The silence is broken only by the occasional rustle of pages as students pore over the volumes. The Library at the Government Junior College, stocked with almost 700 titles, was the first permanent project of Narsipatnam Lions Club, District 316A. The club constructed the library building and donated books worth ₹1.5 lakh toward it. It was a fitting prelude to a record that now includes a community hall, an adopted village, and 1,500 saplings still taking root.
That first library set the tone for what followed. The club has continued its focus on educational support over the years, distributing books worth ₹20,000 to meritorious students from underprivileged backgrounds at the same college. Scholarships are also awarded to students who have passed the tenth grade so they can continue their education.
A 55-Year Legacy Still Growing
Large Projects Made Possible By Large-Hearted Members
The club’s largest infrastructure project, the Lions Community Hall-cum-Vision Centre, stands on land donated by PDG Raghavendra Rao. Council Chairperson Dr. Gopala Rao contributed ₹20 lakh toward construction, and club members raised a further ₹35 lakh.
Inaugurated by PIP Frank Moore on February 2, 2024, the hall now serves as a venue for skill development programs where the first steps toward financial independence are taken by women and youth.
Coaching classes help students prepare for competitive exams. The facility also serves as a base for much of the club’s community work.
Seva Mahotsav
At its Seva Mahotsav, members donated nearly ₹80 lakh for humanitarian causes, including the funding of 70 bicycles, 60 sewing machines, 30 grinders, and 100 hearing aids for beneficiaries across the region. Dr. Gopala Rao made a personal contribution of ₹10 lakh during the event.
Supporting Healthcare
The club also organized a blood donation camp in partnership with A.S. Raja Blood Bank, helping strengthen the availability of blood for patients in the region.
Greening Their Surroundings
Environmental work has run alongside the club’s welfare projects. Members planted about 1,500 saplings at the Government Junior College campus, and near the Government Hospital. Separately, as part of a social forestry initiative, the club planted mango and jackfruit trees across five acres of land.
A Village, Adopted
Every month, members of Narsipatnam Lions Club, accompanied by visiting specialists, travel to Donkada, a village with a large tribal population. In its adopted village, the club conducts general medical camps as well as eye screenings for children below the age of 15.
In Chuttupalli, another village in the region, the club has built a community meeting space and a basketball court for residents.
Contributing To The Legacy of Melvin Jones
The club has 22 MJF recipients to date, with Dr. Gopala Rao personally contributing close to ₹39 lakh toward these recognitions. Beyond the club, he has supported 121 MJF recognitions at the district level and extended assistance to the district cancer hospital.
From a single library to a village adopted, Narsipatnam Lions Club’s growth has been steady — each project taking root in the one before it. Fifty-five years on, that legacy shows no sign of slowing.