Cataract surgery restores eyesight of 2,500 people

In a mammoth initiative reaching out to the rural belts of Maharashtra, Project Theia (vision), the brainchild of IPDRR Siddhesh Gaikwad, RID 3131, had done 53 cataract screening camps in Raigad and Pune districts which benefitted over 3,000 people, mostly elderly villagers. “The eye camps had identified patients in need of cataract procedure, and we have completed 2,563 surgeries at the Surya Eye Hospital, Panvel,” said Gaikwad.

Giving an overview of the eye surgical camps, he said, “around 75 Rotaractors from 18 clubs were involved in the project, and the screening camps are held on the weekends on the outskirts of Pune and Raigad.” Led by Rtr Rugved Kandpile, also a Rotarian, from RAC Panvel Industrial Town, each camp runs into many days, and “was ticked as completed in our checklist only if all the identified patients have undergone the surgery.” And the Rotaractors who had “sleepless nights in organising the camps, and taking care of the logistics felt very happy that they were able to restore vision to over 2,500 people across 30 villages that have little access to modern healthcare,” recalled Gaikwad.

Project Dnyanganga (river of education) has adopted 100 children from less privileged families in and around Pune and studying in government schools. “We have paid the school tuition fees of these students from Class 5–10, and in the new Rotary year (2024–25), we will reach out to 200 such children,” he said. Towards the end of last year, Rotaractors have taken up Project Mamr (motherhood), an initiative of RC Pune Bibwewadi, which is aimed to vaccinate 7,500 girls in the age group of 9–14 against cervical cancer. “We are targeting girls at government schools in and around Pune and the vaccine doses are funded by a CSR grant. Rtr Anvita is coordinating with project chair Rtn Jignesh Pandya.”

Focus on membership

Towards the end of June, there were over 3,230 Rotaractors across 138 clubs in RID 3131. “I have advised the incoming DRR Drishti Singh to devise projects and community initiatives that will attract new members, and make all Rotaractors to get involved with enthusiasm, which is the key factor to increase our strength,” said the IPDRR, who is a board member of RSAMDIO (Rotaract South Asia Multi District Information Organisation). He is a member of RAC Pune Kalyani Nagar. Having been in Rotaract for eight years has “given me a new identity, and a grand vision to proceed with confidence in my life. I will become a Rotarian after I cross 30,” said Gaikwad who looks after his family’s real estate business.