In a first of its kind initiative in the State the school students will be inducted as volunteers in the State Red Cross Society. Students of classes 9th to 12th will be trained as first aid providers and will be involved in various activities organized by the State Red Cross. This was stated by Health Minister Dr. (Colonel) Dhani Ram Shandil while chairing a meeting of the Himachal Pradesh State Red Cross Management Committee.
He said that school students would be roped in and specially trained under the Junior Red Cross to provide first aid facilities, including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). For this, the training camps will be organized across the state and certificates will also be provided to the students. College and university students will also be connected with this campaign through the Youth Red Cross, said the Health Minister.
He said that over the years the Red Cross Society has been organising plantation drives across the state. He said that volunteers should be tasked with ensuring that the saplings were regularly looked after and properly cared for the success of such drives. He said that it was our duty to plant more and more trees so as to pass on a healthy and resource rich environment to our future generations.
Dr. Shandil informed that the State Red Cross Society has released Rs. 50 lakh for the construction of Sarai Bhawan near PGI Satellite Centre, Una. Besides this, Sarai Bhawan has been constructed by the Red Cross Society near Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, District Kangra.
Dr. Shandil, who is also the Chairman of the Committee, appreciated the various works being done by the Red Cross Society at the state, district and sub-divisional level, especially the relief, rescue and rehabilitation works done by the State Red Cross during last year’s monsoon-led disaster.
The Health Minister said that during any natural or man-made disasters, Red Cross volunteers always participate enthusiastically in relief and rescue operations, besides saving those in need of medical care. He said that given the importance of the Red Cross in society, efforts should be made to organize activities in a more effective manner.
Various issues including the estimated budget for the financial year 2024-25 were also approved in the meeting.
Secretary to the Governor and General Secretary of the State Red Cross Committee Rajesh Sharma, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairman District Red Cross Society Sirmaur Sumit Khimta, Director Health Services Dr. Gopal Beri and representatives of all the District Red Cross Committees were also present in the meeting.
