Sikkim students at Asian Rotary Youth Conference

GANGTOK, 16 Jan: Interactors from Paljor Namgyal Girls’ school and Enchey Sr Sec school along with Rotarians from Rotary Club of Gangtok-South attended the “First Actasia – 2014” ( First Asian Rotary Youth Conference and South Asian Rotary Festival) held at Khulna Bangladesh from 19-22 December 2014. The students and the Rotarians represented Rotary District- 3240.

ROTARY CLUB’S HEART TO HEART INITIATIVE

Rotary Club of Gangtok would like to invite all the children of age less than 12yrs belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) category with heart diseases for operation and treatment absolutely free of cost through the program called Heart to Heart.
The treatment and operation will be done at Mission Hospital, Durgapur.
Free Screening camp for detections and listing out beneficiaries will be organized on 23rd Feb 2014 at Siliguri. Rotary Club of Gangtok appeals to the masses to kindly take maximum benefit of this program and get your child treated for heart diseases free of cost.
For further information, please contact Rajesh Somani, Ph# 09832013133 or Dr. Praveen Somani, Ph# 9232604048 before 21st Feb. 2014.

Rotary Club hands over Pulse Polio IEC materials to Health Deptt

GANGTOK, 16 Jan: The handing over ceremony of Information, Education and Communication [IEC] materials for the upcoming Pulse Polio Immunization Programme [19 to 21 January and 23 to 25 February] by the Rotary Club of Gangtok to the State Health Department was held at the European conference hall of the STNM Hospital today.
Present for the programme were Dr Yogesh Verma [Medical Superintendent, STNM Hospital], Dr PM Pradhan [Mission Director, NRHM], Dr Phumsay Denzongpa [Joint Director, Immunization], Dr Praveen Somani [President, Rotary Club of Gangtok] and members of Rotary Club of Gangtok.
Speaking about the Pulse Polio Immunization Programme, Dr Phumsay Denzongpa [Joint Director, Immunization] informed that the last case of polio in India was reported in the month of January, 2010 and then in February, 2012 the World Health Organization [WHO] removed the name of India from the list of countries still having polio cases. In March, this year the South East Asian Countries Commission will be stamping its seal making India a polio free country, after a span of three years of the last case reported from the said country, she added.
Since there are some polio free countries that have reported cases of polio re-infection after being declared polio free countries the Government of India is taking all the necessary steps to eradicate polio completely, she said and added that due to budget constraints regarding the programme, the Rotary Club of Gangtok had been helping the Health Department with providing IEC materials for the past many years. This, she added had helped in the promotion and success of the programme immensely.
Dr Yogesh Verma [Medical Superintendent, STNM Hospital] informed that after the success of the pulse polio programme in the Philippines, the Rotary Club had taken it up as a challenge to eradicate polio completely in India and this, he stated had been possible with the help of the Government of India, WHO and other such organizations making India a polio free country for which India will be receiving certification within a span of three years.
The programme will begin on 19 January [Pulse Polio Sunday] where children between the age of 0 to 05 years will be given the two pulse polio drops at the 850 plus polio booths which will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. all over the state and then the next two days [20 and 21 January] where house-to-house activities will be done to ensure that no children have been left out, especially new born, sick or handicapped children who could not come to the booth for their polio drops, he said and added that this would be done again on 23 to 25 February.
Dr PM Pradhan [Mission Director, NRHM] informed that the Health Minister had held a meeting recently where he had congratulated all the doctors and people involved in the Pulse Polio Immunization Programme. It has been more than a decade since a polio virus case was reported in Sikkim, he said and added that it has been over three years that India has been declared a polio free country.
In the end he thanked Rotary Club for their endless support not only for providing IEC materials for the pulse polio programme but also for providing good support in various other health related issues.
Dr Praveen Somani [President, Rotary Club of Gangtok] informed that Rotary Club has been helping out with IEC materials for the children for the past several years. He further requested the media fraternity to propagate the message about the pulse polio programme so that every child in the state of Sikkim is immunized.
The Rotary Club has supplied 200 Aprons, 200 caps for children, 850 plus banners and 10,000 whistles for children as IEC materials for the pulse polio programme to the State Health Department.

Rotary organizes health check-up for morning walkers

GANGTOK, 08 Oct: Rotary Club of Gangtok held the first Morning Walkers’ Health Check-up, at Zero Point, Gangtok this morning at 5 30 AM.
A press release from the club informs that this initiative hopes to encourage morning walkers to continue their fitness regimen. The motivation behind this camp was to make them aware of the benefits associated with walking as well as to encourage blood donation.
During the check-up, 73 persons were screened for hypertension, diabetes, blood grouping and BMI (Body Mass Index). Out of the total, 18 recorded High Blood Pressure and 15 recorded High Fasting Sugar Level.
This camp was also held to promote goodwill among the community and Rotary Club. Fitness Cards were distributed to individuals with information about their health. The club plans to hold the camp after every 2 months so that morning walkers come to know the benefits of regular exercise. Ten Rotarians organized the early morning camp which was supported by Sikkim Blood Transfusion Council.

Rotary honours local heroes

GANGTOK, 21 Feb: Rotary Club of Gangtok South honoured selected persons for their commendable work during the 18 Sept earthquake in a special function held on 18.Feb, informs a press release. The club also honoured three persons who had contributed their valuable time and service without any honorarium for the furtherance of education of the differently abled children of Vikalang Society of Sikkim.
Those felicitated were Sambup Bhutia (BDO Chungthang) who had swung into action immediately after the earthquake for the people of Chungthang, the epicentre of the earthquake. Hiran Gurung (Private Entrepreneur) reached Chungthang and other affected areas of Dzongu with three Mountaineers with essential food stock and equipment.
Karma Lodro (Assistant Engineer-Power Chungthang) worked day and night to restore power supply and even helped the Army in search and rescue of the victims trapped in the earthquake.
Major Sonal Pravin Rajput (Official in-charge of 4.20 RMPL BRO North Sikkim) organised rescue operation and worked round the clock for clearing the road across Chungthang, South division. Sonam Pintso Bhutia (ASI Food), who organised tirelessly to reach essential food commodity to remote areas of Chungthang and Dzongu.
Tashi Chophel (SDM Chungthang) saved lives of two (2) persons from an active land slide and organised relief camps on war footing.
The release further informs that the other four members who contributed by giving free tuition and personal attention to differently abled children of Vikalang Society were RoshanChettri of Five ways School, Paras Shigh, lecturer at Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences, Purnima Gurung, lecturer at Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences and Tenshang Bhutia an academic relation counsellor at Promise Institute for personality development of children, Baluakhani.
They were honoured with trophy khadas and certificates. The chief guest for the special function was Health Secretary, Dr Kumar Bhandari while the guest of honour was Rnt. (Dr) Yougesh Verma, dist. Governor 2012-13 and the first Rotarian from Sikkim to occupy this post, the release adds.

Rotary Club gifts ‘rain shelter’ to Syari

GANGTOK, 24 Jan: Rotary Club of Gangtok, South, donated a rain shelter to the community of Syari on 23 January in a short inaugural function.
During the function, Club member Jasoda Chettri gave a brief overview of the aims and objectives of the Rotary Club while president, Sunila Verma presented a detailed report of the projects taken up by the club, informs a press release.
She informed that the aesthetically constructed shelter was funded by Rotary International and is a gift to the Syari community from Rotary. The shelter can be used as a waiting shed and also as a Polio Booth to administer polio drops to children as part of the National Immunisation Day, said Ms Verma.
It was informed that the club had organised a free medical check-up camp in collaboration with Durgapur Mission Hospital and identified 4 children for surgery through the Rotary India Humanity and Rotary Heart to Heart at the Mission Hospital  Durgapur.
The release informs that this year the club has adopted 13 children from Sikkim Viklang Samiti and got them enrolled with Five Ways Institute to help them acquire basic qualification of class X and XII so that they can become employable and self reliant and not dependent on charity and compassion. These children are given free tuitions by Rotarians and volunteer teachers.
The club felicitated the volunteer teachers Purnima Gurung, Mr. Paras Lecturer, Roshan Bhutia and Ms Tensang. The president expressed her gratitude to Director Five Ways Institute, Dr HP Chettri for enrolling the children free of cost, the release mentions.
General secretary of Syari Employees Welfare Association (SEWA), BB Subba and representatives from the Syari Taxi Association, Accountant General Quarters, Cheli Morcha thanked the Rotary Club for constructing the shelter. Onex Lepcha, a social worker who played a key role in supervising the construction of the shelter was also felicitated by the Rotary Club.
The programme was also attended by a team of fifteen Rotarians from Kochin who have been travelling to 23 states to promote Polio Eradication along with State Polio Immunisation Officer, Dr Shashi Chettri and Raj Bangar educated the audience about polio, the release adds.
The chief guest, Minister HRDD, NK Pradhan thanked the Rotary club for the shelter and requested the community of Syari to maintain it. The programme was also attended by Dy Mayor, Shakti Singh.

Rotary organises elocution competition

GANGTOK, 20 Nov: ‘Role of Rotary in Eradicating Polio’, an elocution competition for school students, was held at a local hotel on 19 November. The competition was organised by Rotary Club of Gangtok South as a part of Rotary International’s effort to create awareness for Polio Eradication.

Rotary Club organises film screening

GANGTOK, 23 Oct: Rotary Club of Gangtok South screened ‘Super Size Me’, an award winning documentary film based on modern day lifestyle and the harmful effects of fast food, at Hotel Delamere yesterday, informs a press release.

Inner Wheel launches Cancer helpline

GANGTOK, 26 Sept: A cancer helpline sponsored by the Inner Wheel Club of Gangtok and Rotary Club of Gangtok was launched yesterday, informs a press release.
District Chairman, IWC Gangtok, Dr. Wasima Jahan Siddique inaugurated the Cancer helpline while DGE Dr. Yogesh Verma highlighted the cancer scenario in Sikkim. He informed that Sikkim  has a predominance  of  stomach  cancer  among  males  and  cervical  cancer  in  females, the release informs.

Rotarians put together shelter kits for 100 families

GANGTOK, 21 Sept: The Rotary Clubs of Calcutta Mahanagar in collaboration with the club unit here has put together shelter kits worth Rs. 5 lakh to hand over to 100 affected families in North Sikkim. A press communiqué received from the Rotary Club of Gangtok informs that these kits were despatched from Kolkata today and are expected to the North District headquarter town Mangan in 3 or 4 days. Rotarians from the Gangtok and Calcutta Mahanagar clubs, with permission from the State government and local administration, will distribute these to the affected people.

New team takes over at Rotary Club of Gangtok South

GANGTOK, 04July: In the Annual Installation Ceremony held yesterday at Hotel Denzong Regency, Bina Sharma handed over the charge of president and management of Rotary Club of Gangtok South to a new team led by Sunila Verma, the new president for the year 2011-12, informs a press release.
Outgoing secretary and new president Sunila Verma, read out the report on various activities undertaken by the Club during the previous year. In her farewell remark Bina Sharma fondly recounted the various community projects taken up by the Club during her tenure, particularly the ‘Heart to Heart’ and ‘Gift of Life’ projects under which five children belonging to BPL families of Sikkim were sent for free and successful heart operation to specialist hospitals of Durgapur and Delhi, the release informs.

Rotarians visit District Jail at Namchi

GANGTOK: Members of the Rotary Club of Gangtok, accompanied by members of the Inner Wheel Club of Gangtok, visited the District Jail at Namchi on 15 May, Sunday, a Rotary press release informs. The visit was unique as the children of Namchi Blind School were also invited to the programme, the release highlights.
The Rotarians had been invited by the Superintendent of Police KL Tenzin to spend the day with the inmates at the jail and also participate in an entertainment programmme hosted by both, the inmates of the jail and the children of the blind school. Even the SP presented a number of songs which broke the ice and attracted wider participation of the inmates, the release adds.

Rotarians undertake cleaning mission at Shanti Sthal

GANGTOK, 24 April: The Rotarians of Rotary Club of Gangtok and South, along with members of Inner Wheel Club of Gangtok, organised a ‘Safai Abhiyan’ at Shanti Sthal, the cremation ground at Ranipool.
About a fortnight ago, a group of Rotarians noticed that the floors and side walls at the cremation ground had become very dirty and that the toilets needed cleaning as well. This motivated the Rotarians to undertake the cleaning mission on Friday, informs a press release.
The Shanti-Sthall was constructed in 1993-94 by the Gangtok Rotary Club and handed-over to the UD&HD which has kept a chowkhidar there but it is mostly the Rotary Club that takes care of the maintenance of the area from time to time, the release adds.
A total of 15 members took part in this Abhiyan.

Rotary sponsors Science Centre excursion for Bojoghari Secondary School students

GANGTOK: The Rotary Club of Gangtok, in association with the Sikkim State Council of Science & Technology, organized a daylong visit to the Sikkim Science Centre at Marchak for class IX and X students of the Bojogari Secondary School on Thursday on the occasion of National Science Day.
The idea behind organizing such a programme was to encourage students to take up science in their higher studies and also to explain to them the various concepts of science through the over-100 exhibits at the science centre, a press release informs.

Rotary honours 3 for delivering earnestly on their vocations

GANGTOK: The Rotary Club of Gangtok-South, as a part of its vocational service to the community, arranged a vocational award programme on 06 April at Hotel Tashi Delek and honoured three persons who, the Club records “have been providing very high standard of professional service to the community, with a smile on their faces and without expecting any appreciation or thanks in return”.
The three persons were nominated in consultation with the Heads of their offices. They are: Sikkim Traffic Policeman Naik Hari Prasad Chettri, Postman Subash Rai and social worker Onex Lepcha.
Explaining the vocational service of Rotary, PK Dong says, “There are many persons who may not be Rotarians but display the spirit of Rotary’s motto, ‘Service above Self’. One need not be rich or holding a big post to make people happy. You have made people happy with your dedicated service to the community.”
The chief guest Dr. YogeshVerma addressed the gathering and gave away the certificates of appreciation and cash award of Rs 1000 each to the three persons felicitated. The meeting was presided over by the president of the Club, Bina Sharma, assisted the Secretary Sunila Verma.

Rotarians donate for Japan’s recovery

GANGTOK: The Rotary Club of Gangtok, South, at its weekly meeting [held on 16 March], passed a resolution expressing deep sorrow on the loss of thousands of lives, displacement of millions and destruction of property of unaccountable magnitude in the current natural disaster in Japan, informs a press release.
The meeting resolved to provide financial assistance for rehabilitation efforts in Japan. Some members contributed amounts equivalent to one hundred dollars, the release informs. The contributions collected will be sent to the Rotary Foundation which has already set up a separate fund, “Rotary Japan Pacific Islands 2011 Disaster Recovery Fund” for this purpose. This Fund will be utilized exclusively for recovery efforts in Japan and not for immediate relief measures, adds the release.