GIVING AID TO HIV AND AIDS-AFFECTED FAMILIES

The stage is set. Seated on the dais are (from left) Shyyamniwas Somani, IPP Dr. Rumi, President Ashish, RCC Chairman Ratan Tankha, Director Paul George and Pervin Jehangir

The Rotary Club of Bombay started the new Rotary year 2008-09 by showing its concern for the families of those affected by HIV and AIDS and living in what is called Asia.s largest slum colony, Dharavi.

On Saturday, July 5, several Club members led by President Ashish Vaid attended a foodgrains distribution programme organised by RCC Dharavi at the Dr. Ambedkar Samaj Mandir Hall in the New Transit Camp at Dharavi.

And it is our privilege to welcome you with a rose. President Ashish Vaid and Director Paul George are all humility as pretty rose stems are presented to them

Reaching out. IPP Dr. Rumi presents a rose to a little girl in the audience. And in the next picture, the team discusses the nitty-gritty of the distribution with volunteers and workers

Patience and (patiently borne) stoicism are prime requisites in life. And the families that lined up to receive the foodgrains exhibited these qualities in full measure

A total of 81 families which had been identified earlier received jute/plastic bags weighing about 28 kg. Every bag consisted of ten kg. each of rice and wheat, five kg. toordal, two kg. sugar and one kg. edible oil.

Those present on the occasion were, apart from President Ashish, IPP Dr. Rumi and Pervin Jehangir, Director Paul George, RCC Chairman Ratan Tankha, Shyyamniwas Somani, Club social worker Sudhakar Ingawale (who coordinated the entire programme with the RCC and .Chirag., an NGO active in Dharavi) and Mrs. Pereira.

Also present were Mr. N.R. Paul, RCC Dharavi President, and other RCC members, as well as Mr. Kamalakar Shinde and Ms Vandana and Ms Sweety from .Chirag.. President Ashish and some of the members present made brief speeches to motivate the HIV/AIDS-affected families; but one of the key speakers on the occasion turned out to be Mr. N.R. Paul, RCC Dharavi President.

Mr. Paul said that the RCC was working hard and lending a helping hand to the indigent people in the community.

Financial assistance was given to those suffering from heart ailments, cancer and other conditions.

Welcome to Dharavi. Volunteers of RCC Dharavi, .Chirag. and other social workers of the area welcomed the team from the Rotary Club of Bombay

The distribution goes on apace. The team from the Rotary Club of Bombay presenting the foodgrains to some of the HIV and AIDS-affected families in Dharavi

er First Lady Pervin Jehangir, who gave invaluable assistance in organising the programme at Dharavi, lends a helping hand, as does Ratan Tankha (second picture)

Several men, apart from volunteers, from the locality came forward to help in the smooth conduct of the distribution programme. At right, some volunteers of .Chirag. seen in action

Giving full credit to the Rotary Club of Bombay for its support, guidance and co-operation, he said the RCC was not looking for funds from the Club because, right from the beginning, it had learnt from the Club just how to go about executing service projects.

Mr. Paul proudly stated that the RCC .used the name of the Rotary Club of Bombay to get work done . and we get good response.. It was running several service projects and received help from NGOs, donors and from the government, too.