From coastal Andhra Pradesh to the hills of Kerala, from the scenic towns of Sikkim to Lucknow’s busy crossroads, Lions of India have found that their credo of “We Serve” achieves its greatest reach when combined with government resources and infrastructure. These strategic partnerships have resulted in sustainable solutions to diverse community challenges – eye hospitals that serve millions, housing projects that provide shelter and dignity, and healthcare networks that benefit the most marginalized populations.
The stories of collaborations that follow prove that the most powerful service happens when grassroots compassion meets institutional capacity.
In Srikakulam, Harshavalli Lions Club, District 316A, has become a powerful force for collaborative service, showing how local clubs can seamlessly integrate with government initiatives to create lasting community impact. Their partnership with the Srikakulam City Corporation under the Central Government’s Swachhta Hi Seva program perfectly illustrates the power of aligned purpose.
When the District Collector issued the call for cleanliness programs, Srikakulam Harshavalli Lions Club responded with characteristic Lions efficiency. Members distributed informative leaflets on cleanliness to every household in Srikakulam.
The club’s environmental stewardship took innovative forms. In partnership with Srikakulam Nagar Corporation, they distributed jute bags in local market yards to discourage use of plastic. Coordinating across multiple government departments like the State Forest Department, District Libraries Department, and BSNL Communications Department, the club organized extensive sapling plantation programs. Club members not only planted saplings in government offices but took on the responsibility of nurturing them alongside department officials.
Another notable initiative introduced home composting to 300 families in Srikakulam, distributing home compost boxes that enabled households to convert garbage into fertilizer for kitchen gardens. This created a sustainable cycle—reducing waste, promoting organic vegetables, and fostering environmental consciousness.
The cost for these initiatives was borne entirely by members.
Srikakulam Harshavalli Lions Club’s partnership with the Andhra Pradesh Government’s Department of Disability & Senior Citizen Welfare saw 360 people with physical disabilities improving their mobility and independence. The beneficiaries – identified by the Government Departments – received artificial limbs donated by the club at a cost of Rs.3.5 lakhs. Smt. Kavitha, Assistant Director, Department of Disability & Senior Citizen Welfare, and Ch.Obelusu, Commissioner, Srikakulam Municipal Corporation participated in the distribution ceremony.
The club partnered with Srikakulam Municipal Corporation and Medicover Hospital to provide 2D echo, blood testing, ECG, and diabetes screening for 900 people. Dr. P. Sudhir Kumar, Health Officer of Srikakulam Municipal Corporation, inaugurated the camp.
Government healthcare networks can amplify Lions expertise in vision care. Recognizing this, the Srikakulam Harshavalli Lions Club joined hands with the Municipal Corporation Health Department and the District Medical and Health Department to organize an eye camp at Bapuji Kalamandir. Of the 350 people screened, 185 received free spectacles, while 18 individuals underwent cataract surgery.
“This is hope in the dark for us,” says Sridhar, father of Gowri, a child on the autism spectrum. Like many underprivileged families, Sridhar was unable to provide proper care for his child because of financial constraints. Not any longer.
The Integrated Therapy Centre for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, established by the Bangalore Industrial Town Lions Service Foundation, in partnership with the Government Ayurvedic Medical College (GAMC), Bengaluru, now offers comprehensive care at no cost to families like Sridhar’s.
The charitable arm of Bangalore Industrial Town Lions Club, District 317A, the foundation set up a centre that bridges modern evidence-based therapies with traditional Ayurvedic treatments. Formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding, the centre operates within the GAMC campus in close association with its Department of Pediatrics.
Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, the centre provides a wide range of therapies tailored to the complex needs of children with autism.
These include:
- Occupational Therapy to enhance motor skills, sensory integration, and daily living skills.
- Speech Therapy incorporating augmentative communication tools such as PECS.
- Ayurvedic Therapies like Abhyanga, Shirodhara, and Matra Basti administered by GAMC experts.
- Pediatric Support to address conditions such as anxiety, epilepsy, and metabolic disorders.
With the capacity to serve up to 40 children daily, the centre operates entirely through Lions funding. The Bangalore Industrial Town Lions Service Foundation covers all operational costs, from staffing to logistics and therapy coordination, ensuring families are not burdened in any way.
To date, the centre has screened over 500 children, with 128 children like Gowri currently receiving treatment based on their individual needs. As Sridhar says: “Lions have given us real hope. I believe things will improve. I have peace knowing my child is being treated.”
Government collaboration runs deep in MD 318’s DNA. Over the years, Lions Clubs have executed several life-changing projects in partnership with various departments of the Government of Kerala. Building on this foundation, two major projects are currently taking shape in District 318A, addressing housing, employment, and skills development. The projects are part of District Governor M.A. Vahab’s Mission 25, which envisages the implementation of 25 major service projects.
One of the most ambitious projects is the Lions Life Villages in partnership with the Department of Local Self-Government. This project stems from a tripartite agreement following thorough discussions with government officials. The decision to associate with Lions of District 318A was formally announced in the Kerala State Legislative Assembly on July 2, 2024, by Hon’ble Minister for Excise and Local Self Government Shri M.B. Rajesh. Over five acres of land have been allocated for this project in Kilimanoor and Mudakkal, owned by the Chirayinkeezhu Block Panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram district; Kottapuram in Kadakkal Panchayat in Kollam district; and Paravur Municipality.
Four Lions Life Villages will be developed, with 25 houses in each. The approximately 500 sq. ft. houses will be equipped with necessary amenities at a cost of ₹7.8 lakhs per house. Additionally, Lions Amenity Centres will be established in each village to provide ongoing community services.
The Bhoomi Puja of Lions Life Village at Kadakkal was conducted on December 31, 2024. The foundation stone for the first two Lions Life Villages were officially laid by Hon’ble Minister for Excise and Local Self Government Shri M. B. Rajesh, along with Hon’ble Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Smt. J. Chinchu Rani, on January 9, 2025. The construction of the Lions Life Village in Kottappuram, situated in Kadakkal Panchayat, is progressing rapidly.
Breaking Employment Barriers
Kerala faces a paradox— despite their education, young men and women struggle to find employment due to a lack of practical experience. For over a decade now, ASAP (Additional Skill Acquisition Programme) Kerala, has been helping in skilling, upskilling and reskilling youth by offering 150+ contemporary courses in 19 domains and curating a ready-to-deploy workforce.
District 318A decided to participate in this initiative through two targeted programs: Caring Hands and Skill to Survive.
The Caring Hands program prepares participants to become certified Home Nurses and Patient Bystanders, while the Skill to Survive program equips 12th-standard graduates with office work skills including capacity building, problem-solving, digital literacy, and teamwork.
ASAP conducts the training using its own curriculum and study materials. Faculty for each batch is deputed by ASAP, and practical training is provided in hospitals, with nursing coats provided to each student. The entire expenditure for conducting this course, including payment to ASAP, is met by District 318A.
The first batch of 30 students successfully completed their training on April 15, 2025. The participants received certificates endorsed by NORKA and co-branded with Lions and ASAP, which significantly enhance their job prospects, including opportunities abroad.
In District 321B1, Lions service has literally taken center stage. District Governor Mukesh Jain has consistently engaged with officials from Lucknow’s Municipal Corporation, which comes under the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of Uttar Pradesh. This has resulted in the transformation of two major crossings into eye-catching beautification projects that enhance the cityscape for thousands of daily commuters while creating glowing testimonials for the Lions brand.
The first transformation stands proudly at Vivek Khand, Gomti Nagar, where Lions cleaned and beautified the intersection before installing a sculpture of a lion on a pedestal sporting the Lions International logo. With integrated backlighting that illuminates the structure each evening, the eye-catching display has become a popular selfie-point for locals, organically spreading Lions visibility throughout social media. The Vivek Khand project was inaugurated by GAT Area Leader Dr. Kshitij Sharma and PMCC Abhinav Singh alongside key government partners including Additional Director Urban Development Dr. Aslam Ansari, and other dignitaries.
The second crossing at Sector O, Aliganj—strategically located opposite Lions Blood Bank—mirrors the first project’s success. This prominent intersection in one of Lucknow’s premier residential areas now showcases Lions’ commitment through identical beautification and branding elements. LIEPC Chairperson PID Jitendra Singh Chauhan and U.P. Women Commission Chairperson Babita Singh Chauhan inaugurated the Aliganj crossing in the presence of Lucknow North MLA and PMCC Dr. Neeraj Bora, Vice District Governors R.C. Mishra and Paramjeet Singh.
While the Municipal Corporation could earn substantial rental income from commercial advertisers at these prime locations, officials chose Lions specifically because of the organization’s proven social impact and District Governor Jain’s dedicated relationship-building. Both crossings now serve thousands of daily commuters while creating continuous awareness of Lions’ community contributions.
Sometimes the most powerful partnerships create individual success stories that exemplify broader impact, like 13-year-old Reshma Sewa’s journey from blurred vision to clear sight. A student of the local school in the quiet, hilly neighborhood of Bojoghari in Gangtok, Sikkim, Reshma hails from a family of very modest means. Her father, a taxi driver without his own vehicle, earns just ₹300 a day, while her mother is a homemaker. Reshma also has a younger sister, aged six.
When Reshma’s vision began to blur, her parents assumed it was a minor allergy and never sought an eye check-up. The turning point came when Siliguri Greater Lions Eye Hospital (SGLEH), in partnership with CBM, the Government of Sikkim, the Department of Health & Family Welfare, and the Department of Women & Child Development, conducted a routine school screening under Project Ujjyalo’s Inclusive School Eye Health Programme. Led by Optometrist Mrs. Ambika Sapkota from SGLEH’s vision centre, the screening revealed a cataract in her right eye, while her left eye was normal.
The news had her family worried. However, through counseling and support from SGLEH and school authorities, Reshma underwent successful cataract surgery, restoring clear vision in her right eye. Reshma returned to school with newfound confidence, becoming an eye health ambassador among her classmates. Her parents expressed profound gratitude: “We never imagined it could be cataract. We’re truly thankful to SGLEH and the funders. Without school screening, we may have found out too late.”
Siliguri Greater Lions Eye Hospital is a life-changing permanent project of Siliguri Greater Lions Club, District 322F.
The partnership between Lions Clubs of Nanded, Maharashtra and government organizations spans community development, health, education, environmental sustainability and social welfare—with their eye care initiative standing as a flagship example of institutional excellence.
The Nanded Netra Rugnalaya is a joint venture between Nandigram Lions Trust and Nanded Waghola City Municipal Corporation. Since 2011, the hospital operates from a 5,000 square feet double-story building in Jangamwadi, leased by the municipal corporation. The hospital is governed by Nandigram Lions Trust with 51 trustees from Lions Clubs of Nanded and Nanded Midtown, District 3234-H2.
Strategic expansion came in 2016 with a branch in CIDCO, creating a combined capacity of 60 beds for comprehensive eye care. The 2017 LCIF SightFirst Grant of ₹85 lakh enabled crucial equipment upgrades, while the donation of a fully equipped Mobile Eye Screening Unit from Life Insurance Corporation’s CSR Department in 2024 extended the hospital’s reach to Maharashtra’s remotest areas.
With 11 ophthalmic surgeons and 94 allied staff, the hospital serves a population of 10 million across the Marathwada region in Maharashtra, along with the border districts of neighbouring states. The hospital maintained operations even during COVID-19 with appropriate precautionary measures.
On May 7, 2025, the hospital celebrated its 14th Foundation Day. Till date, the hospital has examined 13,62,185 outpatients, performed over one lakh surgeries, including nearly 20,000 free surgeries.