<p>Noted businessman, Kalyan Banerjee, who recently took charge as the president of Rotary International, the Chicago-based apex organisation of the Rotary clubs around the world, spoke to M A Arun<em> </em>of <em>Deccan Herald </em>on where Rotary stands today and how it plans to move forward.<br /><br />You have just taken over as the third Indian president in the long history of Rotary International. Does it indicate that the Indian presence is growing in the <br />organisation?<br /><br />For the first time, three of the 17 Rotary International board members are Indians. The 115,000 Indian members now constitute the second largest segment of Rotarians after the US, which has 30 per cent of total members. Indian members are the fastest growing lot in the world. <br /><br />As the Indian economy grows more and more people are in a position to do something for their communities. <br /><br />Traditionally, Rotary has had an American slant. How is it managing the growing diversity?<br /><br />Besides India, Rotary is growing fast in other Asian countries such as Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea. A day will come when the headquarters of Rotary may shift outside the US, say Europe or Asia. <br /><br />The organisation is beginning to accept the realities of life happily. There was a time when you had one non-American president for every two American presidents. Now American and non-American presidents are alternating. A day may come when there could be four non-American presidents for every American president.<br /> <br />Is the increasing Indian presence reflected in the community projects Rotary is taking up? <br /><br />Indians make the second highest contribution to the Rotary Fund which generates about 115 million dollars worldwide annually. In Rotary, the more you give, the more you get back. As a result of our contribution, Rotary clubs in India have been awarded grants for about 300 projects, the maximum for any country. <br /><br />Indians are also beginning to raise their own resources than depend on Rotary International. Funds in many of the government projects are underutilised. <br />So, we are tying up with governments to do more work. For example, in Gujarat, where I come from we are working with government to set up schools and build dams in tribal districts.<br /><br />How do you mobilise funds? </p>.<p>Very often through contributions. If you pay $1,000 or its equivalent you get a Paul Harris Fellow Pin, named after our founder. If you pay a thousand more you can attach a red ruby to it. We love our little pins, which acknowledge our contribution. <br /><br />Do you get involved in the implementation of the projects as well? <br /><br />Rotarians, in general, are hands-on doers. They are successful business people, who are willing to give time, effort and money for social work. <br /><br />In the Gujarat example I gave earlier, the government provides funds for teachers, while we engage them and run the institutions. We make sure the canteen has food, furniture is in place and bring in little money wherever required. <br /><br />As the president, what are your priorities for Rotary International? <br /><br />Rotary’s growth has slowed in a few countries as we did not focus on the younger generation. In India, thanks to joint families younger members are getting initiated, but in many countries it has become a huge issue. <br /><br />We are trying to reach to the younger generation through Facebook and Twitter. We are also setting up our own social network and have earmarked a budget for that. I would also like to develop our youth and children’s wings.<br /><br />You have called upon Rotary clubs to re-look their policies and practices. What prompted this call for change? <br /><br />We have been a traditional organisation where you scratch my back and I will scratch yours. We need to go beyond doing good for personal pleasure and bring about significant changes in society…Why depend on the government for everything? <br />The change we want to see may vary from country to country. For example, in Australia we may work with the youth to arrest the high incidence of suicides. In few other countries we may try to check drug abuse. <br /><br />Is your flagship anti-polio programme coming to an end? What next? <br /><br />We started work on eradicating polio in 1988, at a time when nobody was spending money on it. We have successfully done advocacy on polio eradication, and today various governments and donors are supporting it. <br /><br />This year India has been so far polio-free except for a stray case in West Bengal. We need to maintain this position for three years to say we have eradicated polio. There has been similar progress in other sensitive countries such as Afghanistan and Nigeria, with the exception of Pakistan, where more work needs to be done. As long as polio is not eradicated we will stay focused on it. After that, the board may decide to take up other issues such as clean drinking water and literacy. But if the clubs in different districts want to work on different issues, we will not discourage them. <br /></p>
<p>Noted businessman, Kalyan Banerjee, who recently took charge as the president of Rotary International, the Chicago-based apex organisation of the Rotary clubs around the world, spoke to M A Arun<em> </em>of <em>Deccan Herald </em>on where Rotary stands today and how it plans to move forward.<br /><br />You have just taken over as the third Indian president in the long history of Rotary International. Does it indicate that the Indian presence is growing in the <br />organisation?<br /><br />For the first time, three of the 17 Rotary International board members are Indians. The 115,000 Indian members now constitute the second largest segment of Rotarians after the US, which has 30 per cent of total members. Indian members are the fastest growing lot in the world. <br /><br />As the Indian economy grows more and more people are in a position to do something for their communities. <br /><br />Traditionally, Rotary has had an American slant. How is it managing the growing diversity?<br /><br />Besides India, Rotary is growing fast in other Asian countries such as Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea. A day will come when the headquarters of Rotary may shift outside the US, say Europe or Asia. <br /><br />The organisation is beginning to accept the realities of life happily. There was a time when you had one non-American president for every two American presidents. Now American and non-American presidents are alternating. A day may come when there could be four non-American presidents for every American president.<br /> <br />Is the increasing Indian presence reflected in the community projects Rotary is taking up? <br /><br />Indians make the second highest contribution to the Rotary Fund which generates about 115 million dollars worldwide annually. In Rotary, the more you give, the more you get back. As a result of our contribution, Rotary clubs in India have been awarded grants for about 300 projects, the maximum for any country. <br /><br />Indians are also beginning to raise their own resources than depend on Rotary International. Funds in many of the government projects are underutilised. <br />So, we are tying up with governments to do more work. For example, in Gujarat, where I come from we are working with government to set up schools and build dams in tribal districts.<br /><br />How do you mobilise funds? </p>.<p>Very often through contributions. If you pay $1,000 or its equivalent you get a Paul Harris Fellow Pin, named after our founder. If you pay a thousand more you can attach a red ruby to it. We love our little pins, which acknowledge our contribution. <br /><br />Do you get involved in the implementation of the projects as well? <br /><br />Rotarians, in general, are hands-on doers. They are successful business people, who are willing to give time, effort and money for social work. <br /><br />In the Gujarat example I gave earlier, the government provides funds for teachers, while we engage them and run the institutions. We make sure the canteen has food, furniture is in place and bring in little money wherever required. <br /><br />As the president, what are your priorities for Rotary International? <br /><br />Rotary’s growth has slowed in a few countries as we did not focus on the younger generation. In India, thanks to joint families younger members are getting initiated, but in many countries it has become a huge issue. <br /><br />We are trying to reach to the younger generation through Facebook and Twitter. We are also setting up our own social network and have earmarked a budget for that. I would also like to develop our youth and children’s wings.<br /><br />You have called upon Rotary clubs to re-look their policies and practices. What prompted this call for change? <br /><br />We have been a traditional organisation where you scratch my back and I will scratch yours. We need to go beyond doing good for personal pleasure and bring about significant changes in society…Why depend on the government for everything? <br />The change we want to see may vary from country to country. For example, in Australia we may work with the youth to arrest the high incidence of suicides. In few other countries we may try to check drug abuse. <br /><br />Is your flagship anti-polio programme coming to an end? What next? <br /><br />We started work on eradicating polio in 1988, at a time when nobody was spending money on it. We have successfully done advocacy on polio eradication, and today various governments and donors are supporting it. <br /><br />This year India has been so far polio-free except for a stray case in West Bengal. We need to maintain this position for three years to say we have eradicated polio. There has been similar progress in other sensitive countries such as Afghanistan and Nigeria, with the exception of Pakistan, where more work needs to be done. As long as polio is not eradicated we will stay focused on it. After that, the board may decide to take up other issues such as clean drinking water and literacy. But if the clubs in different districts want to work on different issues, we will not discourage them. <br /></p>
