RC Sangli gets a new admin block
Rotary Club of Sangli, RID 3170, marked the completion of its platinum jubilee year, with DG Nasir Borsadwala and industrialist Vishwas Chitale inaugurating a new administrative block and a renovated swimming pool at a total cost of ₹1.25 crore. “The entire cost was met through member donations. Under the leadership of club president Salil Limaye (2023–24), we have done many noteworthy projects for the community during the milestone year,” said Bipin Shevade, past president.
Formed in December 1948, the club has made a mark in Sangli, a district headquarters of Maharashtra and known for its booming spice trade. Here are some of the facilities installed and centres built by the club over the decades:
Remand Home (1952)
In 1952 Rajabhau Desai, a charter member, rented a house to accommodate homeless, orphaned children, thus becoming a foster parent to them. “Later on, funds were mobilised by Rotarians and now it is a sprawling building over 2.5 acre-campus sheltering 200-plus orphaned children,” said the past president.
Way back in 1960, to mark the 71st birthday of former Maharaja of Sangli, Chintamanrao Patwardan, the Rotarians mobilised ₹1.11 lakh, and with an equal contribution from the former king, a commerce college was set up through the Deccan Education Society. Inaugurated by India’s then vice-president S Radhakrishnan, the Chintamanrao College of Commerce is now a centre of excellence offering UG and PG courses.
Moved by the plight of farmers in Taradgaon village in Satara district due to perennial water scarcity, the Chafalkar brothers, active members of the club, led a lift irrigation project under a cooperative society which supplied water from the Neera River. This Nitish Lahiri irrigation project (1962) got the Service Above Self Award from Rotary, and “we also set up a cement pipe factory to cater to the irrigation needs of local farmers.”
For the treatment of cancer patients, a deep x-ray unit for Cobalt therapy was installed at the Civil Hospital, with members donating over ₹10,000 in 1970. A special institute, Rambhau Bhide Deaf and Mute School, was established at Miraj, a small town in Sangli district, in 1972, and the Dr Shirgaonkar Blood Bank was set up in Sangli in 1974. The club’s past president Y M Paranjpe helped in setting up the Tarabai Paranjpe Eye Bank Trust and Research Foundation in 1975.
Rotary Complex
On completion of 25 years of its charter, in 1974 a Rotary Silver Jubilee Trust was formed which decided to have its own Rotary Complex, a multipurpose campus with a community hall, sports facilities, swimming pool and a scenic garden. The Sangli Municipality donated 3.5 acre-space near the Civil Hospital, and a mega Rotary Complex came up in 1983 at a cost of ₹75 lakh. “The swimming pool with modern filtration plant at the complex helps train many youngsters for national competitions,” said Shevade. The garden and surrounding landscape boast of over 1,500 trees.
Many community projects gathered pace since the mid-1980s such as a crematorium at Kawathe Ekand village; Dr M A Paranjpe Health Club at the Rotary Complex; Yoga Hall where differently-abled children gather for educative sessions; Community Hall built at a cost of ₹6.5 lakh where club meetings are held; a lush green lawn sponsored by late Mahesh Shah (₹5 lakh) where social functions are held, generating monthly income for the club; jogging track, part sponsored by the family members of past president P G Purohit (₹1.25 lakh) and remaining from the members and the Silver Jubilee Trust; Jaipur Foot Centre (Ushamohani Vikalang Punarvasan Kendra) in 2001 with contributions from Mohanichandra Desai (₹2.5 lakh), other members and the Silver Jubilee Trust.
In 1997 the club hosted a mega trade fair exhibiting products of over 140 traders, business houses, artisans and entrepreneurs.
Golden jubilee project
During the golden jubilee year (1998–99), low-cost houses were constructed for underprivileged families at Sawali village under a matching grant (MG) at a total cost of ₹25 lakh. RCs Singapore, Kuching Central (Malaysia), Raffles City (Singapore), Novi (Michigan, US), Nairobi and TRF were the matching partners.
A water ATM, set up in association with the Babasaheb Chitale Memorial Trust (of Bhilawadi Miraj Ceramica) at the Rotary Complex, provides 20 litre-water at ₹5.
The club set up a Rotary Skin Bank through a GG in 2018; Solar lights worth ₹40 lakh were installed at Jalihal village with an MG from RC Sweden; while smaller MGs helped provide computers to schools, set up drinking water booths and rainwater harvesting, and perform cataract surgeries. Through GGs, 11 Happy Schools were completed, a neonatal ICU was set up at the Vivekananda Hospital, classroom facilities were upgraded at the Bhilawadi Shikshan Sanstha and equipment to treat Covid were procured.
HPV vaccination
In a two-year drive (2022–24), the club vaccinated 1,000 girls against cervical cancer through a global grant in partnership with RC Omaha Marni (Nebraska, US) at a total cost of ₹31 lakh. PDGs Sanat Kumar Arwade, late Kishore Magdum and Ravikiran Kulkarni are from this Sangli club. Sponsored by RC Kolhapur, the Sangli club has 154 members, a growth of 11 times since its charter was presented in February 1949.
