"There is so much more we can do…almost every day we get appeals for assistance from the needy… of course I see a spike in CSR (corporate social responsibilty) giving, but it is never enough… people are living in conditions you need to see for yourself to believe,” incoming president of the Rotary Club of Bombay (RCB) Shernaz Vakil (pictured) told Parsiana on August 9, 2021. 
Pursuing the "new and major” thrust area for Rotary International, the environment, Vakil listed in a message to Club members her hopes for her one year term: "To take up the development of an entire gram panchayat consisting of three villages where we would bring about sustainable transformation to the area and catapult the villagers out of poverty.” The initiative includes pivoting solar power to provide clean energy and drinking water. "Over 2,000 villagers from 340 households in the Nilmati-Dandwal Gram Panchayat (in Maharashtra) will be impacted.”
The president detailed a new initiative in the area of peace and conflict resolution. Their new Peace Project initiative at Bombay Municipal Corporation schools called YAY Zindagee "will help children to enhance their conflict resolution and problem-solving abilities, and focus on the core principles of peace, social justice and thoughtful action,” she told us. Other projects include the adoption of village Gale in Thane district, and its holistic development, Vakil noted in the newsletter.
"Our Water Committee will continue to provide safe drinking water and wash stations to schools in the rural areas… RCB is partnering with AKAH (Aga Khan Agency for Habitat) to facilitate and construct sanitation facilities, promoting hygienic and sustainable access to water in schools,” noted Vakil. The Club’s tie-up with the Yasham Foundation will continue to ensure "bright and well deserving children from the 11th and 12th standards who aspire for professional and highly competitive degree courses will get part financial aid and assistance in joining online tutorial classes,” stated Vakil.
Vakil is an arts graduate from St Xavier’s College and holds a master’s degree in industrial psychology from Bombay University and another in business management from a business school in Berkeley, USA. Other office bearers at RCB include immediate past president Framroze Mehta, president elect Vineet Bhatnagar, president nominee Manoj Patodia, honorary secretary Dr Akshay Batra, joint honorary secretary Natasha Treasurywala and honorary treasurer Kirit Kamdar. Dr Mukesh Batra serves as additional director. Trustees include past presidents Dr Adi Dastur, Dr Rahim Muljiani, Arvind Jolly and Arun Sanghi.
The oldest and largest of 107 Rotary Clubs in District 3141 (which stretches to Palghar outside the municipal limits of Bombay), RCB was set up in 1929 and has 308 members, Vakil informed us.
F. J.