Rotary turns 110

The Taj Falaknuma was illuminated to mark Rotary International’s 110th anniversary recently. An exhibition of currency notes from more than two hundred countries was also held at the palace. It was organised by the Valmiki Foundation. Also a philatelic show to depict the history of polio was conducted in the palace.

Consul General of Turkey Murat Omeroglu was the chief guest at the event. The guests of honour were anti-corruption director general AK Khan and Padmashri awardee Dr Manjula Anagani. Malladi Vasudev, district governor of Rotary International District 3150, elaborated on the efforts of the organisation in worldwide polio eradication.

“Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary Clubs in over 200 countries. The first flagship PolioPlus programme in 1985. Since 1988, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99 per cent, from about 3.5 lakh cases a year to less than 370 in 2014. More than 2.5 billion children have been immunised in 122 countries, preventing five million cases of paralysis and 2.5 lakh deaths. Polio today remains endemic in only three countries -- Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan,” said Sambasiva Rao, former district governor of District 3150.