Kalimpong, a scenic town in the Sub-Himalayan region of West Bengal, is known for its contributions to education, floriculture, monasteries, and tourism. The Rotary Club of Kalimpong was chartered on April 20, 1993, under Charter President Brig Nripad Kumar Gurung (Retd.) with 25 members. Since its inception, the club has upheld Rotary’s values of service above self with dedication and punctuality.
Initially, meetings were held at various venues on a rotational basis. Today, the club owns a four-story Rotary Building, serving as a permanent meeting place. It currently has 37 active members and three honorary members, meeting every Thursday at 6:00 PM in summer and 5:00 PM in winter. In 2016, the club was recognized as a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club.
Youth Engagement
The club sponsors six Interact Clubs in the following schools:
• St. Augustine’s School
• Dr. Graham’s Homes
• RockVale Academy
• Saptashri Gyanpeeth
• Vrindavan School
• Army Public School
Major Service Projects
Over the years, the club has undertaken impactful service projects in partnership with international Rotary clubs. Some key initiatives include:
1. 2001-2002: Safe Water Project
• Beneficiaries: Residents of Bhagay Sangsay
• Cost: Rs.7,37,932 ($16,042)
• Partner: Rotary Club of Colchester-Milton (Dist. 7850)
2. 2002: Computers for Schools
• Beneficiaries: Pranami Balika Vidya Mandir & ITBCI
• Cost: Rs.5,27,900 ($5,500)
• Partner: Rotary Club of Memorial-Spring Branch, Houston (Dist. 5890)
3. 2005-2006: Medical Equipment Support
• Beneficiaries: The Steel Memorial Hospital & Brenchly Medical Dispensary
• Cost: Rs.1,62,110 ($3,770)
• Partner: Rotary Club of Dundas (Dist. 7090)
4. 2008: Sanitary Latrines & Rainwater Harvesting
• Beneficiaries: 550 students of Robertson Memorial Primary School
• Cost: Rs.10,69,680 ($26,742)
• Partner: Rotary Club of Kelso (Dist. 1020)
5. 2011-2013: Rainwater Harvesting & Sanitation
• Beneficiaries: 2,300+ students at Kalimpong College
• Cost: Rs.14,86,275 ($33,779)
• Partners: Rotary Clubs of Kelso, Selkirk & Castle Douglas (Dist. 1020)
6. 2014-2015: Vocational Training Centre (DISHA)
• Objective: Skill development for at-risk youth to prevent trafficking
• Cost: Rs.41,94,931 ($69,915)
• Partners: Rotary Club of Dunbar & 13 other clubs (Dist. 1020)
7. 2019-2021: Learning Commons & Digital Library
• Beneficiaries: 200 primary school teachers in Kalimpong
• Cost: Rs.88,32,978 ($1,33,833)
8. 2019-2021: IHE Delft Scholarship
• Beneficiary: Ms. Sanjana Pradhan (Graduate study in Water, Sanitation & Hygiene)
• Cost: Rs.34,49,172 ($49,988)
9. 2023: Disaster Relief – Glacial Lake Outburst Flood
• Location: Geil Khola, near Mile 29 on NH10
• Five Rotarians risked their lives to deliver 10 Shelter Kits from District 3240 to affected villagers.
- A total of 20 Shelter kits were distributed to victims of disasters by RC Kalimpong. 30 Shelter Kits were sent to RC Gangtok for further distribution in Sikkim.
- Cost: Rs 3,00,000/- received from District Disaster Management Fund.
Support to The Rotary Foundation
The club has made significant contributions to the Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) program:
• PHF = 9
• PHF +1 = 16
• PHF +2 = 5
• PHF +3 = 1
• PHF +8 = 1
• Major Donor: PP Rtn Prakash Gupta
• PHS Eligible: PP Rtn Prakash Gupta & PP Rtn Vikash Golyan
Hosting of District Events
The club has successfully hosted key Rotary District 3240 events, including:
• District Training Assembly (DTA) – 2018
• District Team Training Seminar (DTTS) – 2023
• District Leadership Seminar (DLS) – 2023
• Rotary Intercity Conference (RIC) – 2024
Future Prospects
With a strong foundation and dedicated members, the Rotary Club of Kalimpong continues to expand its humanitarian efforts, strengthening its impact within the community and beyond.