Making a difference – Jan 2025
A DEI champion
Past Rotary International President, K R Ravindran, a leading businessman of Sri Lanka, and co-founder of Printcare, a diversified printing and packaging company with manufacturing plants in Sri Lanka, India and Africa, was recognised as one of the ‘Top 10 champions of Diversity’ by WIM (Women in Management), and IFC (a World Bank subsidiary), for his role in promoting DEI not only in Rotary, but also his own company.
Ravindran’s recognition was for his company’s strong positioning of DEI, offering several worker-friendly schemes, employing physically and mentally challenged persons, rehabilitated drug addicts and supporting local schools, temples and communities around its plants.
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Philanthropist par excellence
RID 3192 DGN Ravishankar Dakoju, a distinguished donor to The Rotary Foundation, has been conferred with the prestigious Karnataka Ratna Award 2024 by Parivartan Prabha, a renowned Kannada daily newspaper.
He was given the award for his “unwavering commitment and purpose, driven by a desire to create meaningful and sustainable change in society. His transformative efforts have profoundly impacted key areas such as education, community development, senior citizen care and environmental conservation,” said the citation.
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Waterwheels for rural women
To provide relief to rural women, RC Visakhapatnam, RID 3020, distributed 200 waterwheels to them at Alamiapalem, Kondasantha and Downuru villages, tribal areas of Anakapalle and Alluri Sitaramaraju districts of Andhra Pradesh.
The beneficiaries have been fetching water on their heads trekking a distance of 2–3km every day. Last year, 100 waterwheels were distributed and this year, the club has doubled the number of rolling drums given to rural women. The project was sponsored by SNF India. Past president Madhu Burra coordinated it.
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Composting pits in Pune schools
To reduce carbon footprint, RC Poona North, RID 3131, is setting up composting pits for a zero-waste model across schools and institutes in Pune. Till now 10,000 students have benefitted from this project, and the plan is to support at least 25,000 beneficiaries by instilling values of sustainability, health and community responsibility.
Shedding light on the project, club member Mohan Poojary says, “the initiative also includes a three-year maintenance plan to ensure 24×7 operation and sustainability of the composing pits.” Awareness sessions and training are held for students on waste segregation, composting and sustainability, to foster a culture of environmental stewardship.
