Taking forward the new Rotary International President, Aussie Ian Riseley’s slogan of ‘Making a Difference’ forward, Rtn. TK Ruby, installed Governor of District 3080 at a ceremony held at a luxury hotel in Panchkula, on Sunday, has a vision of his own – leaving a lasting impact on the lives of people by ‘Restoring Dignity’.
Sharing his thoughts with media persons after the installation ceremony at Hotel Holiday Inn, Ruby, who runs a pharmaceutical firm, said when we extend assistance or provide relief to the needy, we do not always leave a permanent impact on their lives. “My vision is to focus the activities of Rotarians in my district, comprising parts of Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, into helping inmates of Old Age Homes, Orphanages and Blind Schools restore their dignity.
Photo By: Life In Chandigarh
“With 77 clubs and 3400-odd members, Rotary District 3080 can make a real difference if we can help at least some of the forsaken elderly people reconcile with their children, or help some visually impaired children at least get back partial vision to make them self dependent, or act as foster parents to the orphans to make them feel the warmth of family, even if on occasions. If we are able to do this, we would leave a permanent impact in their lives,” Ruby elaborated.
“I feel Old Age Homes is not our culture. Today, instead of inviting a VIP for my installation, I preferred to get the honours done at the hands of my mother Santosh Sharma. By making my mother the Chief Guest for the occasion, I am wanting to send across a message – parents are to be adored, not forsaken,” he asserted.
Ruby said since he is associated with the pharmaceutical industry, his district would make efforts to arrange vision screening camps in blind schools to look at the possibility of restoring partial vision among the inmates. Similarly, we would encourage our members to adopt orphans, and act as their foster parents, so that the orphans do not feel alone in good and bad times, he said, adding that efforts will also be made to impart IT and other vocational skills to them to enhance their chances of getting meaningful employment.
Coming to Rotary International President Ian Riseley’s three-point focus areas of supporting and strengthening Rotary clubs, humanitarian service and enhancing Rotary International’s public image, Ruby said he will encourage the clubs in his district to make efforts to increase their membership and implement more humanitarian service projects. He will also be interacting more often with various communities, including the Media, to enhance Rotary International’s public image.
TK Ruby’s Profile
Belongs to a family of agriculturists from Mukatsar town of Punjab. Moved to Chandigarh in the 80s. He now runs a pharmaceutical firm, Raymed Pharmaceuticals Limited, with focus on eye care. Opening a multi-speciality hospital in Sector 26 Panchkula. Has been in the service of Rotary International for the past 16 years.
