PNB MetLife Rotathon, a 5km walk for literate India to be held on Feb 28

Hyderabad, February 25, 2016: PNB Metlife Rotathon, 5K walk for literate India will be held here in city at Necklace Road on Sunday February 28th early morning. Nearly 5000 people expected to participate in the walk. The walk will be held along with 50 plus towns in Telangana and AP at same time for same cause with nearly 50,000 people expected to create awareness for literacy.

A press conference was called on Thursday to share the details about Rotathon. Addressing the media, Shilpa Reddy, Brand Ambassador said Rotathon is a wonderful cause. No development is possible, unless its total population becomes literate. She stressed upon the quality of education.

Rotathon in its third year began in 2014 with just 800 participating in it and has grown in size and now in third year will register 5000 participants in city alone and 50,000 in both the telugu states, informed Geeta Mallikarjun, Chairman Rotary Clubs in Hyderabad Region while welcoming the gathering. .

Organised by Rotary Club of Hyderabad region, there will be a live band, music and lot of fun. This initiative is being supported by PNB MetLife India. Anybody can participate by paying Rs 200 participation fee. They can register on www.rotathon.org,www.bookmyshow.com, www.meraevents.com.
The starting point of Rotathon will be near People’s plaza and will go on Necklace Road until PV Gyan Bhoomi – and will come back to starting point near People’s Plaza.
Rotary International played a crucial role in eradicating Polio from this world. No Polio cases are reported in the past five years. Once WHO declares it officially, the world will soon become a Polio Free World, said Sambasivarao Patibandla, Past District Governor of Rotary International.
Rotary has taken up 'Total Literacy Mission' to make India a 100% literate country. As a part of the Literacy Mission, 31 Rotary clubs in Hyderabad Region are organizing "PNB MetLife ROTATHON, he informed

Sharing more details. Viiveck Verma, Chairman Rotathon - District 3150 said,. As a part of the 111th year global celebration of Rotary International, we are excited on mission to make India 100% literate by 2019. In my view, literacy opens up minds and is the most important ingredient for a nation to progress. I look forward to Rotary's contribution to literacy in India so that it can take its rightful place as a global superpower.”

In the beginning of this century, just 6 per cent of our population was literate. When we got independence less than 20 per cent were literate. Now, 69years of India’s Independence, we haven’t achieved 100 per cent literacy. Just 74 per cent of the population is literate. Which means still 26 per cent of our population is illiterate. Indeed, it is a very sad state of affairs. That is why Walks like this will create awareness about such a very important cause. If India has to be a super power, 100 per cent literacy will help achieve that distinction, he said.

If you see globally, 80 per cent of the population is literate. In India, 80 per cent of men are literate and just 60 per cent of women are literate. That is why we are focusing on girl child informed Viiveck.

The walk will be escorted by Iron Heads, a group of 40 people on Royal Enfield motor cycles headed by Varun and Prithvi, informed Viiveck Verma.

The funds generated from this event will be utilized for “Integrated School Development Project” to various schools including Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya which educates less privileged girl children. This will help in the following key factors amongst many others:

• School desks to ensure students do not sit on the floor for basic education
• Every child has access to Pure and Safe Drinking water (RO Plants)
• Toilets for schools – especially to avoid girl student drop outs
• Library, sport equipment for overall development of the child

This walk on Sunday morning can transform the lives of 2000+ girl children every year, added Rtn. Surendranath M, District Secretary. This is a walk for the liberation of every child from poverty, exploitation and neglect. Even after 68 years of Independence, our nation is 26% illiterate. The key instrument for India to become a developed country is literacy and it is the responsibility of every citizen to support this cause.

Speaking about the initiative, Niraj Shah, Director Marketing, Strategy & Products, PNB MetLife said, At PNB MetLife we believe in a strong co-relation between fiscal fitness and physical fitness and hence, we have been supporting badminton, walkathons and marathons.”