Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal
Bantwal, Oct 9: The second edition of the Rotary Kambala is all set to be held on October 12 at Veera-Vikrama Jodukere, Siddakatte Kodange, with over 150 pairs expected to participate in the sub-junior races. The event is being organized by Loretto Hills Rotary Club in collaboration with four other Rotary Clubs, building on last year’s inaugural Rotary Kambala that drew attention in the club’s history, said Elias Sanctis, founder president of Modankapu Rotary Club.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, October 9 evening at B C Road, he said, “This year, the Kambala is being organized jointly by Loretto Hills Rotary Club, Bantwal, Modankapu, Siddakatte Falguni, and Mangaluru Central Rotary Clubs. The Kambala call will be inaugurated at 8.30 am by former Loretto Hills Rotary Club president M Padmaraj Ballal, under the chairmanship of MLA Rajesh Naik Ullipadi. Rotary District Governor Ramakrishna P K will flag off the event.”
Various dignitaries, including former Rotary District Governor N Prakash Karanth, will participate. The closing ceremony will be held at 7 pm under the chairmanship of district Kambala committee president Deviprasad Shetty Belapu, with former minister B Ramanath Rai distributing prizes. Other dignitaries attending include district Kambala committee honorary president Rohit Hegde Emeral, discipline committee president Bhaskar S Kotiyan, district secretary Lokesh Shetty Muchuru, and Siddakatte Kodange Veera-Vikrama Jodukere Kambala committee president Sandeep Shetty Podumb.
Elias Sanctis said that around 150 pairs in the Heggu Junior, Negilu Junior, and Sub-Junior categories are expected to participate. “Rotary Club, founded in 1905 in the United States, now has over 35,000 clubs and nearly 1.2 million members across 220 countries. Initially limited to urban areas, Rotary is now reaching out to rural farmers through public service and Kambala events, encouraging agriculture, animal husbandry, organic farming, and self-sufficiency,” he added.
Loretto Hills Rotary Club president Vijay Fernandes said, “Every year, each Rotary Club contributes over Rs 20 lac towards social, educational, and health initiatives.” Former club president Suresh Shetty said, “Since the introduction of Rotary Kambala in the sub-junior category, the number of farmers engaging in organic farming and paddy cultivation has increased.”
The press conference was attended by Rotary District leader Narayan Hegde, Modankapu Club president Prema Vallet Fernandes, and Loretto Hills Club secretary Mohan K Shreeyan Rai.