World Red Cross Day

Chandigarh, 8^th May, 2016: Indian Red Cross Society, U.T. Branch Chandigarh celebrated World Red Cross Day-cum-Annual Function today at Post Graduate Govt. College for Girls, Sector 42, Chandigarh. H.E. Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki, Governor, Punjab & Haryana, Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Sh. Ajit Balaji Joshi, IAS Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairman, Indian Red Cross welcomed the Chief Guest and other dignitaries. Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner briefed the Chief Guest about the Red Cross activities being run by Indian Red Cross Society, U.T. Branch, Chandigarh like Cancer Hospice, for terminally ill cancer patients, in the form of Chandigarh Hospice and Palliative Care Services including Health Assistant Training Programme at Sector 43, Chandigarh. Apart from this, the Society is providing 24x7 Ambulance and Funeral Van Services, Raen Basera for poor and needy populace of tricity, Stitching & Tailoring Course for poor female students, First Aid & Home Nursing Training Programme, Sahayata Project as help to Licensing Authority for preparation of Licenses and Registration Certificates in respect of people visiting the office and aid to poor and needy in the form of cash or kind. This Society is also running many income generating projects such as Meal & Canteen Services and other outlets Services at different hospitals and other places in Chandigarh.  

Sh. Ajit Balaji Joshi, IAS added that Indian Red Cross Society, U.T. Branch, Chandigarh has planned to initiate various activities this year, which include a Centralized Grievance Redressal Call Centre in Sector 19-B, Chandigarh, Kalam Express for providing education to Children with Special Needs at their doorsteps and a home for mentally and physically challenged people in Hallomajra including a Geriatrics Care Centre and Red Cross Sarai in PGI, Chandigarh to provide boarding and lodging facilities to about 350 visitors.

H.E. Governor Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki in his address highlighted the life of Sir Jean Henry Dunant, Founder of Red Cross that how he was motivated to see the heart touching events, a Great War. He appreciated the work carried out by the Indian Red Cross Society, U.T. Branch, Chandigarh in different   welfare activities. He also praised the dynamic leadership of the Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairman, Red Cross under whom the Red Cross is moving through to its main Aims and Objectives and approaching towards achieving goals in terms of seven Principles of Red Cross.

The Chief Guest distributed the mementoes to the Social Workers, Philanthropists, the Blood Bank Incharges, the Institutions/organizations working in the filed of Blood Donation Program, educational institutions doing commendable work in their schools, colleges to promote the Junior Red Cross & Youth Red Cross Activities. He also awarded the students who stood first, second and third in various competitions organized by the Red Cross during celebration of World Red Cross Day Week. The mementoes were also given to the first aiders and the students stood first in March Past Parade in Republic Day and Independence Day under the banner of Red Cross.  In the function, leprosy affected persons were distributed 42 Antyodya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration cards by the Administrator.
Under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme, the AAY families are being transferred with Rs.695/-(approx.) per family/month into their Aadhar seeded bank accounts.

The program was concluded with the vote of thanks to the Chief Guest, other dignitaries and all the participant by Sh. Virender Chaudhary, HCS, Secretary, Red Cross.