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