Around the observance of Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, the Rotary Foundation (India) received the Mahatma Award for its remarkable contributions and social impact in India across disease prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, education, economic development, environment, and water sanitation and hygiene on Saturday.
Rotary International Director (2023–25) Anirudha Roy Chowdhury, who received the award on behalf of RF (I), said, “Through the commitment to service above self, Rotary members have exemplified what it means to be global citizens, bridging gaps and uniting people from different cultures and backgrounds for the greater good. Their unwavering dedication to sustainable projects reflects a shared responsibility to address the world’s most pressing challenges. We feel very proud to have won such a prestigious award, which will pave the way for future collaborations and a more sustainable impact.”
The Rotary Foundation Trustee Vice Chairman, Dr. Bharat S. Pandya, said, “Rotary has found a flourishing home in India, as it has carried out service projects that enhance the support towards the communities to bring a positive change in society. Since its inception, RF (I) has completed 3375 projects worth 1.48 billion USD. RF (I) expanded its partnership base by further cultivating corporate relationships for sustainable and impactful CSR projects through Rotary clubs and districts. Since 2016, RF (I) has partnered with nearly 200 corporate partners and supported projects worth 10 million USD. We are honored to be recognized for our efforts to improve mankind, serve society, and work toward underprivileged communities.” As the founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), Rotary members played a critical role in reducing polio cases by 99.9% globally. In the last 35 years, Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Since 2013 when India was declared polio-free, Rotary has continued its fight against polio through advocacy efforts for sustained immunization of over 170 million children every year through National and Sub-National Immunization Days.
