Rajendra K. Saboo, former Rotary International President
Rajendra K. Saboo talks about public
service in a crisis-stricken time
The Rotary Club Chandigarh has been doing its bit to help
those serving on the frontline. We have been supplying
medical essentials like gloves, N96 masks and 3-ply masks
for the use of the paramedic staff. An estimated fifty
N95 masks, twenty-five thousand 3-ply masks, over two-hundred
PP gowns and ten-thousand examination masks have been
supplied to PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical
Education & Research). Looking at the paucity of PPE
sets, we have also fixed three-thousand PPE kits to be
supplied to the hospital. Two-thousand sets are to be
arranged by 6th April, while another consignment of a
thousand sets is expected by the 7th of this month. We
are presently also making arrangements for about five-hundred
PPP suits to be supplied to GMCH (Government Medical College
& Hospital) Sector-32, for the use of medics.
What prompted you to take the initiative?
We realised the plight of the daily wage-earners in the
city. They have been left stranded without food or shelter,
as a result of the lockdown. The Rotarians have always
been known to rise to the occasion. My wife Usha, the
members of the Chandigarh Rotary Club and I have spearheaded
a task force to assist the medical authorities. So far,
we have already spent upwards of Rs 12 lakhs for medical
supplies, and are committed to spending Rs 20 lakhs to
feed the destitute and the medical staff. The idea for
providing the junior doctors and nurses with food cropped
up when we saw how the cafeterias in hospitals have been
overcrowded and overloaded. Over 2,100 kg of rice was
provided to the Chandigarh Administration as soon as the
lockdown was first announced. We have got Rotarians from
clubs in Mohali and Panchkula, working in tandem with
the administration, to contain the crisis. Rotarians Neenu
Vij and Dr Seema Gupta have been doing a good job in ensuring
an uninterrupted supply of ration to over one hundred
and twenty-six families in the Saketri village. We have
also arranged for the supply of milk for the children
and pregnant women in the area. The Inner Wheel Club members
are also tending to over fifty families of daily-wagers.
We have also roped in resident welfare associations and
some other philanthropic organisations for assistance.
Your message?
I am thankful to the frontline fighters. The migrants
and daily-wagers are in my thoughts and prayers. I urge
everyone to extend a helping hand to those in need. The
most of us are fortunate that we are living in the comfort
of our house, and not holed up in some jhuggi-jhopri.
All the groceries are delivered at our doorstep. But there
are people out there in the streets who are starving.
So, can we all please pitch in together and contribute
some small amounts of money to help them out
