Srinagar, July 22: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday attended the installation ceremony of the Rotary Club of Kashmir and called upon the organisation to expand its role in youth development, environmental conservation and the campaign for a drug-free Jammu & Kashmir.
Congratulating the newly elected office bearers and extending his best wishes to the outgoing leadership, the Lieutenant Governor said Rotary has, for over a century, remained committed to selfless service and emerged as a global force for human welfare through its extensive network of clubs.
Among those present at the ceremony were Rotary District Governor Anil Kumar Singhal, Rotary Club Kashmir President Dr. Touseef Bhatt, outgoing President Jagjit Singh, Secretary Adil Shah, Vice Chancellor of Islamic University of Science and Technology Prof. Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-K Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo, SSP Srinagar G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Javid Ahmad Tenga, and several prominent citizens.
Highlighting Rotary Club of Kashmir’s contribution in the Union Territory, Sinha said the organisation has played a significant role since 2019 through its medical initiatives across North and South Kashmir and the Jammu division.
Addressing the incoming President and executive team, he said they have inherited an important responsibility and should strive to ensure their work leaves a tangible impact on society.
The Lieutenant Governor identified three priority areas that, he said, require greater attention from the Rotary Club of Kashmir.
He urged the club to move beyond conventional initiatives such as scholarships and book distribution by establishing a professional mentorship network that connects talented youth from remote areas with experienced professionals. He also stressed the need to promote digital education and skill development to prepare young people for an evolving world.
On environmental conservation, Sinha said Rotary members should become “guardians of nature” and adopt scientific, long-term approaches to protecting natural resources. He called for greater involvement of young people and partnerships with educational and research institutions, expressing hope that the club would contribute to the conservation of rivers and lakes and the restoration of forests.
The Lieutenant Governor described the campaign against drug abuse as the most critical area of intervention and invited the Rotary Club of Kashmir to become an active partner in the government’s efforts to make Jammu & Kashmir drug-free.
Referring to the achievements of the administration’s 100-day drug-free J&K campaign, he said Rotary’s medical expertise and public credibility position it well to organise de-addiction camps, awareness programmes in educational institutions, and livelihood and skill-development initiatives for youth.
“Service Above Self is a pledge to a better public life, and contributions in these three areas will bring real change,” Sinha said, adding that Rotary’s work over the past two decades reflects its commitment to public service.
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