People of Nepal
need our help
Team Rotary News
Yet another tragedy of
a colossal magnitude
has struck Nepal where
over 5,000 people have
lost their lives and tens
of thousands rendered
homeless and helpless.
In such times of deep
humanitarian crises,
Rotarians have always ...
always opened up their
hearts and purses.
Our brothers, sisters,
elders and children in the
devastated Himalayan
region need our help.
Find below the details
of the way in which you
can donate, along with
bank details. It is time to
show that generosity and
compassion reside deep
within our hearts.
R
otary in India, Nepal as well as at the RI top leadership responded
quickly to the massive destruction caused by the Nepal earthquake. The RI leadership swung into action with incoming RI
President K R Ravindran swiftly sending out instructions to
Rotarians in Nepal on relief efforts. In response to Ravindran’s
mail, District 3292 DGE Keshav Kunwar from Nepal replied on April 27,
updating the RIPE of the relief efforts carried out by his district. “As suggested by you, as immediate action, we are providing food, water, ShelterBox,
AquaBox, tents and medical support. Some of our Rotarians have reached the
earthquake-affected areas with relief materials. We are working closely with
the Nepal Government, army and police.”
He added that Rotarians were collating from these agencies the immediate
requirements of the earthquake victims; his assessment was that immediately
about 2,550 ShelterBoxes were required, but the ultimate need would be a
much higher number. “We have also formed coordination committees for
the arrangements and these are working very effectively. Personally, I am
constantly in touch with (PRID) Shekhar Mehta and (PDG) Kamal Sanghvi.
They are sending about 1,000 ShelterBoxes and 50 will be sent either today
or early tomorrow.”
He added that the ShelterBox (an international disaster relief charity) people
were reaching Nepal on the same day. He was also in touch with other Districts
from the US, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Bangladesh etc and working out
details of the kind of support required.
Rotarians want to construct 1,000 houses
Spelling out details of the long term action plan, he said Rotarians had decided
to construct 1,000 low cost houses each costing about US $3,000. The total
project cost would be US $3 million. They wished to apply for Global Grant
for this project and the details would be worked out once some order and calm
were restored in the region. “The aftershocks are now less than they were for
the last two days, which were terrifying,” was the heartrending conclusion of
DGE Kunwar.
Your contributions may be sent to:
Account Name : Rotary India Humanity Foundation
Bank
: State Bank of India
Branch
: 145, Sarat Bose Road,
Kolkata – 700 026
Account No.
: 31317807754
IFSC Code
: SBIN0006770
FCRA Account for International Fund Transfer:
Account Name : Eastern India Rotary Welfare Trust
Bank
: HDFC Bank Ltd.
Branch
: Stephen House Branch,
4 BBD Bag East, Kolkata-700001
Account No.
: 00081000115280
MICR Code
: 700240002
IFSC Code
: HDFC0000008
Ravindran responded with the following mail, giving out precise, pointed
and clear-cut directions that underlined the essence of what top Rotary
leadership is all about. His reply, which holds a valuable lesson for response
to any crisis, reads:
“Dear Keshav, Thank you for your mail. I am glad that you are well
and are directing relief work. Have you got in touch with ShelterBox?
If not let me know and I will connect you. Open a special bank account.
Set up some sort of relief trust to receive funds. Make sure it is a properly
constituted account with all the checks and balances in place. Make a good
accountant as Treasurer. Let me know the details. I will ask that aid funds
be directed there.
“Be clear as to what aid you require. If you are not careful you will
receive stuff which is of no use to you. This just clogs up airports and
your warehouses. And if there is something that someone wants to send
which is of no use to you, politely suggest that they consider some other
contribution. For immediate relief, do you need food, tea or antibiotics?
What about water? Keep updating me on what is happening. Rgds. Ravi”
Commented PRIP Rajendra K Saboo, “This precise and timely exchange
may be a way for Rotarians in India and whole of South Asia to move forward
to support one of the worst calamities in this region. This is comparable to
what we saw during the Gujarat earthquake and the Tsunami.
Rotary leadership in India is also planning tremendous help and support
which will come in due course.”
TRF Trustee Sushil Gupta said that keeping in mind the logistic difficulties
of moving relief material “in the long term our major role will be to raise funds
and in rebuilding as we have done in the past so successfully in the aftermath of
major natural disasters. Once the situation improves a bit senior Indian Rotary
leaders will meet to discuss the rebuilding strategy in Nepal.”
Earlier a statement signed by senior leaders PRIP Kalyan Banerjee, TRF
Trustee Sushil Gupta, RID P T Prabhakar, RIDE Manoj Desai appealed and
circulated to all DGs to generously contribute relief material and monetary
help for the victims of Nepal disaster.
You can also donate to:
Account Name : RI District 3292 Disaster Relief Fund
Bank
: NMB Bank Ltd, Nepal
Account No.
: 00100005455A
Swift Code
: NMBBNPKA
Help for Nepal earthquake victims
Dear Rotarians,
The calamity in Nepal is unprecedented and our response to help should be unprecedented
too. For 2 days, I have been in constant communication with Rotary leaders in Nepal and
India, and we have devised a plan of action as follows.
Relief: The immediate need is relief and for this Shelter Kits will be sent from Kolkata.
Other things in bulk may be sent in coordination with Rotarians from Nepal.
The Shelter Kits are a comprehensive package of 51 items such as tarpaulins, mosquito
nets, vessels, hygiene kits and clothes, which will be a boon for the villagers where entire
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dry food in each truck load/air load.
The Kits are urgently required in thousands in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Kavre,
Sindhupal Chowk, Gorkha, Dhading, Kaski, Tanahu, Lamjung and Rasuwa.
:HKDYHPDGHDUUDQJHPHQWVZLWKWKH,QGLDQ$UP\WRWUDQVSRUWWKH6KHOWHU.LWVDQG
relief materials to the Nepal border from where the Nepal Rotarians will take over the maWHULDO7KH\ZLOOZRUNLQWDQGHPZLWKWKH1HSDO$UPHG3ROLFHDQGWKH0LOLWDU\WRHQVXUH
SURSHUGLVWULEXWLRQLQWKHDIIHFWHGDUHDV:HDUHDOVRLQFRPPXQLFDWLRQZLWK$LU,QGLDDQG
Indigo to airlift the relief material.
Some Rotary friends abroad are already collecting funds and will be sending in the
money. You may also contact your Rotary friends abroad for contributions.
Rehabilation:3UHSDUDWLRQZLOOVWDUWVRRQRQUHKDELOLWDWLRQPHDVXUHV:HKDYHEHHQLQ
WRXFKZLWK'*5DELQGUD.XPDU3L\DDQG'*(.HVKDY.XQZDUDORQJZLWKRWKHUVHQLRU
Rotarians in Nepal.
Rehabilitation could be done by building low cost shelters or schools, in which we now
have rich experience because of our involvement in the relief work during the calamities in
Bhuj and Uttarakhand.
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In the cover email or letter, please mention the purpose of the donation – relief or
rehabilation. We will try to heed your request as far as possible.
You can start contributing immediately. This is the time for us to wipe the tears of our
brethren in Nepal.
Shekhar Mehta
Past RI Director
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$FFRXQW1DPHRotary India Humanity Foundation
Bank
: State Bank of India
Branch
: 145, Sarat Bose Road
.RONDWD±
$FFRXQW1R 31317807754
IFSC Code
: SBIN0006770
In case you are sending cheque/DD, send to:
Rotary India Humanity Foundation,
145, Sarat Bose Road, Kolkata 700 026.
Foreign contributions can be sent to
Eastern India Rotary Welfare Trust
FCRA Account for International FUND Transfer:
$FFRXQW1DPH Eastern India Rotary Welfare Trust
Bank
: HDFC Bank Ltd.
Branch
: Stephen House Branch
%%'%DJ(DVW.RONDWD
$FFRXQW1R 00081000115280
0,&5&RGH 700240002
IFSC Code
: HDFC0000008
You can also donate to:
$FFRXQW1DPH RI District 3292 Disaster Relief Fund
Bank
: NMB Bank Ltd, Nepal.
$FFRXQW1R 00100005455A
Swift Code
: NMBBNPKA