The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Rotary to set up gasifier-based crematoria in all districts

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 09, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Rotary to set up gasifier-based crematoria in all districts

Staff Reporter

Will be implemented through a formal agreement with State

Rotary International president William B. Boyd addressing a press conference in Chennai on Tuesday. — Photo : R.Ragu

CHENNAI: Rotary Club will construct and maintain gasifier-based crematoria in all district headquarters of the State through a formal agreement with the Tamil Nadu Government. The club representatives, including Rotary district 3230 governor J.B. Kamdar and past governor Benjamin Cherian, detailed the plans at a press meeting in the city on Tuesday. Rotary International president William B. Boyd, in his first visit to the country, was also present at the conference.

Rotary Club had planned to spend Rs.10 crore on community services in the coming year. Apart from the gasifier-based crematoria, the services would also focus on the improvement of Government schools.

Mr. Boyd told mediapersons that the Rotary movement was growing at a tremendous speed in India and lauded the efforts of the Rotary Clubs in the State. The Rotary International President, who took over the reins of the 1.2-million member global organisation only a few months back, said the focus areas this year would be literacy, water management, health and hunger. "The cost of delivery of service through Rotary is literally zero because of our network of people. We have gained that reputation through our pulse polio campaigns in several countries and now several international organisations want to associate with us." He added that there was a lot of scope for improvement of world health standards. With particular reference to Malaria, he said through community efforts such as cleanliness and awareness campaigns, the incidence of Malaria could be brought down drastically.

Rotary International director Noraseth Padmanand was also present.

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