RCPMT Dream January To March 2022 by Rotary Club Of Panaji Mid-Town

T H E

DREAM

NEWSLETTER OF ROTARY CLUB OF PANAJI MID-TOWN VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 03

JANUARY - MARCH 2022

RI PRESIDENT: Rtn. Shekhar Mehta | DG 3170: Rtn. Gaurish M. Dhond | PRESIDENT : Rtn. Sunil Mone

www.rcpmt.org

SERVE TO CHANGE LIVES

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

RTN. SUNIL MONE 2021-22

After the Nine months of Rotary year 21-22 as a flag holder, or a torch bearer, feeling of the need, to do a lot to more, creeps in the mind. District Governor's th visit on 20 May, ie Charter Nite or a Birthday celebration of our club is scheduled. The preparations for it will be gaining momentum, our veterans will be a lot of help to gear up for that event. We are eager to enter the Silver jubilee year. we will be completing 24 years of Rotary for Mid-towners now. Silver Jubilee year stands on the firm base of projects, programs and fellowship carried out by all the past presidents and the enthusiastic and ever encouraging members. In coming last few months, we will try to do our best, and will not keep a single stone unturned to reach our goals. Looking forward to all the encouragement cooperation and zeal to raise the bar.

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." - John Quincy Adams 02

R.I. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

RTN. SHEKHAR MEHTA 2021-22

We have overcome so many challenges these past two years and changed numerous lives. It brings me great joy that we have worked so hard this year to grow Rotary through the Each One, Bring One initiative. The result has been excellent growth in membership. Let us keep up the momentum. I am happy that you have put a spotlight on all we do by organizing projects around the world in our Rotary Days of Service. The future looks brighter than ever for Rotary and our 1.4 million members. On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 constituted a pandemic, and two years later it is important that we continue to draw on our expertise in our disease prevention and treatment area of focus to help people worldwide cope with the continuing challenges. The pandemic continues to defy all expectations, but we cannot be frozen in fear. Our work is too important. It is also important that we make time for each other, and I urge you to register for the upcoming 2022 Rotary International Convention in Houston. It is a great way for all of us to safely celebrate Rotary service. We can continue to build hope and spread peace in the world by using our resources to help the most vulnerable and keeping our faith in the future. The pandemic has had an especially devastating impact on girls worldwide. On the first anniversary of the pandemic, Henrietta Fore, the executive director of UNICEF, said that “immediate action is needed to mitigate the toll on girls and their families.” This need, unfortunately, remains just as strong a year later. The ripples of the pandemic have affected girls in unique ways - stunting their educational attainment, weakening their job prospects, and contributing to other terrible results such as child marriages and increased human trafficking. Data from UNICEF reveals why our action is so essential. In the

2010s, important progress was made toward eliminating the practice of child marriage, and UNICEF estimates that 25 million such marriages were averted worldwide. Unfortunately, the pandemic reversed those positive trends, and as a result an additional 10 million girls are vulnerable to becoming child brides by the end of this decade. This is why our focus on Empowering Girls is such vital work, and I am delighted that at this year’s virtual International Assembly, President-elect Jennifer Jones committed to continuing this initiative for another year. In my travels, I have witnessed many wonderful examples of club projects that back our Empowering Girls goals. But all Rotary members know that real change requires big efforts sustained over many years. This is the power of our global grants and actions taken within our areas of focus. I encourage clubs to think of innovative ways to empower girls when designing their grant projects. Every step we take to improve education, health care, and economic opportunities for girls makes an important difference in helping them achieve their full potential. With opportunity we create hope, and with hope we address the root causes of conflict around the world, setting the stage for sustainable peace. None of us know how long the COVID-19 virus will linger - and as an organization that has worked tirelessly for decades to eradicate polio, we understand better than most the difficult work that lies ahead for the world. That is why we need to remain focused on the future and on what is possible - not feeling nostalgic for the way our lives were, but looking hopefully to a future that uses this opportunity to Serve to Change Lives. I look forward to continuing this good work with you. 03

SECRETARY REPORT

RTN. SANJIV DESAI 2021-22

“I am endeavouring to see God through service of humanity; for I know that God is neither in heaven, nor down below, but in everyone.” Mahatma Gandhi Rotary's 'Service above self' to humanity through current theme "Serve to Change Lives" Is epitome of Social Work.

MEETINGS 27th Weekly Meeting on Tuesday, 4th January, 2022

All the decisions taken at the meeting of the th Board of Directors held on 28 December, 2021 at Terminals Banquets were ratified by the Members 04

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28 Weekly Meeting on Tuesday, 11 January, 2022

Excellent interactive session by Sunila Sardesai Muzawar on ‘The Power of the Mind’, how to train your mind for success, Guest Speaker is Chartered Accountant and CPA (USA) also she is into Art of Living her mentor is Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar

29 Weekly Meeting on Tuesday, 18 January, 2022

Rtn. Mahesh Patil, Chairman of The Goa Pollution Board spoke on his experience on Environment and Climate changes. Members also appreciated the efforts of Rtn. Ashish Verlekar, Rtn. Shivan Desai, Rtn. Kedar Kenkre and Rtn. Milind Shankwalkar for dropping penalty proceedings by Income Tax. 05

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30 Weekly Meeting on Tuesday, 25 January, 2022 Rtn. D. W. Kamat spoke on experience of Narmada Parikrama, Dream Magazine for December quarter was released at the hands of Rtn. Dr. Deep Bhandare

31 Weekly Meeting on Tuesday, 01 February, 2022

Club Assembly, All the decisions taken at the Board Meeting held at Clube Tennis De Gaspar Dias on 28 t h Januar y 2022 were ratified.

SECRETARY REPORT 32nd Weekly Meeting on Tuesday, 08th February, 2022 Our Special Guest was Shri Kirti Azad, Great Indian Cricketer and excellent Orator. He Spoke on World Cup 1983, He spoke about his personal favourite memories from the tournament, puzzling ball that took wicket of Ian Botham in the Semi finals, also spoke about the stirring speech that fired up the team "We have nothing to lose, let us give our 100 percent." “That World Cup victory opened the doors for India to rock on the cricketing world, that was the stepping stone for good times in Indian cricket,” and how domination in Kapil's voice helped us during the mid-innings break. if West Indies can get us out for 183, we can do the same thing. We have a bowling attack which can do this and has done this in the past. There is no reason we should give up. Let us go there and fight it out. That, sort of, lifted confidence levels of the team. It was such a enlightening and entertaining speech, Shri Gajanan Karkare was inducted as 74th Member of our Club.

33rd Weekly Meeting on Tuesday, 15th February, 2022 Our Guest speaker was Shri Pramod Acharya, Editor In Chief at Prudent Media. It was pleasure to listen to insightful observation of Goa Elections 2022. The Members present appreciated the talk

SECRETARY REPORT 34th Weekly Meeting on Tuesday, 22nd February, 2022

Special Club Assembly was held to discuss One Point Agenda on Concurrence of the Bifurcation Plan of RID 3170. The Members unanimously preferred to go with Maharashtra due to Language and geographical proximity

35 Weekly Meeting on Tuesday, 01 March, 2022

All the decisions taken at the Board Meeting held on th 25 February 2022 at Rtn. Manoj Caculo residence were ratified, Shri Kirti Azad was conferred on Honorary membership of our Club. 08

SECRETARY REPORT 36th Weekly Meeting on Tuesday, 08th March, 2022 Adv. Narendra Sawaikar, NRI Commissioner spoke and Interacted on 'evacuation of stranded Goan students in Ukraine. 20 out of 21 students studying at Ukraine have reached Goa safely. Chairman Literacy Rtn. Ajit Dalvi handed over Cheque of Rs.1.20 lacs received from Rtn Vijay Hede towards scholarship grants under permanent project SAKSHARTA Ann. Sweta Sardesai, Director Operation PAWS was felicitated at the hands of Guest Speaker Narendra Sawaikar.

37 Weekly Meeting on Tuesday, 15 March, 2022 Bina Punjani owner of Bina Punjani Hair Studio was guest speaker, she spoke on putting your Best forward. Valuable information was given on First impression is the best impression and about Salon, academy.

SECRETARY REPORT 38th Weekly Meeting on Tuesday, 22nd March, 2022 Rtn. R. Ashok and Ann. Ranjana Spoke on NAB and Project th अनुभुती / सहवेदना held on 9 March 2022.

39th Weekly Meeting on Tuesday, 29th March, 2022 Decisions taken at the Board Meeting held on 25th March, 2022 at Varanda Do Mar were ratified by the Members.

SECRETARY REPORT EVENTS/PROJECTS Joy of Giving

Joy of giving, Annette Tanvi Yatin Parekh, celebrating her birthday at Aasha Mahal, Taleigao. She donated ` 11,000/-

Friends of Rotary, Donated fresh fish, fruits, vegetables on 23rd February 2022 at Gomant Mahila Aashram, Anjuna.

Joy of giving. Ration for the month of January and February was donated to NAB. 11

SECRETARY REPORT Project अनुभुती / सहवेदना Rotary Club Panaji Mid-town conducted a wonderful workshop in NAB called Project अनुभुती / सहवेदना, it was done to create awareness among youngster and elders alike to see what kind of challenges the visually blind go through but how they accept and go about their tasks merrily. Life is struggle for them but it is not seen in NAB where the children, along with their dedicated teachers have achieved as atmosphere which is happy and well balanced. Our very own Ann’s conducted this project 5, children each of 3 different schools, were selected and taken to NAB, blindfolded and made to do the same tasks as the children there. Dormitory walk, computer awareness, different games, dining, washing, was all done along with the visually challenged children. Oh How difficult it was for them. They I am sure must have learnt gratitude, camaraderie and perseverance from their interaction followed our Annette’s and One Child each school shares his/her experiences and realized how blessed they are. 22 Members, Annette’s and Ann’s par ticipated in the programme.

Public Image Building Initiative. Building Public Image is important initiative. Hoarding show casing our Permanent projects was erected at Verna on way to Panaji from Margao. Space courtesy: Rtn. Kedar Dhume Print Courtesy: Rtn. Tanmay Kholkar, Manas Developers. When a Rotary club has a positive public image, brand or reputation, current members are motivated to participate in service above self, prospective members are eager to join and sponsors are willing to support service.

SECRETARY REPORT Career Guidance Career Guidance given to 3 schools of Gaune , Keri and Priol 100 plus students attended the program from 12 noon to 1 pm on th 24 January 2022. The students were guided about why it's important to have a proper guidance for their career path and what all they should do to plan a good career. It was a joint project of Rotary Club of Ponda New generation and RCPMT The event was coordinated by Rtn. Sameer Pikale

Medical Camp

RCPMT along with PITAMBARI shoppe franchisee conducted Medical Check up Camp at Bicholim-Goa. Over whelming response received for the health camp. 13

SECRETARY REPORT Signals Corps Day

Rotary Parivar Panaji celebrated 111th Signals Corps Day, Indian Army on 12 th February, 2022 at Bambolim Curca Camp.

Sahayata

The 14th batch of Sahayata Home Care Nursing School commenced on th 16 February, 2022 “SAHAYATA” is our ongoing Permanent Project and our Club has spent more than Rs. 80 Lacs and imparted skills development to over 200 Students in home care nursing in the last 6 years.

Intra Cricket Club Cricket Match was played on 27.02.22 Captains XI Vs Vice Captains XI. Vice Captain's Xi scored 161 in 20 Overs, Captains XI Scored 159 lost by 2 runs on the last ball. Ex Indian Cricketer Shri Kirti Azad was the Special Guest

SECRETARY REPORT Honorary member Shri Kirti Azad Shri Kirti Azad was conferred on Honorary membership of our st club on 1 March, 2022 at Panjim Gymkhana.

SECRETARY REPORT Annual Manek Gem Trophy Annual Manek Gem Trophy was held in March 2022. Three Rotary teams from Panaji participated. Rotary Panaji defeated RCPMT in the finals. Rtn. Ilyas Naroo was Man of the Series.

ARTICLE SA R E E S P E A K In life, all you need is a project and enough passion for the project you believe in. I found the saree. Always interested in cinemas and writing about it, motivated a friend to start a group for my reviews on Facebook. We called it 'Moviespeak'. What followed were groups on various subjects like travel, food, art, books, Shayari and the Saree. 'Saree Speak', six years old this April, was started to motivate myself to saree’, more often. Added my existing friends, who when happy in the group went on to add their friends too. Today we are 163K strong, with women from over 100 countries including Maldives, Jordan, Peru, Suriname, Malta to name a few. To the tune of 100 posts per day. Women of all ages, happy to saree and happy to share their story. Happy to make new friendship, find old friends, and find themselves, by way of self expression. I wear saree everywhere I travel, India and abroad, thereby encouraging others to do so too. We have fun themes in our group, where we share sarees, emulate a sakhi, any excuse to choose saree over other available choice of wear. Our very own Kunbi Saree is right now travelling all across India and the world. 145 women all over the globe have worn it, as we speak. In the process, tying women to each other, a kind of extended sisterhood. #travellingkunbi 5 years back I opened an account on Instagram, same name 'Saree Speak', to document my personal saree journey. I support small businesses, many of them women, a part of my Saree Speak Facebook family. Promoting handmade sarees over the easily available, more common power loom

Instagram gave me a platform to express myself, brought out the comic side, the romance, the mysterious, the poetic and the much public. GAINING appreciation and wanting more of it, became the norm. What would even happen if Picasso painted and no one valued it or Elton John sang and no one applauded, or a mother cooked and no one appreciated. All of us seek validation and social media helps grow further, to build what we believe in. Have been a regular home maker most of my life. Today my boys proudly announce to whoever is interested, that Mum is a Saree influencer. What else did I ever want, except an identity, a name I call my own. #sareespeak #womenofsareespeak

ARTICLE SWAC H H TA - WA S H I N S C H O O L S ( Wi n S ) The above factors also increase the cost of health care and education thus having economic implications. Thus, our aim through the WinS project is to improve school attendance and education outcome through provisions of sustainable WASH services and education initiative in identified rural and urban school in Goa. WASH aspects that were identified and implemented

The WinS Project was launched at the hands of Honourable Chief Minister of Goa Shri. Manohar Parrikar at the Installation function of our Club on 1st July, 2017 at Hotel Mandovi. Shri Parrikar complimented Rotarians of Rotary Club of Panaji Midtown for taking up the Swachh Bharat initiative through WINS and expressed willingness of the Goa Govt. to associate with Rotary Club of Panaji Midtown to scale up with the number of schools to be covered under this project. Background: WinS stands for Wash in Schools. WASH refers to Water, Sanitation, Hygiene. This is a Rotary International(RI) focus project for India which Rotary Club of Panaji Midtown executed in rural and urban schools in the State of Goa. Out of 6 areas of focus for Rotary International, 2 of them viz Basic education & literacy and Water & sanitation are covered under WinS project. The WinS project is not just a focus area for RI but also for UNICEF and Government of India through the HRD Ministry for Panchayati Raj, drinking water and sanitation. Infact this also forms an integral part of Prime Ministers initiative for Swachh Bharat. Objective: Waterborne diseases cause children to be sick resulting in high absentee rate in schools thus creating education and literacy issues. It is estimated that worldwide 272 million school days are lost each year due to WASH related issues. It is also a serious health issue since water borne diseases specially worm infection, impair, physical development and reduce cognitive development among school going children. Infect diarrhoea is a leading cause of mortality among children.

Our club identified schools for this project based on 'Need assessment'. Don Bosco College; Department of Social welfare affiliated to Goa University carried out the Need assessment for the shortlisted schools based on the Baseline Survey Format issued by UNICEF along with RI. After doing a Gap analysis based on the survey our Rotary Club identified the schools to undertake the WinS project which covered the following aspects:-

ARTICLE I. Providing safe drinking water.

Implementation process:

II. Constructing/ renovating/repairing toilets separately for boys & girls of the school.

1. Selection of schools based on need assessment through survey. 2. Gap Analysis.

III. Hand wash stations. IV. Menstrual Hygiene management by way of vending machines and incinerators. V. Behavioural change by way of training of teachers and orientation and supervision of students during hand washing. Post implementation of the project, operation and maintenance plan along with the school management has been created to ensure that schools maintain/repair the installed infrastructure on a regular basis. Cost Benefit analysis of each school will be undertaken.

3. Process mapping- executable plan along with budget to bridge the gap. 4. Execution. Project in numbers: A) We had planned to execute WinS in 20 schools but ended up executing it in 26 schools. B) Our club raised over $150000 (over Rs 1 Crore) for the project from 10 donors as per of their CSR commitments. Funding for the Project: We recognised the donors at the Installation Function on 1st July, 2017 at the hands of Honourable Chief Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar with 'Appreciation Certificate'.

WinS project implemented in following schools in Goa during 2017-18 Sr. No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Name of School

Location

Progress High School New Goa High School Swastik Vidyalaya Somnath English High School Gananath English High School Shri. Shradhanand Vidyalaya St. Aloysius High School National Association For the Blind Honda High School Progress High School Govt High School Sanjay Centre Higher Secondary & Vocational Unit Sanjay Centre For Special Education Goa Sanjay Centre For Special Education Goa Sanjay Centre For Special Education Goa Aastha for special Children Parse High School Vivekanand High School Dayanand Arya High School Mandre High School Saraswat Vidyalaya Immaculate Conception High School St. Tereza High School Cuncolim United Higher Secondary School Government High School Government High School

Panjim Mapusa Priol Kripal Dabal Canacona Diwadi St.Cruz Valpoi Sanquelim Bhuipal Porvorim Porvorim Vasco Curchorem Mapusa Pednem Borim Neura Mandrem Mapusa Dabal Candolim Cuncolim Vasco Sada

26 Schools covered & 10,128 Happy school children • 20 repairs/renovation/new toilet blocks and other sanitation facilities like septic tanks, etc. • 18 drinking water plants with maintenance contract for three years • 40 hand wash stations • 22 vending machines for sanitary napkins • 23 incinerators for sanitary napkins • 16 water tanks

CLUB DAIRY B I R T H DAY C E L E B R AT I O N S

CLUB DAIRY

EDITOR’S MESSAGE

RTN. AMIT SUKHTHANKAR 2021-22

Things seem much normal now. The economy is slowly regaining its lost ground, tourism is renewing its vows with Goa, a new government is in place, and most importantly, the facial apparatus of the mask is finally losing its popularity. Yes, life is much more normal. And after two tumultuous years, how we have grown to acknowledge that 'Normal' is no underdog! All our lofty Goals And aspirations simply pale before this humble 'Normal'. Man is a social animal. Social Collaborations are the backbone of our civilisational structure. The surreal world of the 'abnormal' that took us by surprise, struck at the heart of this structure, threatening our very existence. Social distancing forced us to reinvent ways to fulfill our most basic needs. Things were indeed way off the normal making our craving for it reach a new epoch. However even amidst fears of uncertainty and the certainty of morbidity there was an unexplained new emotion taking shape. One could not deny the silence that filled the air, as if earth itself had stood still for a moment. The calm that was forced onto us was also becoming the calm we secretly desired. As though Time was freed from the clutches of materialism:

the unneeded wants. Time was available to notice things we were otherwise be blind to. People had become important and socially responsible behaviour witnessed remarkable examples to emulate. Unknowingly but surely we had made ourselves aware of a life that could be led in a world beyond the pandemic. This would be the life that is richer, more meaningful, more balanced and far removed from the mundane. Today with great human endeavour and some luck that life has been gifted back. It's now time to keep the unspoken promise, lest we fall prey to the usual Memory loss and lose our valuable lessons . At Rotary midtown, we urge you to take a moment and introspect. Fortunately for us, the rotary foundation has already laid out that path for us. The principle of 'Service over self' could be the cue. So let's make every day count. One such initiative that is the highlight of this third edition of our magazine is our flagship project “Swachata''. Initiated by the then president Rtn. Ashish Verlekar the project continues to draw accolades not only from the rotary world but beyond. The article is a detailed documentation of its goals and objectives and what it has been able to achieve over these years. Happy reading!

M O N T H LY T H E M E S

CLUB INFO

C LU B I N F O R M AT I O N

F O U R WAY T E S T

Rotary Club of Panaji Mid-Town Club No R.I District Founded on Chartered on Charter Presented on Weekly Meeting Time Venue

: 51217 : 3170 : 14-04-1998 : 20-05-1998 : 02-08-1998 : Every Tuesday : 19.00 hrs : Clube Tennis De Gasper Dias

of the things we think, say or do •Is it the truth? •Is it fair to all concerned? •Will it build Goodwill and better Friendship? •Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

SERVE TO CHAN GE LIVES

Cover Page Design By: Annette Saumya Amit Sukthankar This drawing represents the yin and yang, a symbol which embodies equilibrium, balance and the Normal . It suggests that the opposing forces are always in a state of flux and affords balance to this world- a tribute to the return of normalcy in the world.