THE ROTATOR - Issue 40

Happy reading!
Your Rotator Team 2025–26

Doddajala Lake Restoration: A Community-Led Environmental Revival

The 75-acre Doddajala Lake, located on Bellary Road on the way to Bangalore International Airport, was restored in just 60 days through an intensive de-weeding initiative ensuring year round water availability and improved livelihoods for the surrounding villages.
Over the past year the lake was rapidly covered with the highly invasive weed species Salvinia. The Initiative to restore the lake through de-weeding was in response to an appeal from the Doddajala Panchayat President for helping to save this lake and to protect the fishes and the biodiversity in the lake.
The restoration project was executed by NGO India Cares Foundation with technical support from Friends of Lakes.
This project was inaugurated on Sunday, 5th April and completed at a cost of ₹24.4 lakhs with 75%(18.4 lakhs) of the funds contributed by members of RCB. Raines hospitality P Ltd contributed ₹4 lakhs while the gram panchayat provided ₹2 lakhs.
This project was inaugurated by Distrist Governor Rtn Elizabeth Cherian and RCB president Rtn Sukhen Padmanabha and symbolically handed over the restored lake to the Panchayat president who assured the maintenance of the lake.
-Rtn. E G Haran

Doddajala Lake Reborn

This proposal was received from the village panchayat, and upon visiting the site, we felt it was a project worth undertaking. Thanks to a few generous donors who came forward to support the initiative, this meaningful project has now become a reality. It is truly a worthy effort, benefiting over 20 surrounding villages.

-IPP Rtn. Gowri Oza

RCB Meeting at Rotary TTK Blood Bank – A Learning Experience

The regular Monday meeting of RCB was uniquely held this Saturday at the Rotary TTK Blood Bank, offering members an insightful and hands-on experience into the functioning of one of the city’s most respected healthcare institutions.
Members had the opportunity to understand the detailed operations of the facility. PP Rtn Prabhashanker shared his personal journey and long-standing association with the blood bank, adding a heartfelt perspective to the visit.
Dr. Latha Jagannathan, Medical Director and Managing Trustee of Bangalore Medical Services Trust, provided valuable insights into the organisation’s inception, growth, and challenges. The voluntary blood donation movement began in 1983, spearheaded by Dr. Latha and her colleagues through blood donation camps. This initiative soon evolved when RCB leaders, including Rtn Capt Mani and PDG Rtn Kasturi, proposed establishing a blood bank in collaboration with Rotary and TTK & Co. Thus, BMST was founded in 1984 as a joint initiative.

The blood bank collects approximately 3,500 units every month yet the need continues to exceed supply. It stands as one of the few blood banks accredited by NABH and recognized by the American Association of Blood Banks.

BMST offers free transfusions for patients with Thalassemia and has expanded its services to include an HLA lab, tissue bank, and additional blood banks in Mangalore and Mysore. Advanced NAT testing is also conducted, adding an extra layer of safety in screening donated blood.

Members also learned about the rigorous processes involved post-collection, including screening for transmissible infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B & C, Syphilis, and Malaria.
Blood is further processed through centrifugation to separate its components. Regular donation drives, awareness campaigns, and maintaining a database of rare blood group donors are key ongoing efforts.

This visit was truly an eye-opener, showcasing how high-quality science, compassionate service, and strong community engagement come together to save lives.

-Rtn. Sapna Paul

From Our Archives: From Vision to Lifesaving Mission: The BMST Journey