THE ROTATOR - Issue 05

Happy reading!
Your Rotator Team 2025–26

Refurbishment of Toilet Blocks at RBV

We are pleased to announce the successful refurbishment of the boys’ and girls’ toilet blocks at Rotary Bangalore Vidhyalaya. This much-needed upgrade was completed at a total project cost of Rs. 6 lakhs, significantly enhancing the hygiene and sanitation facilities for our students.
This project was made possible through the generous sponsorship of DIRAK India. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Rtn. Dileep Kumar Pillai for his dedicated efforts in securing the sponsorship and supporting the initiative from Inception to completion.
A big thanks to Rtn Manjunath for the execution of the project.

Inauguration of the Weekend Geriatric Upskilling Program

The Vocational Services Committee inaugurated the Weekend Geriatric Upskilling Program on Sunday, 3rd August 2025, at Sri Sathya Sai Hospital, Whitefield. This initiative has been launched in association with the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Hospital Skill Development Center.
The program is designed to train househelps who are involved in the care of senior citizens, with the aim of improving their skills and enabling them to command better pay. The course includes training in spoken English and Hindi, basic geriatric care, communication skills, and other essential areas. It spans four weekends, with four hours of training each weekend, adding up to a total of 16 hours. A minimum of 20 househelps are expected to benefit from this program during its first cycle.
The inauguration was done by Rtn Kamalacharan, Director – Vocational Services, in the presence of Rotarians, staff, and participants.
The Vocational Services Committee acknowledges the generous contributions of Rtn SVL Narayan Babu, Rtn Vish Iyer, Rtn Deepak Nakra, Rtn Shruthi Ravi, and Dr. Balamurali Krishnan, whose support made this initiative possible.
This project reflects the Committee’s ongoing commitment to skill development and community service, with a focus on empowering those who play a vital role in elder care.

Knowledge is Prevention: ShieldHer Educates, Engages, Empowers

The 45th edition of ShieldHer: United Against Cervical Cancer was conducted on Monday, July 29, 2025, at Christ (Deemed to be University), Kengeri Campus, drawing a strong turnout of 208 participants, including 202 BTech students and 6 faculty/staff members. 

The session featured Dr. Rekha B. R., Senior Consultant in Gynaecologic Oncology at Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital, who led an engaging and age-appropriate awareness session tailored for a young, academic audience. In a clear and accessible talk, Dr. Rekha covered the medical science behind cervical cancer, with a focus on risk factors, early detection through screening, and the critical importance of HPV vaccination as a preventive tool.
What stood out was the high level of student engagement. Thoughtful questions flowed in—ranging from vaccine eligibility and cost, to access to screening and the role of men in HPV transmission and prevention. Dr. Rekha’s evidence-based answers helped demystify the subject and sparked deeper thinking among participants about personal and public health responsibility.

Despite the enthusiasm, the session also revealed a concerning lack of awareness among students regarding cervical cancer prevention. This finding underlined the importance of continued, targeted outreach efforts across technical campuses, where reproductive health education often remains underemphasized.
In a promising follow-up, post-session discussions with Dr. Seela Mathew, Chief Medical Officer at Christ University, explored avenues to extend such sessions to other departments and university support staff—marking a potential next step in broadening the campaign’s reach.
A special note of appreciation goes to the university’s administration, especially Dr. Shilpashree (HOD, Sciences & Humanities) and Dr. Seela Mathew, for their proactive coordination and support in organizing this impactful initiative.
As ShieldHer continues to grow, sessions like these reaffirm the value of grassroots education and dialogue in dismantling taboos and empowering youth with knowledge that can save lives.

Dr. Sowmya P. R & Dr. Nita Roy
Program Coordinators, ShieldHer

A year of Impact Begins- RCB’s Vision for 2025-26

Under the all-encompassing theme of “Unite for Good,” Rotary Club directors and their teams across various service avenues presented an inspiring roadmap for the year 2025–26. Each vertical showcased a dynamic vision, promising a year rich in purpose, participation, and positive change.

In his opening remarks, President Sukhen Padmanabha acknowledged the extensive effort and brainstorming that went into crafting the year’s action plan. “There are champions across every vertical, ensuring not just an impactful but also a fun-filled year ahead,” he remarked with optimism.

Joint Secretary Rtn Usha Subramanian announced that this year’s e-Rotator has been redesigned by Vineet Jain in a user-friendly, easily navigable format. With the addition of more space for articles and photographs, the platform will soon evolve into a revenue-generating model, ensuring sustainability and visibility for club initiatives. Director of Community Services, Rtn Srinivas Velidanda, highlighted a major thrust on the revival of the Manmohan Attavar Rotary Hospital. Negotiations are underway with partner hospitals to bring this vision to life. Additionally, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Government of Karnataka is set to upgrade government schools with smart boards and additional benches, enhancing learning environments for hundreds of students.
Rtn Dr Anil Agadi, Director of Youth Services, outlined a vibrant calendar of events. At its heart is The Little Leaders Society, an eight-week flagship leadership programme aimed at school children. Other significant youth-centric events include the long-standing Roto Quiz, Yuva Yamini (now in its ninth year), Model United Nations, the Utpluta swimming competition, Kreeda Habba in Malur, and Natanotsava, a celebration of dance and culture. Monthly impact programmes will ensure consistent community engagement, and the introduction of the Rotary Teachers’ Award will honour excellence in education.

Rtn S R Kamalacharan, Director of Vocational Services, shared plans to reintroduce classification talks—a platform for new Rotarians to present themselves to the community. A notable achievement includes the training of thirteen women from North Karnataka in geriatric care. In-demand vocational skills such as drone piloting, sound engineering, plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry will be promoted in collaboration with the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation.

International Services Director Rtn Sandeep Ohri unveiled Kala for Vidya, an art exhibition and sale aimed at supporting education initiatives. His team will also focus on strengthening sister club relationships and pursuing impactful projects under global grants, reinforcing Rotary’s international spirit of service.

Storytime Joy with The Pied Piper

Children (3 to 6 years) of Shankara Rotary Library had a magical time on August 2nd, listening to the timeless tale of The Pied Piper of Hamelin.
They fondly called him “The Basuriwala of Hamelin”, and their innocent perspectives were a delight—
“He was good because he drove away the rats,” some said, “But bad because he took the children to a magic land.”
Watching children listen intently, grasp the story, reflect on the characters, and express their own thoughts is what makes the storytelling special!
-Rtn. Kalyani Talukder

Storytime Joy with The Pied Piper

Enhancing Education through Creative Expression!

A faculty Development Programme was organised by the INSTITUTION’s INNOVATION COUNCIL (IIC) and the Research and Development cell of NHCK at NEW HORIZON COLLEGE with the aim of enhancing the teaching and learning experience for the faculty members facilitated by the ROTARY CLUB OF
BANGALORE.
This session, ‘TEACHING THE TEACHER,’ was spearheaded by Mr. Srinivas, an accomplished Director, actor, and theatre applied trainer with nearly two
decades of experience in this field. This workshop was designed to train teachers to use theatre exercises, techniques, and games in their class curriculum
and to inculcate collaborative thinking and teamwork. This will help in creating a safe space for students and for authentic communication.
Mr Srinivas highlighted the purpose behind each activity and how it will help make the teaching process more dynamic and effective.

Private Screening for a Cause!

RCB, under the initiative of the International committee, organised a private screening of a unique documentary “NILGIRIS: A SHARED WILDERNESS on
Sunday, 3rd August at the Lido movie theatre.
A land of sacred peaks and secret creatures, lost in the mists of time, somewhere between folklore and magic. This is the story of India’s very first UNESCO
Biosphere Reserve-THE NILGIRIS, one of Asia’s most intensively studied areas.
Post the screening, there was a Q&A session with the team behind the project, and they gave us a good This event was supported by 81 Rotarians, and the total funds collected were Rs 61,000. The surplus proceeds of Rs 26,000 will be utilised for the future RAGES project.
A big thank you to Rtn Arun Vaddi and Rtn Sandeep Ohri for organising this program!!

Passing the Pin

Strengthening Bonds, One Home at a Time

The symbolic “Passing of the Pin” served as a meaningful way to deepen connections among both long-standing and new members. More than
just a gesture, the pin represents the spirit of fellowship and shared purpose that defines our Rotary community.
This month, Rtn Usha Subramanian, Rtn Vineetha Chinappa, and Rtn Drs Anil and Anju warmly opened their homes to host fellow Rotarians.
These gatherings offered a relaxed and personal setting for members to bond, share stories, and strengthen the fabric of our club. Such initiatives go beyond formal meetings—fostering genuine friendships and reinforcing the spirit of service and unity that Rotary stands for.