Munish Sood
Mandi
Club distributes fruits, sweets and clothes; plans initiatives to help women become self-reliant and rejoin mainstream society
While the country celebrated its 80th Independence Day with patriotic fervour, Rotary Club Chhoti Kashi Mandi chose to mark the occasion by sharing the celebrations with women living at Swadhar Grih in Bhargottu.
The programme began with a flag-hoisting ceremony on the premises of Swadhar Grih. Rotary Club Chhoti Kashi Mandi President Akhilesh Bharti unfurled the National Flag, following which the members sang the National Anthem and paid tribute to the freedom fighters whose sacrifices made the country’s independence possible.
Among those present on the occasion were former club president Munish Sood, former presidents Anupama Singh and Dr Hemlata , former secretary Renu Gulati, President-Elect Sudarshan Kaur, and members Seema Sharma, Anuradha Sood, Kiran Bir Singh, Yashpal Singh and past secretary Raminder Kaur, besides other club members.
Following the flag-hoisting, Rotary members spent time with the women residing at the Swadhar Grih and interacted with them to understand their lives, daily routines and requirements. The club distributed fruits, sweets, clothes and other essential items among the women.
On the occasion, Rotary member Anupama Singh also donated an induction cooktop to the Swadhar Grih for the use of the residents.
The interaction went beyond the distribution of material assistance, as Rotary members also took an overview of the facilities being provided at the home, including accommodation, food and other basic amenities. The members assured the women that their association with the Swadhar Grih would not remain limited to the Independence Day programme and that they would continue to visit and support them from time to time.
Around 15 women currently residing at Swadhar Grih
According to Swadhar Grih authorities, around 15 women are currently residing at the facility. The home provides shelter and support to women who, due to various circumstances, have become separated from their families, are living alone or have been left destitute. Some of the women have faced difficult or distressing circumstances and are provided a safe place to live and basic support at the home.
Swadhar Grih manager Narendra Sharma said that providing shelter to the women was only one part of the institution’s responsibility, while its larger objective was to gradually help them reconnect with mainstream society.
He appealed to members of society to come forward and provide these women with opportunities according to their abilities and capabilities. He said many of them could undertake different kinds of work if given the right opportunity and support.
Sharma said the women should not be viewed merely as helpless or dependent persons. With encouragement, suitable work opportunities and social support, they could become self-reliant and live with dignity as an integral part of society.
He also appealed to Rotary Club members to carry this message to the wider community and encourage people to contribute towards the social and economic rehabilitation of the women.
Rotary plans projects for economic empowerment
Rotary Club Chhoti Kashi Mandi President Akhilesh Bharti said the club did not want Independence Day celebrations to remain limited to visiting the Swadhar Grih once a year and distributing fruits, sweets or other items as a mere formality.
He said the club was looking beyond immediate assistance and would explore projects in the coming days that could help the women become economically independent and self-sustaining.
“Our endeavour will be to identify activities that these women can undertake according to their abilities and create opportunities through which they can earn an income and stand on their own feet,” Bharti said.
He said Rotary would continue working in this direction and would try to develop sustainable initiatives that could contribute to the women’s economic empowerment and rehabilitation.
The club members also resolved to maintain regular contact with the Swadhar Grih, understand the needs of the women and undertake meaningful initiatives for their welfare.
The Independence Day programme thus carried a message that went beyond the ceremonial unfurling of the National Flag. It highlighted the need to ensure that women who have been separated from their families or left without support are given not just shelter and material assistance, but also dignity, opportunity, economic independence and a pathway back into mainstream society.
