Rotary Club of Pune Metro
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This year on 10th January, RC Pune Metro proudly gave the VSA award to the Team of Air Traffic Controllers from Mumbai Airport at a very well organized and attended function in Pune. It was very well planned, executed with the very well known Guest of honor and Chief Guest. We are glad that Media liked it and Rotary Received lot of Print Media Publicity thru this event.
We selected Mumbai, since Pune Airport is controlled by the Airforce and has restrictions.
Attached is a write up and print media clippings/photos. Since our Magazine is in soft form, I have also attached MP4 file which can be uploaded as an attachment to the message, We hope this message will give some new fresh ideas to other Rotary Clubs when selecting Vocations Service awards in future.
Details are already available at Rotary Club of Pune Metro Facebook Page.
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Vocational Service Awards – A Historic Evening of Recognition
The Rotary Club of Pune Metro (RCPM) proudly organised and hosted the Vocational Service Awards, an inspiring and memorable event dedicated to honoring the unsung heroes of aviation — Air Traffic Control Officers of Air Traffic Management, Mumbai. This evening marked a historic milestone, as for the first time ever, Air Traffic Control Officers were formally recognised for their vocational excellence, and RCPM takes immense pride in being the pioneer of this meaningful initiative.
The awardees felicitated for their exceptional professional commitment and service were:
Mr. P R Jayaprakashan
Mr. Girish Kamath
Mrs. Kamana Shrivastav
Mr. Santosh Bhavekar
Mr. Omprakash Khamitkar
Adding warmth and pride to the occasion, spouses who are also part of the ATC fraternity — Mrs. Nutan Bhavekar (wife of Mr. Santosh Bhavekar) and Mr. Ankur Shrivastav (husband of Mrs. Kamana Shrivastav) — graciously attended the programme, highlighting the shared dedication of families in this demanding profession.
The evening commenced with a graceful opening and welcome by PP Rtn Makarand Phadke, who also served as the Compere, ensuring a smooth and engaging flow of the programme. Following the dignitaries’ arrival on stage and the playing of the National Anthem, RCPM President Rtn Dr. Madhavi Chouhan warmly welcomed the dignitaries and awardees. An informative audio-visual presentation introduced Rotary and the impactful work of RCPM.
PP Rtn Dr. Madhavi Mehendaley, Project Convenor, eloquently explained the significance of Rotary’s Vocational Service Awards and the rationale behind choosing Air Traffic Control Officers for this honour. A special gesture was presented to Mr. Ajay Joshi, who was felicitated for his contribution and support as GM of ATM Mumbai.
One of the highlights of the evening was an insightful presentation by Mr. Santosh Bhavekar, who, through a compelling talk and video, gave the audience a rare glimpse into the critical, high-pressure world of Air Traffic Control and the immense responsibility it entails in regular days and in the days of national security/geo political tensions. He also highlighted this field as career choice and prospects for the younger audience present for the event including engineering/aviation college students and young Rotaracters.
The formal reading of the citation (Manapatra) by Ann Yogeshree Phadke was followed by the grand felicitation of all five awardees at the hands of the Chief Guest, Air Marshal (Retd) Bhushan Gokhale, Guest of Honour, Lt. General (Retd) Sudarshan Hasabnis, along with RCPM President Rtn Dr. Madhavi Chouhan, IMCC Co-Director Mrs. Manasi Bhate, and the Project Convenor. Each awardee was honoured with thoughtfully curated handmade eco-friendly gifts and a collective framed memento, symbolising shared excellence.
The Guest of Honour, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Sudarshan Hasabnis, and Chief Guest, Air Marshal (Retd) Bhushan Gokhale, delivered inspiring addresses, lauding the professionalism, discipline, and unseen contributions of ATC officers in ensuring aviation safety and national efficiency.
An engaging conversation session with the awardees, led by PP Rtn Amita Nene, allowed the audience to connect personally with their journeys and experiences. The evening concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks by PP Rtn Mohan Chhatre, followed by a group photograph capturing memories of this landmark event.
An evening of pride, gratitude, and history — celebrating excellence that keeps the skies safe.
Regards,
RTN Vivek Kulkarni
