60 years of RC Udupi Manipal
It gives me great pleasure to be back in Manipal exactly after 10 years. Rotary is not about power or position. It is the service that we do to humanity and I congratulate every Rotarian of the club for bringing such magnanimous transformation in your society in these 60 years,” said PRIP Kalyan Banerjee, addressing a gathering of past and serving governors of RIDs 3181 and 3182, and several other Rotarians and their families at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of RC Udupi Manipal, RID 3182. He urged the club to induct young members and women. “We are looking at young potential members who have a burning desire to move ahead faster and take up Rotary as a model. Women are also marching ahead, competing with men, and usually doing better,” he said.
Commemorating the special year, the club distributed e-learning kits worth ₹8.8 lakh to schools and sewing machines to 120 underprivileged women. Infrastructural facilities were enhanced at the Ajeevanagara Higher Primary School in Manipal. “Our club has given five governors. We are keen on promoting literacy and WinS — the two aspects which will make a huge difference for children and the community,” said the Diamond Jubilee Club President Amit Aravind.
Event Chairman PDG Dr H Shantaram gave an account of the club’s notable projects over the years. The Rotary Sports Complex constructed at the Manipal Cooperative Society has been a boon for schoolchildren. The Rotary Centenary Ward set up in the Shirdi Cancer Hospital in 2005, equipment donated to the ophthalmology department of the Kasturba Medical College in Manipal and a gene expert machine worth ₹25 lakh for diagnosis of tuberculosis at the District Government Hospital in Udupi are few of the projects executed by the club for healthcare. Besides, the club has provided toilets, wash stations and water purifiers in schools and distributed atlases and dictionaries for high school students.
“Each of our members pitched in to help the Kerala flood victims and for Rotary’s ‘Rebuild Kodagu’ programmes,” said Aravind.
DG B N Ramesh urged the Club President Rajavarma Ariga and Secretary Shreesha Hegde to lead the club to newer heights and recalled how Geetha Kausik won 33 awards during her presidential tenure. “If your club grows, Rotary grows. Make a plan and set the goal. Focus on your goal and you will succeed,” he said.
