While there is much to celebrate in Rotary, “we also need to introspect on our stagnant membership of 1.2 million for over 25 years, in fact 50,000 less now, a cause for concern. An organisation that fails to grow will start to die, and the numbers suggest a rethink,” said TRF trustee-elect A S Venkatesh.
Speaking at the inaugural session of RID 3234’s district conference titled Utsav 2026, he said with 122 years of history, Rotary’s war against polio, and the good work done by clubs across the world are all reasons for celebration. “But we have to ask ourselves how many of us take pride in ‘my organisation’. Do most Rotarians get a hands-on feel about their membership and being engaged actively by their clubs? Ask what is there in Rotary for me, choose what you want to do, and make it your own organisation,” he said.
Venkatesh said a US survey on dental hygiene in 1916 found that only 16 per cent of people brushed their teeth daily. Following this, Colgate and Pepsodent embarked on a marketing drive. By 1925, new users were buying Pepsodent more than other brands, which got Colgate worried. It found the competitor was using citric acid and mint oil, which had nothing to do with oral hygiene, but gave the users a feeling of being clean. Making consumers feel good is sometimes more important than doing good.”
Rotary can also learn a few things about growth in membership. India zones have 1.8 lakh Rotarians with a “huge potential for growth as we have 1.4 billion people.”
Addressing the discon, RIPR Siti Subaidah Mustaffa, a PDG from RID 3300, Malaysia, said, “in a world fractured by politics, ideologies and geography, RI President Francesco Arezzo’s annual theme, Unite for Good, is a mantra that creates hope with a mission to heal humanity and uplift communities.” It is not just projects or activities, “but the range of experiences that we create for humanity through care, by providing dignity, of being seen and recognised that will make a difference in the world,” she said. If you ask a Rotaractor or a young leader, ‘What Rotary means to you?’ the answer will be: it is the first place that we feel empowered to do good in the world.
RID’s targets met
Listing out the achievements of RID 3234, DG Vinod Saraogi said, “we will meet all the targets set by RI director Muruganandam for our district, execute service projects worth ₹50 crore (₹20 crore work done) this year.” Half of the TRF-giving target of $2.5 million had been met; 1,000 new members would be added; and 10 new Rotary clubs and 15 Rotaract clubs with 650 new Rotaractors will join RID 3234.
While 50 dialysis machines were installed (₹6 crore) at charitable and government hospitals, “50 more units will be set up by year-end. The district clubs had spent ₹2.5 crore in lake and water body restorations; 100 houses were built (₹6 crore) for tribal families, 50 more houses are under construction.” In a mega project led by RC Madras, 10,000 girls were given HPV vaccination (₹2.2 crore) against cervical cancer. Through a GG project, 100 Ugandan children had undergone heart surgeries at city hospitals; and 750 free heart surgeries for children were done at Apollo Hospitals under Project Healing Tiny Hearts (CSR fund: ₹3 crore) till now.
While 100 pink autos were given to women for livelihood support, 100 more would be added; 100 Happy Schools were aleady done (₹5 crore).
Lively sessions
India is poised to become the third largest economy in the next few years, said Krishnakumar Thirumalai, CEO, Reliance Consumer Products. By 2050, more than 70 per cent of the population (over a billion) will be in the working age group and the per capita income will cross $21,000 by then.
But there are issues of concern — a skewed income distribution as top 10 per cent control 65 per cent of the wealth; agriculture is still the largest employer; most of the jobs are still in unorganised sectors. “Education and health are two pillars of economic growth. But India spends only 6 per cent and 1.9 per cent of its GDP in both these critical sectors”. Thirumalai was given Rotary’s Corporate Icon Award.
In his talk on ‘A new world disorder,’ corporate advisor and former diplomat Ajay Bisaria said there are multiple shocks as “we are in a global flux. India has to leverage geopolitics with multilateral engagement, secure its borders, ensure access to energy supplies, build tech capability, keep calm and negotiate with global powers to navigate the choppy waters,” he explained.
Major General (retd) H Dharmarajan spoke on how the Indian army is mentoring local farmers and traders on the border districts of Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh. Over the years, the army has cultivated a good rapport with “local farmers and small entrepreneurs who are giving us regular supplies which are sent to the forward troops.” The MSME sector in Tamil Nadu can deliver a range of engineering goods for the army on the border through proper exploration and understanding our supply needs, he said.
In a speech on the evolution of Indian women, Jayanthasri Balakrishnan, a former English professor, recalled some anecdotes with her former students who are now guarding the nation’s borders. “Every woman should be a nurturing individual. In the course of evolution, one should transform from being a dreamer to the dream itself, always looking ahead with a rolling benchmark of yourself,” she explained.
Recalling her travel with Project Yadhumaanaval (you are everything) of RID 3212, led by late PDG V R Muthu, she said they had completed 113 programmes across Tamil Nadu reaching 1.68 lakh school girls. “I draw energy and positivity from Rotarians,” she smiled.
Vineet Saraiwala, founder-CEO, Atypical Advantage, who is also visually challenged, said his company hired over 500 people with disabilities (PWDs), and has embraced tech solutions to overcome physical limitations. “We have given livelihood and jobs to over 5,000 PWDs and 400 disabled artists have sold their art work valued at ₹4.5 crore through our exclusive platform,” he said.
India has got around 70 million PWDs, and in the last five years, his company had upskilled thousands of them and found gainful employment for them. Much of the daily challenges faced by PWDs can be overcome through AI technologies and interfaces, “so that they can be gainfully employed,” he said. Chess prodigy A S Sharvaanica, an under-10 FIDE world champion, was presented with Rotary’s Young Achiever Award.
Discon counsellor PDG Abirami Ramanathan was presented with Rotary’s Legacy of Giving Award. So far, he has given $626,000 to TRF, thus joining the AKS Chair’s Circle. Past and future governors of RIDs 3234, 3233 and 3231 were felicitated. Around 1,800 Rotarians and 50 Rotaractors were present at the one-day discon. There were 42 product stalls from the sponsors.
Pictures by Muthukumaran