In a tribute to Rotary’s extraordinary contribution to eradicating polio worldwide — and the tireless efforts of thousands of Indian Rotarians who helped the nation achieve polio-free status in 2014 — Rotary clubs across India organised a host of events on October 24, World Polio Day.
These programmes aimed not only to commemorate Rotary’s historic role but also to reinforce the importance of routine immunisation and continuous surveillance to protect newborns and children up to age five from the paralysing virus. Sustaining India’s polio-free status is crucial, especially with neighbouring Pakistan and Afghanistan still polio-endemic — an ongoing reminder that viruses do not respect borders.
Here is a snapshot of how Rotary clubs across India marked the day.
The Rotary Club of Navi Mumbai Joy of Giving, RID 3142, and RCC Navi Mumbai Shapers, in partnership with the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, illuminated the NMMC Headquarters with powerful messages: ‘End Polio Now’, ‘Goodbye Polio’, and ‘Let’s Keep India Polio Free’.
In Pune, a striking 30×40ft hoarding on Senapati Bapat Road, installed by RC Pune Sportscity (RID 3131), highlighted Rotary’s pivotal role in polio eradication. The hoarding drew nearly one million public views over ten days. The club also organised a 12km bike rally through the city’s slums. “We wanted to remind people that the war against polio is not yet over, and that our neighbouring countries remain polio-endemic,” said club member Sandesh Savant.
The club continued its longstanding tradition by contributing $2,000 to TRF’s Polio Fund. Along with Rotaractors from the DY Patil Business School, they supported 20 polio booths in the suburbs, helping vaccinate over 3,500 children during the municipal corporation’s Pulse Polio drive, and providing transportation and lunch for the booth volunteers.
Community Rallies and Outreach
The Rotary Club of Roorkee Midtown, RID 3080, in collaboration with the Madarsa Rehmania Arabia, organised a polio awareness rally in the city. Islamic scholars, Rotarians and medical professionals came together for a seminar underscoring the importance of vaccinating children.
DG Ravi Prakash highlighted Rotary’s monumental role in global polio eradication and urged community leaders to dispel myths and address fears among the public. Around 170 students, teachers, and Rotarians, led by DG Prakash and club president Vikas Tyagi, marched a 4-km route carrying placards promoting immunisation.
RC Belgaum Midtown, RID 3170, hosted yoga sessions as part of the World’s Greatest Meal to End Polio (WGM) initiative, raising funds for the Polio Fund. Founded in 2014 by Suzanne Rea of RC Cairns Sunrise, Australia, the WGM programme encourages Rotarians to host a meal, share Rotary’s polio eradication story, and inspire others to support the cause. The initiative has since raised over $7 million globally, supplemented by matching contributions from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Several clubs, including RC Beed Midtown (RID 3132), RC Pachora Bhadgaon (RID 3030), and RC Haripad Greater (RID 3211), held awareness rallies stressing the need for polio vaccination for children under five.
In Coimbatore, PDG V R Muthu, the End Polio Now co-ordinator for Zone 5, flagged off a marathon organised by RI District 3206. The event saw 4,000 runners. Under the leadership of DG Chella Raghavendran, the district secured pledges amounting to $50,000 for TRF’s Polio Fund from 33 Rotary clubs, of which $20,000 has already been remitted to the Foundation. RC Coimbatore Texcity was the lead club for the marathon.
Five clubs in Durgapur (RID 3240) joined hands to organise a joint rally, while in Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu, Rotary clubs collaborated to screen Little Drops, a Tamil film about polio, for the public.
Rotarians of RC Tirupattur, RID 3231, conducted a polio immunisation camp and administered polio drops to 200 children.
The young members of the Interact Club of Narthanasala, sponsored by RC Vizianagaram. RID 3020, performed a flash mob with the End Polio Now theme, at the Fort City Central shopping mall.
Across India, these coordinated efforts once again demonstrated Rotary’s steadfast commitment to keeping the nation polio-free and contributing to the global fight until polio is eradicated everywhere.