DENTAL HEALTH CHECK-UP CAMP AT CHAPATOLI BONGALI GAON ON 22.06.2014

It had been raining through out night and as such the morning was very pleasant. We had all decided to assemble at 9 AM at ‘Associated Printers’ for our onward journey to Chapatoli Bongali Gaon- a very poor village adopted by our Club in 2013-14 for the upliftment of the standard of living of the villagers as our continuous project. Today it has been decided to hold a dental health check up camp in the village – basically an initiative mooted by Rtn. Dr. Navneet Swargiri. 

At 10 AM, we started towards the Chapatoli Bongali Gaon taking in Mahindra Scorpio full load of medicines to be distributed  to the patients free of cost and in Maruti Suzuki SX4 Rtn.Dr. Navneet had made the car boot full of cooked food and other edible items. Rtn. Probin Saikia, Rtn. Golap Ch. Sarmah, Rtn. Tilak Raj Gulati and Rtn. Reena H. Mazumder moved in Scorpio whereas Rtn. Dr. Navneet, Dr. Nupur, Shri Probin K. Gogoi and  Shri Basanta Dutta came in SX4. Dr. Navneet picked up Dr. Deepshikha from Bhadoi Panchali. 

From Bhadoi Panchali to Chapatoli Gaon, the scenic beauty is marvelous – lush green trees full of mangoes, lemon, mausomi, khajoor and of course bamboo trees. Tea gardens were also presenting a picturesque beauty as if nature has unwrapped a beautiful carpet. The big support of weather made the entire journey delightful and we became mesmerized. “Aaaji Botor tu bore bhall”, Rtn Probin Saikia kept on teaching Assamese to Rtn Gulati through out the journey. 

Amid passing through this hangout of ‘dhunia’ scenery and  ‘bhall’ weather we reached the government school at the village. The condition of the school was very shabby- only one big room, no fan, no light, limping benches and the broken black boards. Rtn.Gulati suggested to adopt this school by the club and provide some fans, tube lights, chairs and benches. It was apprised by the caretaker  that electric supply has not been provided to the school.  In short, nature has made Chapatoli Bongali Gaon  so rich by its beauty and vegetation, the inhabitants of the village are equally so poor. A paradox so pinching. 

We did not find any patient waiting for us when we arrived. After 10 minutes, only five patients came and we started our job in a very systematic manner. Rtn.Reena H. Mazumder and Rtn. Tilak Raj Gulati preparing the slips whereas Dr. Nupur, Dr. Deepshikha and Rtn. Dr. Navneet took to their assignment of examining the patients. Mr Probin K. Gogoi started distributing the medicines as per prescription. Rtn. Probin Saikia and Rtn .Golap C.Sarmah supervised all the arrangements.

And then came 10 patients, then 20 and then 30 more in groups. The rush was coming in flocks and we had to request them to  stand in queue. In the meantime Rtn. Sunil Borgohain and Rtn. Pallab Duarah arrived and immediately took the charge of their duties as seasoned professionals. Rtn. Sunil and Rtn. Pallab had earlier been associated with medical health check up camps, as such they were well aware of their assigned duties. Rtn. Partha Protim Hazarika, our Incoming President, 2014-15,  and his wife Indira Hazarika, President of our Inner Wheel Club, also arrived. As they both are well versed in the community service, they took to their roles without wasting a single minute. 

Weather was very pleasant. Sitting in lap of lush green environment  enjoying the fragrant breeze of pleasant weather in the company of fellow Rotarians is a rarest of the rare occasions in one’s life and such moments can not be purchased by spending any amount of material wealth.  We were gossiping, eating and doing our community service. 

It is rightly said, “If someone intensely desires something, the whole universe conspires to achieve it”.  From some where  groups of people came  and we all became very active to provide them prompt service. The more the persons came for dental check-up, the more glow appeared on Dr Navneet’s face to visualize the success of the initiative taken. Everybody was so alert in his allotted task – making the patients stand in queue, writing slips, examining patients and distributing medicines – as if to present before a  management collage the model of team spirit.  In all, our team examined 214 patients.

After all the patients were examined, we took to enjoy the delicious food brought by Dr Navneet n Rtn. Reena H. Mazumder. As if God was very happy with our commitment to community service, it started drizzling and our moments of taking food turned out to be sizzling gala party. To honor the volunteers, we gave a token of small gifts to Dr Nupur, Dr Deepshikha, Mr Probin Kumar Gogoi  and Mr   Basanta Dutta. 

We departed for our homes taking the pleasant indelible memories of community service filled with fun.