Valedictory Function of Ocean Savers of India 2025
The Valedictory Function of the Ocean Savers of India (Coastal and River Clean Up) was held at the Poona Club on 20 Sept 2025, which was co-hosted by Ocean Savers of India (under the aegis of Indian Maritime Foundation) and The Rotary Club, Pune Central.
Rtn Maj Lekha Nair (Retd), President of Rotary Club, Pune Central, was the Chief Guest on the occasion and was given a ceremonial reception by the Sea Cadets and Sea Scouts & Guides.
The Valedictory Function commenced with a welcome address by Capt Anand Dixit, President IMF, which was followed by a short history on India Cleanup by Cmde PK Malhotra (Retd), VP OSI. He also spoke at length on the immense contribution made by the late Cmde Rajan Vir, the founder of the IMF and the OSI on spreading awareness of ocean conservation throughout India. On the occasion a remarkably lifelike portrait of Cmde Vir, painted by the renowned artist Mrs Seema Bhargava was presented to the President IMF.
Cmde Malhotra also paid tribute to the efforts of certain individuals in promoting ocean and river cleanup such as Rtn Yezdi Batliwala, VP OSI (Maharashtra Region), Mrs Maithili Manakawad, Coordinator OSI (Maharashtra and Pune) and Captain Gopi Shetty Coordinator OSI (Goa and Karnataka). Cmde Malhotra also very humbly played down his own stupendous efforts by referring to himself as “their assistant” before making a short presentation on the importance of oceans and rivers, which included some hard-hitting videos as well and also some statistics on the quantum of plastic pollution that had been cleaned up state wise.
Cmde Malhotra highlighted that clean oceans and rivers are the lifelines of our planet. They provide us with drinking water, food, and livelihoods, while also regulating climate and supporting countless species. Polluted waters harm marine and (ultimately) human life, spread diseases, and destroy ecosystems that take centuries to build. Healthy rivers and oceans ensure safe water for communities, sustain fisheries, boost tourism, and help maintain the balance of nature. Simply put, without clean oceans and rivers, both people and the planet cannot survive or thrive. He ended his talk by emphasising “Clean oceans and rivers are not a luxury, they are a necessity.”
Thereafter trophies and cash awards were presented as follows:-
• Cmde Rajan Vir Rolling Trophy for outstanding contribution by an individual was awarded to Capt Gopi Shetty, Commandant Sea Scouts & Guides.
• Geeta Vir Memorial Trophy for the most outstanding contribution by an institute or an organisation was won by Sea Scouts & Guides.
• Ram Prakash Kapoor trophy for maximum contribution towards safe environment along with a cash award was awarded to Sea Cadet Corps, Pune.
• Sakhrani Family Trophy and cash award for maximum contribution by an individual was awarded to Capt Gopi Shetty.
• Chaudhary Ran Singh Phogat trophy for maximum cleanups by an institute/organisation was claimed by Sea Cadets Corps, Pune.
• The award for the best outstation coordinator was won by Mrs Seema Bhargava, OSI Coordinator for Delhi, Haryana, NOIDA, HP & UP.
• Veernari Rehana Hussain Rollling Trophy for best contribution by Punekars was awarded to Mrs Gauri Gopi Shetty, Lt (SSC) Sourabh Gupta and Mrs Shagufta Anwar.
Other awards sponsored by various individuals / organisations were presented as follows:-
• Sponsored by Rtn Oni & Mrs Nafisa Kakajiwala & Commandant Sea Scouts and Guides for Hospitality & Passage to Outstation Participants
• Sponsored by PP RCPC Rtn. Uday and Mrs. Savita Dharmadhikari to Mrs. Seema Bhargava
• Sponsored by Navy Foundation Pune Center to Mrs. Seema Bhargava
• Special Award sponsored by VP OSI to Mrs Gauri Gopi Shetty.
• Sponsored by Mr. Raman Kapoor & Mrs. Neelam Singh to Mrs. Seema Bhargava
• Special Cash Award sponsored by Col. Bipin Shinde (Retd.) to Sea Scouts & Guides
• Special Prizes by Capt Anand Dixit, President IMF AND Mrs. Naina Delvis d/o Late Commodore Vir to Mrs. Seema Bhargava
During her address Rtn Maj Lekha Nair also highlighted the importance of keeping our water bodies pollution free and said that the OSI, IMF and RCPC. She paid tribute to all the institutes and organisations that had supported the cause such as Sea Scouts and Guides, Sea Cadet Corps, Boys Brigades, Anjuman Islam School as well as various outstation organisations who had made a significant contribution towards this cause and exhorted the children in particular to be the drivers of this initiative.
We were honoured by the presence of RAdm PD Sharma (Retd), AVSM, NM, President & Founder of the Rashtriya Life Saving Society (India) accompanied by Mrs Kavita Sharma, RAdm RJ Nadkarni, AVSM, VSM (Retd), Rtn Cmde Ajay Chitnis, SC, NM (Retd).
IMF would also like to thank all Rotarians, Council Members IMF, students and children from Sea Scouts & Guides, Sea Cadets Corps, Anjuman Islam, Boys Brigade, Residents of Salunke Vihar, Pune & officials of OSI for their presence on the occasion and support extended to the OSI.
The function concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Rtn Cmde Ajay Chitnis, SC, NM (Retd).
Some photographs taken on the occasion may be viewed in the gallery below.
