President’s Note 2019-20
Dear Friends,
Thank you everyone for being part of the 85th Installation Ceremony of the Rotary Club of Bangalore. It was truly a humbling experience that our invitation was honoured by so many well-wishers and friends. The next daunting task is to meet the expectations that people have of this Club in the current year under the new team. We are sparing no efforts to put in our best to meet the goals set forward and to realize the vision that was spelt out during the Presidential Address.
The major focus this year will be on our own Rotary Bangalore Vidyalaya (RBV). Three decades ago this school was started in a small way and from then on, thanks to the efforts of the senior leaders, patrons, philanthropists, and our members, the school has come a long way. With around 450+ children passing out from the institution annually, RBV has become a landmark school in the vicinity. Situated in Nagadevanahalli with teachers, most of whom have been there since inception and some who have joined later, the students are given the best of facilities and they in turn, have produced good results. It must be noted that these children are from underprivileged sections of society and their parents belong to a low socio-economic group who barely manage to make ends meet. This school has transformed the quality of life of the communities around the school. To know that the students who have completed their schooling in Rotary Bangalore Vidyalaya, are now able to support their families, is very rewarding.
This school needs the continuous support of our members to ensure that its functioning and standards of education are maintained. Our school has been recognised as a centre for SSLC exams and our students have been securing good results in the past years with a pass percentage of 91% in the recent SSLC exams.
Over the years, the focus on RBV has not been sustained to the extent that it should have been and as a result we are now in a situation where we are forced to pay total attention to the school to get it back to its former glorious days. In view of the school needing immediate attention to several aspects such as financial support, quality teaching, facilities for health check-ups and treatment and support to encourage the very talented students in our school to participate in district and state level events,upgrading salaries of teachers to be on par with similarly run schools, basic repairs and upkeep and to ensure that RBV becomes an acclaimed institution, it is imperative that we consider the Rotary Bangalore Vidyalaya as our responsibility and ensure sustained interest in the well-being of a school which is a proud project of the Rotary Club of Bangalore run by the Rotary Club of Bangalore Charitable Trust. This school is always mentioned at every meeting when community projects are spoken of at the World Health Organisation, as we had representatives from Geneva who visited this school and submitted a report on how effective this school is in impacting positive changes in society.
It is my humble appeal to every member to please contribute generously to the welfare of the school and helpit to regain its lost glory.This is our pride and this school stands on the land that was procured by our visionary leaders. Your efforts to support the various aspects of the school that need help and attention, will go a long way in paying tribute to the hard work and generosity of our patrons and leaders who toiled hard to get the school under the wings of the Rotary Club of Bangalore.
Victor Hugo said “He who opens a school door, closes a prison”. Charity should always see the need and if we believe that Rotary Bangalore Vidyalaya is worth our attention, then be assured this belief will transform into reality. Life, they say begins when our house is in order and let us together endeavour to meet the urgent needs of our school ensure that the children graduating from the school are proud of their Alma Mater and go on to steer the communities, nation and the world towards a progressive future.
Rtn. Elizabeth Cherian Parmesh President 201