GUEST COLUMN: Rotary celebrating March as the month for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: Jaswant Singh Puri

Jaswant Singh Puri/ royalpatiala.in News/ March 16,2026

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene-‘WASH’ in short is the theme for March for Rotary International, since 750 million people are bereft of safe drinking water, 2.5 billion leading lives without adequate sanitation. Such drastic conditions cause the death of 3000 children each day due to unsafe water and hygiene. The ‘WASH’ Rotary Action Group was formed in 2007 for hygiene education in schools and clinics. The Foundation has ventured to invest roughly dollars ($) 160 million in ‘WASH’ globally and manifold Global Grants to bring water and sanitation to 21 hill-tribe villages in Thailand. Rotary’s March push aims for clean water and sanitation for all by 2030.These programmes often share partnership with India’s Jal Jeewan Mission.

Dr. Ajit Singh Puri, MBBS, MD (Medicine), FICP, DSc (HonorisCausa), recipient of Punjab Ratan, Former Visiting Member of Faculty, New Castle General Hospital, UK, has written a world famous book ‘How to Prevent Common Diseases’ with a Foreword by Lord Walton of Detchant that contains important guidelines for all individuals on Perineal Hygiene.

Perineumis the most “dangerous area, especially in females ——— and there is always a threat of infection to the urinary tract from anal-faecalorganisms, which invade the urinary tract through the urethal opening. So a proper hygiene should be maintained after each defecation”.

Moreover, he has also written useful books like SARS, Bird Flu, Dengue etc.

The well-known book ‘Speaking of How to Prevent Common Diseases’ is dedicated to the memory of Mother Teresa for her love of the poor and the destitute – the foremost aim of Rotary. The First edition of ‘Speaking of How To Prevent Common Diseases’ was launched by Krishna Kant, the then Vice-President of India, New Delhi. The second edition was launched by Hamid Ansari, Vice-President of India.

There is a need to create awareness about prevention of malaria and dengue which are discussed in Dr. Ajit Singh Puri’s books. Role of good and nutritious diet must be stressed upon among school children. Awareness about Yoga and Ayurveda need to be popularised as being introduced by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

The Rotary Club of Chandigarh, Tricity is an organisation of repute and a partof the Rotary International which is committed for service.

On the whole, Rotary aims its focus in March on ‘Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene.’These are the fundamental rights of individuals. There is a need to foster closer collaboration between Rotary and Rotract clubs on various projects. Let us “plant seeds of service in March.”

It is worth appreciating that Alka Puri, mother of Jaswant Singh Puri, and wife of Dr. Ajit Singh Puri, contributed a lot in performing social services.