Rotarians join forces to raise money for needy Indian villages

partnership: Clubs help to provide toilets and water wells in West Bengal

Rotary clubs in Dundee and Kolkata have combined forces to raise £67,000 for deprived people in the Indian province of West Bengal.

Money raised by the clubs, who have come together in the spirit of international cooperation, will go towards helping villagers in the area by providing toilets and water wells.

More than 140 toilets and 32 water wells have been installed in a number of villages and a school, benefiting as many as 2,000 villagers and 2,500 school children in the region.

A special celebration evening was held yesterday at Monifieth Rotary Club, where members of the Abertay, Claverhouse, Discovery and Dundee clubs were joined by representatives of the Rotary Club of Calcutta.

The Kolkata Rotary still use the old British colonial spelling of the West Bengali city, which was changed in 2001.

Stan Ure, president of the Monifieth club, said: “It is particularly appropriate, given the long history of links through the jute industry, that Rotarians in the Dundee area work in partnership with our Calcutta club colleagues.

“The success of these projects shows what can be done through local and international cooperation.”

Saumen Ray, president elect and chairman of Calcutta Rotary, attended the ceremony with two other members of the Indian branch.

Mr Ray noted the historical links between Dundee and West Bengal through the jute industry and the study of medical science, and said a new tie had been formed through Rotary, “for service for the benefit of those who need it most”.

The initiative started in 2015 when the Monifieth club, in partnership with the Kolkata club, secured a global grant from the Rotary Foundation.

Monifieth club members Nick Day and Hugh Begg visited India last year to see progress on the wells and sanitation projects and confirm how the efforts have changed the lives of thousands.

Nick said: “It was very moving to see how grateful the villagers were for the wells, the toilet facilities and the sanitation training which was included.

“As we drove away from one village residents from another village stopped us and pleaded to be helped in the same way.”

As we drove away from one village residents from another village stopped us and pleaded to be helped in the same way. MONIFIETH ROTARY MEMBER NICK DAY