Dear Rotary Leaders
Hear the Minds you Follow
Lend an ear to your leaders in Rotary and in the Government. It is time to strengthen the new normal way of life till Covid is eradicated from the world. Set yourself a target and step out to fight vaccine hesitancy in any part of the country.
I was happy to read in some foreign print media that India has done a commendable job in vaccination. This praise is given to all the agencies involved in the vaccination drive and we in Rotary can take pride in taking the lead when other voluntary agencies were still working out the methodology. This is largely due to the commitment of our members and the network we have because of the End Polio Campaign. But we cannot be complacent now since the Government of India has announced that more than 12 crore beneficiaries are due for their second dose as of now. It is not sufficient to say that 79% of the adult population has received the first dose of the vaccine. Only 38% of the eligible population has got the second dose according to the statistics given by the Government.
The vaccination pace has slowed down this month due to festive season and to vaccinate all adults by the end of this year, 15.1 million doses need to be administered daily on average in the remaining days. Like we say in cricked, the run rate has gone up because of some dot balls. I was astonished to read in the newspaper today that a well-known cricketeer in South India who also played in the IPL has refused to take the vaccination or even adhere to certain Covid protocols. This type of vaccine hesitancy behavior is not healthy and only your personal intervention with such persons may produce the desired result.
Rotarians must do what truly matters to humanity and community development. There is a loftier ambition than merely hearing the minds you follow. You have to stoop down and lift humankind a little higher now because this is the time the Covid cases are showing a decline and it is now or never.
From the time of its formation, Rotary India’s Covid Task Force has been bringing together leaders such as yourself to take on the biggest challenge the world is facing now because of Covid. This is a kind of programme where we cannot afford to let down our guard even for a day and the leaders worldwide are waiting to see what you are coming up with together in India and how you will help to end Covid now. I am honoured to be in your team and I am being inspired to tell the world that Rotarians in India have again demonstrated that they can meet any situation that threatens the wellbeing of the community.
Ashok MahajanChairman,
Rotary India’s Covid Task Force Member,
TRF Covid Task Force