Chikkamagaluru, the scenic hill station in Karnataka, now has a striking Rotary Tower Clock at a prominent marketplace and a revamped crematorium spread across three acres — both created to mark the silver jubilee celebrations of the Rotary Club of Chikmagalur-Coffee Land, RID 3182.
The 25th year celebrations also featured a remarkable 2,300km expedition undertaken by 25 club members in six cars. The rally, flagged off by DG K Palaksha, covered Pune and returned after five days. “We met and exchanged flags with 25 Rotary clubs across five districts during the journey,” said club president Nagesh Kenjige.
More than 10,000 seedballs were dispersed en route to encourage environmental conservation, while helmets were distributed to young riders to promote road safety. At several stopovers, the team conducted awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of protecting the environment and following safe riding practices.
Service initiatives carried out during the jubilee year include planting 15,000 saplings across the town, renovating a public park, and organising a month-long mega cleaning drive. The club also transformed a 75-year-old government school into a Happy School by providing furniture, electrical fittings, a fresh coat of paint, smart classroom facilities, water purifiers, handwash stations and toilet blocks. Students received uniforms, footwear, water bottles and stationery kits. Large umbrellas were distributed to vegetable vendors and street food sellers.
“We developed a Rotary Theme Park at the 80-year-old Government Maternity Hospital,” he said. The park includes cement benches, play equipment and a public announcement system to help communicate with caregivers of patients. The club also contributed ₹6 lakh to TRF to mark the year.
Looking back on the club’s journey, Kenjige, who has been associated with the club for 17 years, recalls two projects from the charter year in 2001 as especially memorable — sponsoring a jeep for the local police station and constructing 50 toilets for women across Chikkamagaluru. S Vijay Raj was the club president then.
The club has also sponsored two Interact clubs and a Rotaract club at the Chikkamagaluru Institute of Medical Sciences. Recently, members of the Interact Club of Amber Valley Residential School added colour and vibrancy to a government school through a campus beautification initiative. The club, with 152 members, is actively involved in community outreach programmes. The Interactors regularly visit orphanages, old-age homes and homes for the visually challenged, spending time with the residents and organising activities to cheer them up.
RC Chikmagalur-Coffee Land has 67 members including four women members.