Projects:Rotary Club of Gangtok
World's Highest Bio-Toilet Inaugurated at Old Baba Mandir (6th September 2025)
Date : September 06,2025
Another proud milestone for the Rotary Club of Gangtok was the inauguration of the world's highest bio-toilet installed by any Rotary Club, located at Old Baba Mandir, Kupup, East Sikkim - perched at an altitude of 4,110 metres. This remarkable project stands as a testament to Rotary's commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility in some of the most challenging terrains of the Himalayas.
The facility was inaugurated on 6th September 2025 by Brig Jha, Mr. Tashi Wangyal (IGP, Law and Order), and Club President Rtn. Naresh Agarwal, in the presence of Rotarians, Army personnel, local leaders, and community members. The bio-toilet is expected to significantly benefit soldiers stationed in the region, as well as pilgrims and tourists visiting the revered Baba Mandir, by ensuring clean and hygienic sanitation in a fragile ecological zone.
The project was executed through the dedicated efforts of Rtn. Aswin Oberoi and Rtn. Gurpreet S. Dhunna, with valuable support from Rtn. Dr. Arijit Banerjee. The completed facility has now been formally handed over to the Indian Army for maintenance and use. This initiative has brought immense pride not only to the Rotary Club of Gangtok but also to Rotary worldwide, reflecting the organisation's vision of delivering meaningful, eco-friendly solutions where they are needed most.
Udaan - The Flight of Creativity (31st August 2025)
Date : August 31,2025
One of the most vibrant highlights of the quarter was Udaan - The Flight of Creativity, organised jointly by the Rotary Club of Gangtok and the Inner Wheel Club of Gangtok at the Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, Majhitar. Now in its 12th year, Udaan has grown into one of Sikkim's most anticipated student events - and this year was no exception. Nearly 1,800 students from 120 schools across the state, including far-flung areas like Mangan, Chujachen, Soreng, and Pelling, came together to compete with energy and excitement.
Participants took part in a wide range of competitions across Junior, Middle, and Senior categories, including Spell Bee, Quiz, Creative Writing, Poster Making, Monoact, Maths Magic, and Projects. The atmosphere throughout the campus was filled with creativity, enthusiasm, and healthy competition.
The event was honoured by the presence of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Prem Singh Tamang (Golay), who served as Chief Guest. He praised Udaan for nurturing young talent and offering students a platform that goes beyond their classroom learning. The Chief Minister also released a special souvenir marking the 12th edition of the event. Several dignitaries from the state government, district administration, education department, and local bodies graced the programme with their presence.
After a day of spirited contests, St. Francis School, Jorethang emerged as the Champion of Champions in the Junior category, while Manjushri Public School secured the titles in both Middle and Senior categories.
Udaan 2015
Date : September 26,2015
A Joint Project of Rotary Club of Gangtok and Inner Wheel Club of Gangtok. It was a program of competitions for the school children wherein 800 students from 37 schools of Sikkim participated.The children got the perfect platform to unleash their talents and creativity.The Chief Guest of the valedictory function was Hon'ble Governor of Sikkim Shri Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil.
FOR MORE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PROJECT PLEASE VISIT THE CLUB'S FACEBOOK PAGE www.facebook.com/rotarygangtok
District Seminar on WinS and Disease Prevention
Date : September 13,2015
District Seminar on WinS and Disease Prevention was organized by Rotary Club of Gangtok at Hotel Tashi Delek. It was the first District event for this Rotary year and first Seminar on WinS and Disease Prevention in R. I. District 3240.
WinS or Wash In Schools is project taken up by Rotary under the TEACH of Rotary International, wherein they are required to impart the knowledge and importance of personal hygiene in school children and develop the habit of using toilets and other sanitary needs. It is a program wherein Rotarians will visit Govt Schools and educate the children to develop safe and clean washing practises. Almost 200 million days of school attendance are lost every year because of the lack of proper sanitation. Many diarrhoea cases in children result from transmission of disease in schools rather than at home. “A school is a place where children should feel safe, not a place where they are susceptible to infection,†says Lizette Burgers, senior adviser of UNICEF’s Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools program. But the message at the World Water Summit on 4 June in São Paulo was positive: Rotary members and their clubs can make schools healthier places through programs that provide clean water and better sanitation. This is a avenue of Rotary service which will help ensure quality education because healthy, well-nourished children can fully participate in schooling. It increases school attendance, because students have to spend less time travelling long distances to fetch water. And it encourages children to take pride in their school and community by providing them with a renewed sense of dignity. Rtn. Sushil Gupta, The Rotary Foundation’s WASH in Schools committee chair has explained that these projects aren’t just about investing in infrastructure and improving sanitation facilities. A successful WASH in Schools project is also about advocacy. Rotary members were encouraged, when considering a new project, to focus on hygiene education by finding ways to develop healthy behaviours in youths. Rotarians felt that children are generally more receptive to new ideas than adults are, and they can more easily change their habits and improve practices within families and their communities. “WASH in Schools is about revitalizing and bringing revolution in societies,†Rtn. Suishil Gupta said. He also said that these young children can become our agents of change, and help us reach our goal of a cleaner, better, and more educated world. These programs create a cycle of opportunity. It reduces hygiene-related disease, it increases attendance in school, it enhances the learning environment, and it contributes to a student’s dignity.
Present on the occasion as Chief Guest was Dr. Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary cum Director General of Health, Govt. of Sikkim who was very impressed with the various presentations and orations provided by the different distinguished speakers. Some of the speakers were PDG Rtn. Ramesh Aggarwal from Delhi, PDG Rtn. Sanjay Khemka from Dhanbad, PDG Rtn. Mahesh Kotbagi from Pune, Mr. Shyam Narayan Dave from UNICEF and Mr. Rama Krishna P., Prinicipal Advisor of Cellular Operatiors Association of India, Delhi. Also present on the occasion were PDGs of our District 3240 namely PDG Rtn. Prabhat Kedia, PDG Rtn. Swapan Kumar Choudhury, PDG Rtn. Udaya Mani Pradhan, PDG Rtn. Arijit K. Endow, PDG Rtn. Dr. Yogesh Verma. DGE Rtn.Dr. Rintu Guha Niyogi was also present. He is the District Governor for Rotary year 2016-2017.
Also present were DG Chandu Agarwal and District Secretary General R. S. Panesar along with other members of the Council for 2015-2016. Many Assistant Governors of the District were present.
District Seminar on WinS and Disease Prevention
Date : September 13,2015
District Seminar on WinS and Disease Prevention was organized by Rotary Club of Gangtok at Hotel Tashi Delek. It was the first District event for this Rotary year and first Seminar on WinS and Disease Prevention in R. I. District 3240.
WinS or Wash In Schools is project taken up by Rotary under the TEACH of Rotary International, wherein they are required to impart the knowledge and importance of personal hygiene in school children and develop the habit of using toilets and other sanitary needs. It is a program wherein Rotarians will visit Govt Schools and educate the children to develop safe and clean washing practises. Almost 200 million days of school attendance are lost every year because of the lack of proper sanitation. Many diarrhoea cases in children result from transmission of disease in schools rather than at home. “A school is a place where children should feel safe, not a place where they are susceptible to infection,†says Lizette Burgers, senior adviser of UNICEF’s Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools program. But the message at the World Water Summit on 4 June in São Paulo was positive: Rotary members and their clubs can make schools healthier places through programs that provide clean water and better sanitation. This is a avenue of Rotary service which will help ensure quality education because healthy, well-nourished children can fully participate in schooling. It increases school attendance, because students have to spend less time travelling long distances to fetch water. And it encourages children to take pride in their school and community by providing them with a renewed sense of dignity. Rtn. Sushil Gupta, The Rotary Foundation’s WASH in Schools committee chair has explained that these projects aren’t just about investing in infrastructure and improving sanitation facilities. A successful WASH in Schools project is also about advocacy. Rotary members were encouraged, when considering a new project, to focus on hygiene education by finding ways to develop healthy behaviours in youths. Rotarians felt that children are generally more receptive to new ideas than adults are, and they can more easily change their habits and improve practices within families and their communities. “WASH in Schools is about revitalizing and bringing revolution in societies,†Rtn. Suishil Gupta said. He also said that these young children can become our agents of change, and help us reach our goal of a cleaner, better, and more educated world. These programs create a cycle of opportunity. It reduces hygiene-related disease, it increases attendance in school, it enhances the learning environment, and it contributes to a student’s dignity.
Present on the occasion as Chief Guest was Dr. Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary cum Director General of Health, Govt. of Sikkim who was very impressed with the various presentations and orations provided by the different distinguished speakers. Some of the speakers were PDG Rtn. Ramesh Aggarwal from Delhi, PDG Rtn. Sanjay Khemka from Dhanbad, PDG Rtn. Mahesh Kotbagi from Pune, Mr. Shyam Narayan Dave from UNICEF and Mr. Rama Krishna P., Prinicipal Advisor of Cellular Operatiors Association of India, Delhi. Also present on the occasion were PDGs of our District 3240 namely PDG Rtn. Prabhat Kedia, PDG Rtn. Swapan Kumar Choudhury, PDG Rtn. Udaya Mani Pradhan, PDG Rtn. Arijit K. Endow, PDG Rtn. Dr. Yogesh Verma. DGE Rtn.Dr. Rintu Guha Niyogi was also present. He is the District Governor for Rotary year 2016-2017.
Also present were DG Chandu Agarwal and District Secretary General R. S. Panesar along with other members of the Council for 2015-2016. Many Assistant Governors of the District were present.
For up to date and regular update of the Club's Projects and their Photographs please visit the Club's Facebook Page