I am very proud to be a Rotarian and even more proud to be a Laker. The Rotary Club of Mumbai Lakers has a wonderful legacy to which we add on, year after year. Today, I stand on the laurels of many stalwarts before me – Presidents who have not only made the Rotary Club of Mumbai Lakers what it is today but also led it to become a pillar in community service. The past year has been particularly devastating for many in our community, and the Rotary Club of Mumbai Lakers has continued its mission to aid the community in every way possible.My predecessor took on these challenges and led with aplomb despite many disruptions to the original plan.  RCML created various projects encompassing all the different needs that arose at different stages of the pandemic and has been actively engaged in ongoing relief work, using its embedded presence in the community as a particular strength.

  I was inspired to take on this role by the two most important men in my life, my father and my husband. My father has always led by example, and has been my inspiration, my role model to contribute to the wellbeing and upliftment of the community. It’s my privilege and I feel truly blessed while accepting the role of President for my elite club under leadership of DG Rajendra Agarwal. I have a team of 20 super-efficient, self-driven and experienced BOD members, who are committed to working for the cause. In the first month of the Dream year, my team has executed almost 31 projects, working selflessly, and I must say that I am all appreciative of them.

The Theme for The Rotary World for this year is “Serve to change lives” and the theme adopted by Mumbai District 3141 is - DREAMS of a better tomorrow. The LAKERS chose an apt theme for the Dream Year “Be the Change You Wish to See in the World”

Carrying forward the good work from past years with our ongoing projects like Plastic Free Powai, The Little Heart surgeries, Covid 19 relief and Annapoorna Campaign. Plastic Free Powai Project now collects MLPs from 27 buildings in and around Hiranandani and has already collected 6006.63 KGs of plastics. In the Month of July, we had the first little heart surgery of the year of a 25-day old baby. We are happy to report a successful recovery of the baby. RCML is continuing with the Facilitation of Covid 19 Vaccination drive at Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital. We also continue to collect excess medicines leftover from the treatment of kins and provide the same to those who can’t afford them or don’t have access to them. We started our Annapoorna Drive on July 5th and fed 400 people for 7 consecutive days at Wadi in Jogeshwari. The food was prepared by cooks who have lost their jobs because of the Pandemic. This way the project provided two-way support – generating employment for the cooks and having an impact on the nutritional needs of the people fed. Our Ground partner for this project was Anum Foundation.

Coming to the projects which began in Dream Year. One of the main focus areas this year are Cancer Patients- helping them with their diagnosis and providing them support. RCML is working with Tata Memorial to help patients with funding the cancer diagnostic tests for people who aren’t able to pay for them.  RCML also conducted a Cancer screening camp at Lower Parel for 125 Senior Citizens on 30th July. Also, on 31st July RCML committed to supporting Accesslife Adopt A Family Program. The family adopted by RCML is of little Braveheart Samiksha Tayade, 6 yrs. 10 months old cancer patient from Buldhana, Maharashtra. She and her family have been placed at our Chembur Centre. This project is led by our Medical Director Eakta Menon. Apart from this, funds were raised for hearing Aid for a Boy (Venkateshwar). RCML received 5 Oxygen Concentrators from the district and donated them to 250 bedder Revera Hospital at Vikramgad with 50 ICU beds.

In Non-Medical projects, RCML has been participating in multiple tree plantations, in and around Mumbai. One such interesting plantation drive was to sponsor fruit trees to farmers in Palghar. 500 meals were distributed to people staying in low lying areas of Bhandup and Mulund during the recent floods in Mumbai. Mahad, a small Taluka in Raigad district was also badly affected by the recent floods. RCML provided ration kits in these areas. Our ground partners at Mahad were CFTI. RCML also donated 7500 sets of Women’s Undergarments.  5000 sets were donated to organizations working in Women Rescue and Health and Sanitation. Apart from Women’s Rescue Foundation, the undergarments were also distributed to Premdaan and 10 tribal villages in Dahanu. RCML has revived their vocational centre as well and Mr. Bakshi’s much loved classes have resumed. Also, our community Interact club has begun the year on an active note and has started working on their projects early. The dream year truly looks promising with a lot more projects lined up in health, ecology and relief for the underprivileged. We are looking forward to a lot of cooperation and contribution from the community we live in and also hoping to help the community whenever the need arises.

 The pilot project of dream year is -

STRUT YOUR STRUFF

A PROJECT TO DRIVE AWARENESS ON EVERDAY FITNESS ALONG WITH CHARITY AND EXPLORE AS A FUND RAISER AVENUE. IT IS ALIGNED WITH “FIT INDIA MOMENT”! Launching the project on Independence Day - freedom from unfit life

I’m enjoying working & dream team is doing work .. may be some failures also but I take inspiration from these couplets .

मंजिल उन्हीं को मिलती है, जिनके सपनों में जान होती है, पंख से कुछ नहीं होता, हौसलों से उड़ान होती है

Thank You
NiMiSH Agarwal
President RY21-22
Rotary club of Mumbai Laker’s