Port Blair, July 30: The 41st Installation Ceremony of the Rotary Club of Port Blair was held at Hotel TSG Emerald View on 29th July 2023. The event was graced by dignitaries viz. Smti Pallavi Sarkar, IAS, Secretary, Social Welfare/ED (ANIIDCO) as the chief guest and R. Kashthuri Bhai, the talented winner of the 17th Asian School under 17 Chess Championship as the guest of honour.
The ceremony began with a warm welcome for all attendees, including Mr. Rajesh Anand, the Assistant Governor of the Rotary Club.
During the event, Mr. B. Dinesh Kumar, the immediate Past President gave a Power Point Presentation highlighting the various successful projects undertaken by the Rotary Club in the past year. These projects covered a wide range of initiatives from cataract operations to establishing school playgrounds for children, setting up a library in Long Island and organizing chess competitions etc.
The mantle of leadership for the year 2023-24 was handed over during the ceremony to Mr. Amar Gupta who took on the role of President along with Past President Dr. Dinesh as Secretary and Mr. Arun Shrivastava as the Treasurer.
Smti Pallavi Sarkar, IAS, the chief guest on the occasion shared fond memories of her association with the Rotaract Club during her college days. She expressed her excitement about collaborating with the Rotary Club to contribute to the overall development of the island community.
Mr. Amar Gupta, the newly appointed President unveiled the Rotary International’s theme for the upcoming year, "Create Hope for the World." He addressed the pressing issue of the rising suicide rate in the Islands and shared the Rotary Club's plans to establish a 24x7 call center for counseling individuals suffering from mental depression. The initiative aims to provide hope, support and reassurance to those in need.
During the ceremony, R. Kashthuri Bhai was honored with a certificate of appreciation and a cash award of Rs 5000/- in admiration of her remarkable achievement at the Asian School under 17 Chess Champion held at Tashkent Usbezisktan recently.
Mr. Neelaiah, the General Secretary of the Andaman Nicobar Chess Association on the occasion expressed gratitude to the Rotary Club for its unwavering support in promoting chess across the Islands. He praised the club's efforts in organizing various events and clubs in schools, providing young talents with a platform to showcase their skills and uncover hidden talents that may bring glory to the nation and the Islands.
The 41st installation ceremony of the Rotary Club of Port Blair concluded on a positive note, inspiring all present to work collaboratively towards the progress and betterment of the island community. With its new leadership and continued dedication, the Rotary Club is set to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the people it serves. The Vote of thanks was proposed by the Club Secretary Dr.Dinesh.