Rotaractors plan Happy Schools in Dimapur

There is a peppy note in the voice of Nikhil Jain, president, RAC Dimapur, RID 3240, as he chats with me on the phone, explaining the Covid-relief work his club members have taken up in several localities in Nagaland. “We have sprayed disinfectants at seven major areas including Marwari Patti, G S Road and Murgi Patti covering a 4km radius. We did this work in partnership with RC ­Dimapur, our parent Rotary club,” he says.

A couple of district projects like Rakshitam (protecting frontline workers) and Sanman (honouring Covid warriors) are in full swing during the lockdown. “Four workers of municipal corporation were honoured with Sanman (respect) certificates signed by DRR Tushar Jalan. Under Rakshitam, we donated two large Covid kits containing 100 hand and foot pedal sanitisers, 300 face masks, three PPE kits and 150 face shields to the primary health centre at the Burma Camp and a quarantine centre at Chumukedima, a city suburb,” explains Jain. The two Covid kits cost  ₹35,000. Rtr Pankaj Giri was feted with a Rotaract Karo-Na Warrior Award by the DRR for his selfless service during the lockdown.

We are planning a major cleanliness drive across the city. Once normalcy resumes, a slew of field activities will be taken up by our Rotaractors.

— Dr Nitin Agarwal,
member, RC Dimapur.

Shortly, the club will be installing a handwash station, an RO filter unit and automatic sanitiser dispenser at the ­Government Middle School, Half Nagarjan, the largest co-ed school in Nagaland having over 800 students. This RILM project is being implemented at a total cost of around  ₹70,000, met by sponsor firms.

Club Assembly

After the swearing-in ceremony of new office-bearers, the club had its first physical meeting at the Club Assembly (Aug 30) where Rotaract t-shirts were distributed and a club’s newsletter Parindey was released. “We will bring out this magazine once in two months and this maiden edition was themed Magnum Opus,” he says. Dr Nitin Agarwal from RC Dimapur, the training officer, spoke on the duties and responsibilities of Rotaractors with inspiring anecdotes. “All the four directors under community, professional, club and international services were given instructions on taking initiatives in their respective domains.”

Following a report in the national media that ranked Dimapur as one of the 10 dirtiest cities of India, “we are planning a major cleanliness drive across the city. We owe a lot to Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland, and once normalcy resumes, a slew of field activities will be taken up by our Rotaractors.” In the long term, the club is toying with the idea of adopting one or two government schools to revamp the infrastructure and improve the academic skills of students in a phased manner under the Happy Schools Project.

More than 120 food packets were distributed to homeless people and migrant families worst hit by the pandemic in Each one, feed one Project. “The money was collected through members’ contributions and public donations for the cause,” says Jain.  Their parent RC Dimapur is a ready partner in Rotaract initiatives and “also get us sponsors for our mega projects.” With 25 members, this 45-year-old Rotaract club banks much on a fundraiser titled Rota Dandiya Utsav during Navaratri which attracts social celebrities and Rotarians for a gala evening.

“This year due to the lockdown, we are not sure if we can hold this fellowship event, but we are keeping our fingers crossed,” he adds.

Nikhil Jain, a BCom graduate, is into his family business of medical retailing and also helps his father in his charitable activities in and around Dimapur, “the sort of work that is similar to the projects we do in Rotaract,” he adds.