Chandigarh : The Punjab State Branch of the Indian Red Cross Society celebrated World Red Cross Day today at Punjab Raj Bhawan. The State level function of World Red Cross Day was presided over by Shri Banwarilal Purohit, Hon’ble Governor, Punjab & President of the Punjab State Red Cross. The event was started by lightening of Lamp and paying floral tribute to Sir Jean Henry Dunant. The Hon’ble Governor, Punjab conveyed his great pleasure to preside over the State Level Function of World Red Cross Day Celebrations. He said that the Day is celebrated to commemorate the birthday of Sir Jean Henry Dunant, the Founder of Red Cross movement. Red Cross is the largest Humanitarian Organisation in the World, working in 192 countries all over the Globe and innumerable persons are passionately and enthusiastically associated with it. To look after the deserving ones is a part of Indian tradition.
We have inherited the culture of service and cooperation and it is an integral part of our culture. Maharishi Dev Vias ji has briefly explained the importance of helping people in two words, that is, doing good to others is virtuous. Goswami Tulsi Das ji has also said that by doing good to others, there is virtue and by giving sorrow, it is sin. We are from the land of Mercury and Mahatma Gandhi, those who showed through their deeds what it means to live for others.
He further added that Friends, Punjab is the land where the basic objective of Red Cross i.e. selfless service without any distinction, was seen the most brilliant example about 170 years before the establishment of the Red Cross, Bhai Ghanayia Ji, set an example by serving water to, and tending to the wounds of injured soldiers of the enemy and his own forces alike, in the battle field of Sri Anandpur Sahib. Thus he kindled the light of serving humanity, without any discrimination of caste, creed or nationality. His selfless service to both friend and foe, was the true precursor of the spirit of the Red Cross Movement and we can take justifiable pride in belonging to the land where he set such a noble tradition.
He said that the theme of this year is World Red Cross Day is “Everything we do comes #fromtheheart. This is with a focus to celebrate the spirit of humanitarianism and to recognize the individuals who make a difference in their communities.
The aim is also to highlight the universal, human and diverse aspects of Red Cross Movement by focusing on volunteers and their involvement with communities, the persons next door, who often are the first ones to step up and support those in need around them & they support & they do it with love and #fromtheheart.
The Hon’ble Governor, Punjab, appreciated the activities being undertaken by Punjab State Red Cross Branch and its District Red Cross Branches by providing medicines to deserving patients, prosthetic aids and appliances to the handicapped and deserving women, services to the down trodden through various service centres such as homes and clubs for senior citizens, working women hostels, artificial limb fitting centres, drug de-addiction centres, providing nutrition kits to the TB patients and voluntary blood donation camps. The activities in the colleges by setting up of Youth Red Cross Wings and in the Schools through Junior Red Cross wings to promote feelings of Service and Friendship in youth while remaining healthy are also appreciable.
He further said that the Red Cross activities at the District level are required to be strengthen in a befitting manner.
In the end, he stressed upon the need to join hands with Red Cross so that together, by helping the less fortunate, we can make this World a better place to live.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Shivdular Singh Dhillon, IAS (Retd), Secretary, Punjab Red Cross informed that 10 battery operated motorised tricycles to the handicapped persons, 10 sewing machines to the deserving women and 10 nutrition kits to the TB patients was distributed by the Hon’ble Governor, Punjab. He further added that on the eve of World Red Cross Day, a voluntary blood donation camp was organised by Punjab State Red Cross Branch in collaboration with Chandigarh University, Mohali and more than 200 students, Red Cross volunteers donate blood. A painting of Hon’ble Governor, Punjab was presented by Red Cross on the occasion. Apart from the other dignitaries, Shri Avinash Rai Khanna, Former MP & Vice-Chairman, Indian Red Cross Society, Shri Suresh Arora, IPS (Retd) Chief Information Commissioner, Punjab, Shri Sanjay Tandan, Member Finance Committee of Punjab Red Cross, Shri Bhupinder Singh, IAS , Secretary, Health, Punjab, Deputy Commissioner, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali and Ropar, Shri Des Raj Sharma, Director, Principal, SD Sarvhitkari Vidya Mandir, Talwara, Shri Gurpreet Singh Namdhari Artist, Red Cross Staff, Social Workers, Red Cross Volunteers and blood donors were also present on the occasion.