Rtn. Ravindra Bhat has taken over as District Governor for the Rotary District 3181 from July 1, 2021. District 3181 covers the revenue districts of Chamarajanagar, Mysuru, Kodagu, and Dakshina Kannada, and has 85 clubs with around 3500 members serving the society.
In an interaction with News Karnataka, Rtn Ravindra Bhat expressed that being appointed as District Governor of Rotary District 3181 is a great opportunity to serve the community. Previously I have served in various capacities in Rotary as Chairman in Various District Committees, Assistant Governor, also as a member of Rotary Club of Central Mysore.
Further explaining Rotary’s services he said, “Rotary services are broadly classified into two categories – Areas of Focus and Avenues of Service. There are 7 areas of focus that cover almost every human need. The theme for the incoming year, that is, 2021-22 is: ‘Serve to Change Lives’. There are five dedicated avenues of service with committees and members in each, catering to the community, vocational, International, and youth needs.”
Explaining his vision of development, he said, “already plans are ready to construct a crematorium to serve the public need. Also, a huge number, about 1.6 crore bamboo seeds were handed over to the CF, Bandipur Tiger Range, on July 7, the day I was installed as Governor. This will have multiple benefits like fighting climate change and reducing elephant conflict.”
“Our structure of having divided 4 revenue districts into 9 zones, each headed by an Assistant Governor along with a Zonal Secretary and Zonal Lieutenants ensure smooth administration and communication for efficient services. Service activities are decentralised with lots of freedom being given to individual clubs to plan and execute projects based on local needs. Grants like the Global Grants and District Grants enable clubs and districts to apply for and get funding for larger projects with the help of other districts within and outside our country. A good example of a recently executed large project is the Polio Eradication programme that we did along with WHO, UN, and UNICEF,” he informed.
Explaining the initiatives undertaken by Rotary amid pandemic he said, “In India Rotary has contributed more than Rs.300 crores to Prime Minister Care Fund. In Mysuru, we distributed around 6000 food packets for 38 Days during the second wave of Covid – 19 and support Covid Telecare Centre with District Administration.”
“Focusing on the SSLC Students of Karnataka State, we are starting “VidyaSethu” Joint Project of 5 Rotary Districts of Karnataka along with Vijayavani–Digvijaya–Vidyabhiyana. This covers Science, English and Maths, and will bridge the learning gaps of class 10th students,” he informed.
“Our motto is ‘Service above Self’ and all Rotarians carry forward and express this at every opportunity. We are an organisation that welcomes professionals, entrepreneurs, and we invite all those interested in serving the society, irrespective of class, creed, or gender, to join hands with us, in service to the community,” he explained.
“In Mysuru we have around 20 Clubs engaged in various activities like running Rotary School, Blood Bank, Mobile Health Check Camps, Dialysis Centres, Development of Government Schools, Anganawadis, Artificial Limb Centre, and Extending help towards specially-abled Children. To train youth we have interact clubs in High Schools, Rotaract Clubs in institutions and in the community for youth, and we also run Rotary Community Corps (RCC) for village youth,” he informed.
Rtn. A.R. Ravindra Bhat was born in Mysuru on March 15, 1957 to Late Alevoor Rama Krishna Bhat and Late A. Ramadevi. He completed his early education in Mysuru and Diploma in Civil Engineering in the year 1980. In the year 1982 started a construction company in the name and Style “R & R Associates”, Consulting Engineers and Builders have constructed executed more than 600 buildings. In the year 2006, he started the partnership firm M/s Foundations, Developers, and Promoters. Under this firm, they have successtülly completed 9 projects, developed more than 8 lakh Sqft area. Currently, they are executing 2 projects, Foundations Silver Springs Phase 2 with 240 flats and Foundations Silicon with 24 Flats. Apart from this he is involved in other businesses. He is a partner for a chain of hotels in Mysuru and Bengaluru, partner for Ess Arr Traders, a Cement Dealership Firm.
Currently, they are executing 2 projects, Foundations Silver Springs Phase 2 with 240 flats and Foundations Silicon with 24 Flats. Apart from this he is involved in other businesses. He is a partner for a chain of hotels in Mysuru and Bengaluru, partner for Ess Arr Traders, a Cement Dealership Firm. He also served in various organisations as Chairman, Builders Association , ndia Mysuru Centre, State Chairman, BAI, Karnataka, Managing Trustee Mysore Builders Charitable Trust ®, Honorary Secretary, Hotel Owners’ Association Charitable Trust Mysuru. Honorary Secretary- Hotel Owners Association, Mysuru. Executive Member for Rama Vittala Trust JP Nagar Mysuru, Member of FKCCI, Karnataka, Member of CREDAI Mysuru, IGBC, Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, and Red Cross Society.
He has received many awards from Rotary, Builders’ Association of India, and other organisations. Mr. Ravindra Bhat married Smitha A. R. and has been blessed with a daughter Shruthi Sujay and a son Shreyas A. R., Who has completed his Master’s Degree in the US and working there, currently.
Rotary International (RI), headquartered in Chicago, is one of the world’s oldest service organisations started in 1905. It is spread over 220 countries around the world and has around 35000 clubs. Rotary India has around 3000 clubs with a membership of more than 115,000.
