Lions Club of Calcutta was inaugurated on 1st February 1957 and was accorded its charter by Lions Clubs International on 13th March 1957. It is the first Lions Club, which has been formed in the entire Eastern Region — Burma (now Myanmar), Nepal, Bhutan and Eastern India consisting of West Bengal, Orissa, Assam, Bihar and north-eastern states. It was part of the then undivided District 304E and now part of sub-divided District 322B1. Fifty years in the life of an institution is in itself a great achievement more so when we consider the humanitarian services it has rendered over these years to the needy people of the society. With Lions Club International celebrating its centennial year in 2017 our club will also be completing 60 years of service to humanity.
Calcutta Lions Bimal Poddar Eye Hospital (earlier known as Calcutta Lions Manoharpukur Hospital) is the first Lions permanent project of the entire eastern region. It was inaugurated on 17th June, 1961. In the span of 54 years it has grown manifold. During the last year there was extensive renovation in the Hospital with Many modern Hi-tech equipments were purchased. During the current Lionistic Year also plans for continuous up-gradation of the project is being under taken. This temple of service is providing high quality service to thousands of needy patients. This project has already crossed 1,000 eye surgeries and adding more numbers with each Lionistic Year. We are doing maximum free surgeries. It operates other outdoor departments like Eye, Dental, ENT, Child welfare, Skin, Pathology, Cardiology and Diabetes.
This is a well equipped rural Hospital in the remote village Mrigala of Hooghly District. This was inaugurated on 1st May, 1973. This is best rural Hospital in the neighbouring area. Its contribution to the mankind in such backward area, having limited resources, is really remarkable. In the Lionistic Year 1996-1997 there was extensive renovation of the Hospital. Chief Medical Officer of Hooghly District has declared it as best eye hospital of Hooghly District. Club has undertaken a major renovation plans to both upgrade the hospital building and equipment for providing best services to the patients during the last Lionistic year.
Inaugurated on 1st November, 1992 this is a model project of our District and pride of our Club. Calcutta Lions Netra Niketan is situated in Golf Green and is equipped with modern state-of-the-art technical equipments and has also been declared the best eye hospital of Multiple Dist 322, Lions Clubs International. Being equipped with latest Hi-tech equipments, this hospital, administered in a professional manner, is run by a team of dedicated senior Doctors. Having been equipped with Diode Laser and Yag Laser, the hospital is constantly updated. Recently a new microscope was purchased which was inaugurated by International Director from Kenya. This project has also received grants from Lions Clubs International Foundation from time to time.
The club has undertaken its fourth permanent project, another eye hospital in Jagdishpur in the District of Hoogly. For this proposed eye hospital a land for this purpose is already acquired and registered. Architectural plan for the project is already in process and soil testing has been done. A separate committee is already formed for development of this project.
Our Club has a cosmopolitan composition of membership as people from all walks of life irrespective of their cast, creed, culture and language are our members. We have also eminent personalities as our member. In the past eminent personalities that were on our membership roster were: the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, Ex-Mayor and Speaker Lion Manoj Shah, Shri P. C. Sen, Shri K. C. Basu, of West Bengal Assembly, Dr. Pratap Chandra Chunder, Ex-Education Minister, Government of India and many more. Today also a number of our members have headed or heading professional bodies, Chambers and other associations or social bodies of eminence. We have also given good number of District Governors to the District.
We have always furthered movement of Lionism with great zeal and because of our overwhelming support to Campaign Sight First programme Lions Clubs International has accredited "Model Club" tag to our Club in the year 20052006, which is a rare distinction. Under this Campaign we have arranged a contribution of nearly Rupees 30 lakhs to the Lions Clubs International Foundation.
Beside our permanent projects, we keep on undertaking many other service activities as following:
The journey so far has been full of challenges raising funds and serving those in distress. The road ahead is full of challenges too! But we are sure these challenges would be met too. For tomorrow better members, better leaders and better workers would come...
The club had achieved a new milestone unique in itself, by acquiring a new office space in the heart of the City, and setting up its independent secretariat with all modern, state of the Art facilities for a better centralised administration inaugurated on 23rd April, 2013 with great fanfare. All important records of the club and the trust are being centralised here. Any committee meeting and other group meeting concerning the activities of the club/trust may be conveniently convened in the board room, with the assistance of our permanent staffs in the secretariat.