TiTEN of Change
District 3142’s Historic Tenth Year Transforms Thane
The 2025–26 Rotary year marks District 3142’s tenth anniversary, branded as the “TiTEN” year. The District Governor Harsh Makol shares that the core philosophy is continuous legacy growth. While every governor chooses a unique theme for momentum and impact, this year’s guiding mantra is: “Dream Big, Dare to Do, and Do to leave a legacy for many people.”
To tackle the severe regional burden of thalassemia, four new treatment branches were launched this year in Dombivli, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar, and Bhiwandi. Previously, patients only had access to two centers: the Tramp Blood Bank in Thane and DY Patil Hospital. Aiming to create a completely “Thalassemia-Free Thane District,” local clubs are now pursuing public-private partnerships with government bodies and political parties.
Scripting History
District 3142 transformed its international funding utilisation by mentoring smaller clubs to navigate the process and find global partners. Previously, an imbalance left smaller clubs unsupported, with Global Grants underutilised at just 6 to 7 annually. This year, backed by team member Ravi Prakash, a record 20 Global Grants were secured through the collective participation of 47 clubs. Total funding reached an unexpected 1 million dollars (approximately 9.5 to 10 crores).
“Till now people used to think how we can do it and what is the process,” Makol explained. “Only stronger clubs could do it…and they were never supporting the weaker clubs.”
These funds have driven massive impacts within the community:
Pediatric Heart Surgeries: Partnering with KIMS and Jupiter Hospitals, the district is on track to touch nearly 600 surgeries.
Advanced Eye Surgery: Through Global Grants and collaborations with the Municipal Corporation, advanced eye surgery machines have been installed in municipal hospitals.
Empowering the Girl Child: The district recently donated 500 brand-new bicycles to young girls to assist in their mobility and education.
Education and Digital Learning Access: The District aimed to roll out 50,000 “Ideal Study” applications across the region to support weaker sections of the society. The District repurposed discarded Ganpati idols into study tables for underprivileged students, blending devotion with education.
A highlight of the TiTEN year has been the integration of Rotaract (Youth Wing). They joined forces with core Rotary clubs for major initiatives, such as annual blood donation drives. For the first time ever, a Rotaract club was directly involved in a Global Grant project.
“They have tasted the crux of what Rotary wants,” Makol noted, “And they can be the best leaders.”
By mobilising youth, empowering smaller clubs, and securing historic funding, District 3142’s 10th year is turning grand visions into tangible lifesaving realities for Thane.