Meet Your Governors

Prepping Jalna students

He joined Rotary in 1985 guided by Dr Vijay Aradhye, a Rotarian. “I was impressed by its global efforts to eradicate polio, and diverse work for needy people,” says Dr Suresh Saboo.

With over 3,800 members in 97 clubs, “my target is to achieve a net membership growth of 600-plus by June-end. I want to charter at least 12 new clubs.” He wants to increase women members from the present 14.6 per cent to 20 per cent. Project Padho Jalna (GG: $47,000) will teach ‘foundational literacy’ to students from Class 5–10 at government schools. “Our project, to be kicked off soon, will bridge the academic gap found in rural students,” he says. Around one lakh will be screened at the diabetes detection camps (₹12 lakh) funded by a charitable trust and clubs.

Around 50,000 girls will benefit under Project Anaemia Chale Jao through 100 special camps for anaemia detection and treatment. Five Happy Schools (₹20 lakh) are in different stages of completion. His TRF target is $500,000. Hailing from a farmer’s family that had migrated from Nagpur, Saboo says, “touching the lives of less privileged gives me utmost satisfaction.”

____________________________________________

Focus on pisciculture

The philosophy of ‘selfless service to humanity’ drew Sharad Pai to Rotary in 1991, and since then he has led many impactful projects in North Karnataka districts. “My aim is to add 400 new members and eight new clubs this year. At present, we have 6,800 Rotarians across 145 clubs.”

In December, two GG projects ($200,000) will be launched to train 60 farmers in cage fish rearing in brackish water. “We will provide the cage, feed and seed fish,” he says.
A mobile clinic for screening diabetic retinopathy (GG: $400,000) will be flagged off by Feb 2025. “We aim to examine 2,000 patients till June-end.” In another major initiative, 100 dialysis machines (CSR fund + GG: $1 million) will be installed at charitable and government hospitals.

Project Water Pure (CSR funds of $1 million) will convert sewage effluents into water that can be used for gardening and other purposes. “By this we can save at least 1 MLD of potable water.” Project Bringing Back Smiles will flag off four mobile dental clinics (GG: $400,000) that will provide dentures to 1,000 people in rural areas. He aims to collect $2 million for TRF.

____________________________________________

South Asia Peace Conclave

Rotary is set for an explosive growth in the newly-carved RID 3192 with a huge spurt in the number of Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors in the next three years, says DG Mahadev Prasad. He wants to take the membership from the present 3,750 to over 4,500, and charter 30 new clubs.

A two-day South Asia Peace Conference will be held in March, and “the highlight will be a music concert by three-time Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej.” Project Aasare (giving shelter) will provide ambulance service to elderly patients across Bengaluru through a helpline number. With the support of Rotary Environment Foundation, Project Adavi (forest) is into afforestation of 1,500-acre at Nayakanahatti in Chitradurga district. “This year our target is 700 acres and the work is led by DGN Ravishankar Dakoju,” he says.

In healthcare, a heart valve bank will be set up at the Sri Sathya Sai Hospital, Chikkaballapur, for which they have applied for a GG of $220,000.” DG Prasad aims to collect $2 million for TRF. Having joined Rotary in 2006, “its motto of selfless service keeps me ticking.” RIDE K P Nagesh is his role model.

____________________________________________

RYLAs to mould students

As an active Rotarian since he joined Rotary in Dec 2001, ­Baskaran has conducted 20 RYLAs. Now as the district leader, he has already conducted one district RYLA, while the clubs are doing 100 more to equip students with leadership qualities.

He is confident of adding 1,000 new members and starting five new clubs to push up their counts to 7,050 and 145 respectively. A 1.5 acre-pond (GG: $120,000) is being created at a village in Puducherry. Listing out other projects, he says, a cancer detection bus (GG: ₹3 crore) which was initiated by PDG S Balaji will be flagged off in January; while an electric crematorium will be built through a GG valued at ₹1.5 crore by June-end. His target for TRF-giving is $500,000.

In a mega initiative, Baskaran has kicked off awareness campaigns against cybercrime and drug abuse among school and college students with the support of government agencies. His target is to reach one lakh students. “We have already reached 40,000 of them. Around 100 clubs are taking part in this campaign, lifting our public image.” Four job fairs are planned, each attracting 1,000 youngsters.