Under the leadership of District Governor for 2026-27 Dr Rita Kalra, Rotary District 3080, comprising 141 clubs in Union Territory of Chandigarh and parts of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, with a combined membership strength of 4600+ members, wrote its name in the India Book of Records by organising 90 camps in a single day in which over 6,000 units of blood were collected
Besides celebrating this feat, Rotary District 3080 also organised a programme called ‘Utkarsh – 100 Days of Unstoppable Rotary 3080’ to showcase its stupendous achievements during the first 100 days of the Rotary Year 2026-27 (Rotary year begins from July 1)
Respected the world over for their voluntary humanitarian service and efforts towards promoting world peace, Rotarians have been selflessly undertaking dozens of projects simultaneously over the years which have positively impacted various communities.
There is also healthy competition between Rotary clubs and Rotary districts to outperform each other in voluntary community service. Dynamic and inspiring leadership and the commitment of members are two of the most important factors which define which club or district performs better.
One such outperformer is Rotary District 3080 led by Dr Rita Kalra, a well-known hospital administrator of the region.
In the first three months of her one-year tenure at the helm of Rotary District 3080 (the Rotary year begin from July 1) the district has been credited with several distinctions.
The foremost among these has been the Rotary district etching its name in the India Book of Records for mobilising the maximum number of blood donors and organising the maximum number of blood donation camps in a single day as part of its ‘Raktdaan Mahakumbh’ initiative held on September 25 this year.
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The record-setting Raktdaan Mahakumbh brought together more than 100 Rotary clubs, nearly 100 blood banks, partner organisations, volunteers and donors. A total of 90 blood donation camps were organised in a single day, collecting more than 6,000 units of blood and surpassing the earlier benchmark of 3,400 units.
The recognitions by India Book of Records were presented at an event ‘Utkarsh – 100 Days of Unstoppable Rotary 3080’, organised by the district at CII Chandigarh to mark the completion of the first 100 days of Dr. Kalra’s tenure as District Governor.
Addressing media persons on the sidelines of the programme, Dr Rita Kalra dedicated the recognition to “every individual who contributed to the success of the Raktdaan Mahakumbh. The recognition is not merely about setting records or achieving a number. It reflects our collective commitment, teamwork and the Rotary spirit of Service Above Self. Every blood donor has the potential to give someone another chance at life, and that is the real significance of this achievement.”
The services of Wing Commander (Dr) JS Minhas (retd) as event chair for the Raktdaan Mahakumbh were specially applauded. President of Rotary Club Chandigarh Central for the year 2026-27, Dr Minhas, a veteran in blood donation campaigns, informed that he had helped collect 20,000+ units of blood in 83 camps organised in the past three years.
Joining Dr Rita Kalra in the media conference were Deepak Gupta, District Secretary; Nalin Kapur, District Executive Secretary; Dr Sanjay Kalra, International Service Chair; and Mohit Singla, District Secretary.
Among other significant achievements during the first 100 days of her tenure, Dr Rita Kalra shared, was the highest membership growth in Rotary Zone 4 India comprising North India, for which she was recognised as a Social Impact Leader by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India.
During this period seven new clubs were added to Rotary District 3080 and 511 new members were enrolled taking the total number of clubs in the district to 141 and the total membership past the 4600-mark, she added.
Among several other projects being undertaken by the district, the district governor said in vocational education and livelihood generation, more than 50 Hunnar and Rotary Vocational Training Centres are providing employment-oriented skills to youth and women. The AI Champions initiative has equipped over 2,500 students with future-ready knowledge, while driver-skilling programmes, micro-loans, job fairs and internships have expanded opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. Vocational initiatives across more than 50 centres are collectively reaching over 5,000 young people across six states.
Environmental conservation has remained another priority, she said, with Miyawaki forests, Nanovans, Oxy Walls and plantation drives undertaken across the region. More than one lakh trees have been planted, while over 30,000 moringa plants have been distributed.
Rotary’s healthcare interventions have covered screening and eye-care camps, cataract surgeries, cleft lip and palate corrections, Project Aastha for HPV vaccination and cancer screening, and nutritional support for tuberculosis patients.
Under Project Annapurna, more than 200 service events have provided over 50,000 meals to people in need. Project Chetna has focused on menstrual hygiene management.
