The journey of Rotary Rourkela Queens, RID 3261, with Asha Deep School began through an unexpected connection. While working on the LN-4 project, we crossed paths with Ram Chandra Behera, chairman of RRRC (Regional Rehabilitation and Research Centre), Rourkela. During one of our discussions, he reached out to our club advisor, Ajay Agarwal, asking if we could assist Asha Deep School, which was in urgent need of support. He brought the proposal to our club, and we immediately embraced it. 

Addressing a Q&A session on Rotary and Peace organised by the Rotary Club of Madras, RID 3234, past RI ­President Kalyan Banerjee shared insight into the evolution of Rotary’s peace programme and the organisation’s enduring commitment to peace. The discussion he had with club member Sanjay Madhavan touched upon various aspects of how Rotary has been involved in furthering peace worldwide since its inception. It all began with the Rotary Club of ­Hamilton, Ontario, proposing a resolution in 1914 urging the International  Association of Rotary Clubs to promote global peace.

What if something as natural as the monthy menstrual period didn’t have to be a taboo topic?” This question inspired Shruti Dharamsi, president of RC Mumbai Ghatkopar West, RID 3141, to initiate Project Masik Chakra (menstrual cycle) as the club’s signature project for the year. “In a world where conversations about menstruation and menopause are only whispered, we wanted to create a programme that would break this silence. Our goal was to help girls understand that periods and menopause are ­natural, and knowledge about them can be empowering,” she explains. Several Rotary clubs including RCs ­Chandivali Mumbai, Wada, Mumbai Nova, ­Mumbai Mulund East and Mulund Valley have participated in this project.

Amid the sea of protests across the country over the savage rape and murder of a young intern doctor at the RG Kar Hospital, Kolkata, Rotary Club of Calcutta Mahanagar, RID 3291, honoured nine women achievers with Shakti Samman Awards. “What has happened in Kolkata is against our culture as our sanskriti (Indian tradition) worships Goddess Shakti. Ahead of Durga puja, the nine-day festival where the nine avatars of the goddess are worshipped each day, we want to create a positive, vibrant mood for Navratri by hosting the Nav Shakti event,” said club president Pramila Dugar.

The autobiography of PRIP Rajendra Saboo, titled My Life’s Journey: A Personal Memoir, was released on his 90th birthday in Chandigarh by former Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court S S Sodhi.

Students from the Interact Club of Sushila Devi Lakshmi Girls Senior Secondary School, sponsored by RC Delhi North, RID 3012, participated in the National Leaders Homage Programme in Parliament.

Dr Prithika Chari, past president of RC Madras Temple City, was the first ­neurologist (she is a qualified neuro surgeon too) to join the Apollo ­Hospitals in Chennai.

The Rotary E-Club of Empowering Youth, RID 3132, undertook literacy initiatives in August, benefiting the 25 night schools in Ahmednagar. Night schools serve as a vital resource for young adults who, despite financial constraints, are determined to pursue education while working to support themselves. The students, aged around 25–28, manage a delicate balance between daytime labour and nighttime learning, says Bindu Shirsath, the project coordinator. These schools typically operate for two hours every evening, with each accommodating around 100 students.

The occurrence of two Vaccine Derived Polio (VDPV) cases in India has alarmed all of us. India has been free of the wild polio virus (WPV) since January 14, 2011. The two WPV-endemic countries in the world are Pakistan with 17 cases and Afghanistan with 18 cases to date.

Interact clubs in RID 3090 has grown from seven to 382 in three years from 2021 and here is how we did it. I started my Interact chairmanship of the district on July 1, 2021, and served for three years until June 2024. The invaluable support of 125 Rotary clubs gave a gigantic boost taking the count to 382 in the three years, making RID 3090 rank third in India and fourth in South Asia.

In just 45 minutes, Rotary Club of Pune Central, RID 3131, garnered an impressive commitment for Rs.1.2 crore from its 118 members during its annual ‘Spirit of Giving’ event. This unique fundraising festival, now a staple of the 40-year-old club, draws contributions each year to support its various service projects.