After declaring open the eight day district Red Cross Fair at Mandi today, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that to galvanize the whole structure and functioning of Red Cross Societies in the State at all levels requires more involvement of all sub Divisions, Blocks, Panchayats, Mahila Mandals, Schools and other Volunteers organizations etc. to motivate people and contribute generously to the Red Cross fund to enhance its financial resources and utilize the same for the redressal of the grievances and addressing the agonies of the poor and needy people. Shri Virbhadra Singh said that H.P. Red Cross had been rendering valuable services for the cause of suffering humanity. Various activities were being undertaken by the Red Cross throughout the Country to create awareness amongst the masses and efforts were afoot to spread these activities to the rural and far flung areas. He wished the Red Cross to be more strengthened in times to come.
Appreciating the humanitarian services of the members of the Red Cross all over the State, he said that Red Cross Societies were rendering yeomen services in service of the poor. The Chief Minister said that every country has Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and they play a pivotal role during wars times and peace. He said that none of the Nations in the world can prohibit Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to carry out its activities. He also remembered Sir Henry Dunant, the Founder of International Red Cross and who set the cornerstone of the Red Cross movement. He said that the working of Henry Dunant demonstrates to all of us that we could all have an impact and achieve our aspirations by striving to make a difference by serving the poorest of the poor and the needy. Deputy Commissioner, Mandi Shri Sandeep Kadam, being the Chairman of District Mandi Red Cross Society honoured and welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries present on the occasion. He also briefed about the eight day long festivities to be carried out in the fair besides other activities. The Chief Minister also honoured the Social Emergency Response Volunteers (SERV), the volunteers who are more than 9000 working at all sub-divisions of Mandi to provide relief to the people in case of any emergent situation. He also released a souvenir of District Red Cross Society and lauded the efforts of SERV, the first of its kind movement, started in Mandi district by involving local youths at Block and Sub-Division levels to handle disaster like situations.
Earlier, the Chief Minister flagged off ‘Swach Jal Yatra’ an initiative of district administration Mandi to create awareness about water borne diseases and measures to be adopted to keep the tap water and natural water bodies clean. Since people have been mostly using tap water and the natural water bodies in far flung areas and villages were being ignored, the Jal Yatra was a message to keep all water bodies clean so as to remain healthy. Children of about 40 schools including Asha and Aangwadi Workers took part in the rally. South Asia Head, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Leon Prop from Netherlands and Secretary General Indian Red Cross Society, Dr. Vir Bhushan were also present on the flagging-off ceremony. Leon Prop later said that over 150 trainers were providing training under SERV to volunteers as how to react and reach out to the people during any disasters. The Chief Minister also inaugurated the conference hall of HP Home Guards at Mandi completed with an outlay of Rs 34 lakh, inaugurated the office of Tourist Information Centre and office of Deputy Director Tourism completed with an outlay of Rs 58 lakh, inaugurated the Press Club building at Mangwain (Ramnagar) completed with Rs 15.40 lakh.
The Chief Minister laid foundation stone of “Ren Basera” at Paddal near Gurudwara to cost Rupees one crore, foundation stone of Traffic roundabouts near ITI Chowk Mandi and near Samodi bridge to cost Rs 84 lakh and Rs 78 lakh respectively.Health Minister Shri Kaul Singh Thakur while addressing on the occasion credited the development of Mandi district to Chief Minister and successive Congress regimes. He lauded the efforts of district administration Mandi and also thanked Secretary General Indian Red Cross Society, Dr. Vir Bhushan for selecting Mandi, Shimla and Solan for providing training to volunteers to mitigate the impact of disasters and act accordingly in disaster like situations. He also urged for bringing more districts such as Chamba, Sirmaur and other districts under the fold of SERV movement. Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Shri Anil Sharma, Excise and Taxation Minister Shri Prakash Chaudhary, Political Advisor to Chief Minister Shri Rangila Ram Rao, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Shri Sohan Lal, Chairperson Zila Parishad Champa Thakur, Chairperson Municipal Committee Neelam Sharma, Vice-Chairman HP Handloom and Handicrafts Shri Chandershekhar, OSD to Chief Minister Amit Pal Singh and other eminent people of the area were also present on the occasion amongst others.