ROTARY PROJECT TRANSFORMS QUALITY OF LIVES FOR RURAL TRIBAL WOMEN IN AMBEGAON TALUKA

Rotary Club of Pune Sports City, using the magical partnership of Rotary Global Grants has provided Earthfit smokeless stovesto 1775 tribal women in 40 villages and hamlets in rural AmbegaonTaluka in Pune District.This unique project has had an immediate impact in terms of smokeless efficient cooking for underserved families, saving on cutting of trees and indoor pollution of both particulate and toxic gases. The scientifically designed stoves will reduce deforestation and save time for the women, empowering them to be trained in incremental income generating skills, to enhance the overall quality of lives for themselves and their families.

In cooperating partnership with Shashwat Trust Junnar, Rotary hopes to also improve the economic conditions of over 10,000 family members of the under privileged people around the Dimbhe Dam backwaters, just 75 km north of Pune. This NGO has been active doing much needed social work in this region with other corporates and government agencies for the upliftment of the needy.1775 stoves were distributed to the women in several camps held in 10 locations, matching the unique stove IDs with each woman to follow their usage and feedback for the next three years. Feedback from a beneficiary, Sapna Baban Kale (age 29) from Maybawadi was immediate in saying that this smokeless stove was a life saver for her family of 5 members. During a distribution program, Shri Khema Gabhale, Sarpanch of Asane village regretted that the smokeless stoves came 40 years too late to save one entire generation of women from a life of poor health and quality.

Each smokeless stove manufactured by a Pune company Earthfit Solutions can save up to 60% fuel (wood), 50% cooking time and 80% reduction in pollution. Over 5 years, 1.5 lakhs trees will be saved with a drastic improvement in the health of the women and children in terms of eyes and respiratory diseases plus economic benefits and overall enhancement in the quality of their lives.

Rotary Pune Sports City thanks its project partners Rotary Club Fort Collins Breakfast and Culver City in the US and local NGO Shashwat Trust Junnar and Earthfit Solutions Pvt Ltd for making this project possible, its overall success will continue for years.

Rtn. Sandesh Savant,

Rotary Club of Pune Sports City.