Project Vikas foot … Season RY 25-26
As we look back on the journey of the Vikas Modular Foot Project, it fills us with gratitude, humility, and pride. What began as a routine project soon, became a deeply meaningful experience that reflected the true spirit of Rotary service.
The Project has a rich legacy that RCPM has nurtured for a decade — till now, nearly ₹1 crore mobilized and enabling more than 600 Divyang individuals to receive artificial limb..
This year, the project formally began in December with an ambitious target: supporting 100 beneficiaries with modular feet costing ₹12,000 each, requiring ₹12 lakh in funding. RCPM Convenor, Rtn Aarya took up the challenge and then with guidance from Project Directors PP Rtn Mohan, Rtn Prerana and support from President Madhavi Chouhan and in partnership with Bharat Vikas Parishad ... preparations began.
Fundraising posed a challenge initially, but with appealing cause, passionate/sincere Convenor, regular internal/external messaging, the strength of the RCPM social network … more than 50 donors (Many external and first time) joined and ensured the that we reached the target. Additional support from Manaji Rajooji Hindu Sanitorium Trust enabled sponsorship of polio calipers and artificial hands — a new addition this year… Most satisfying part of fund raising was a substantial community participation .. which helps in connecting lot more community members with the cause .. not just for this year and also for years to come.
After assessing response from the region, the measurement camp was held on 1st February in Mangaon, Raigad district, backed by extensive outreach across 70 nearby villages through posters, press coverage, and support from nearby Rotary clubs. The response was overwhelming and measurements for 99 beneficiaries were completed.
The fitment camp on 19th February, coinciding with Shivjayanti, became an emotional and memorable day for RCPM members. A bus carrying 15 club members travelled to Mangaon to witness the transformation as beneficiaries received their limbs. In total, 64 modular feet, 32 polio calipers, and 10 artificial hands were fitted for 99 beneficiaries.
During the measurement camp, we had witnessed the acceptance and resilience of Divyang individuals and their families. But fitment day was deeply emotional. It felt as if the child within every beneficiary had awakened again. Some spoke about dreams of playing cricket, some wanted to dance to folk music, one wanted to climb Raigad Fort without using the ropeway, while others simply wished to ride a bike independently or return to their livelihood. As the fitment began, the entire energy of the camp transformed, and RCPM members were fortunate to witness this dramatic shift.
Through this 3-month long journey, Rtn Aarya demonstrated how a large social project can be successfully convened — with a careful planning, monitoring progress, continuous communication with Donors/Members/Partners, Back office work related to tracking of Incoming Funds/project funding Gaps, compliance requirements .. all the way to e-receipt generation/distribution and internal/external reporting.
As we conclude this year’s project, we take immense pride in knowing that what we delivered was not just artificial limbs, but renewed self-esteem, independence, and hope for Divyang individuals and their families.
At the same time, it strengthened our collective belief that when Cause is Good, Rotarians and community members do ‘Unite for Good’ for creating a lasting societal impact.
Regards
Rtn Vivek Kulkarni
Rotary Club of Pune Metro
