Under the direction of President Sanjay Bhalotia, Rotary Calcutta Mahanagar has formally adopted Boynala Village, which is close to Kheadaha in Narendrapur, in a historic step towards sustainable rural development.

“This was a dream project I had always hoped to see come to life,” said Shri Shekhar Mehta, Past Rotary International President (PRIP), who attended the formal announcement of this visionary initiative.

The project launch was further dignified by the presence of Shri Purnendu Roy Chowdhury, District Governor Elect.

Rotary Calcutta Mahanagar is putting into practice a holistic development model that emphasizes healthcare, education, digital literacy, and women’s empowerment, all while being guided by the goal of creating independent, healthy, and educated rural communities. One of the main highlights is the construction of a fully furnished computer learning center to close the digital divide by encouraging digital literacy among schoolchildren and villagers. In order to ensure the community’s overall well-being, both homeopathic and allopathic health centers have been established to offer routine medical examinations, diagnostics, and maternal care services.

Another key component of the program is empowering women; young girls and women are given access to vocational training in stitching, beauty therapy, and tailoring, which helps them become financially independent. Rotary Calcutta Mahanagar is also helping out local schools by organizing health, nutrition, and hygiene awareness campaigns, providing educational resources, and improving infrastructure.

This village adoption serves as a blueprint for rural transformation rather than just a development project. This project, which embodies Rotary’s basic motto, “Service Above Self”, shows how urban knowledge and group determination can realize inclusive, community-led development and establishes a significant precedent for rural empowerment in India.

Priyanka Dutta