Manipur News

MNS:- President Shri Pranab Mukherjee here today inaugurated the celebrations to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson UPA, Shri A.K. Antony, Minister of Defence & Chairman NIC, Shri P. Chidambaram, Minister of Finance, Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of Communications and IT, Smt. Chandresh Kumari Katoch, Minister of Culture and Swami Suhitananda, General Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math were also present at the function organized at the Rashtrapati Bhawan auditorium.
President shri Pranab Mukherjee and other dignitaries paid glowing tributes to life and works of Swami Vivekananda and recalled his contribution in welfare of mankind and upliftment of poor masses. The speakers said that his ideas and teachings are relevant even today.
The Finance Minister Shri P. Chidambaram released a set of Commemorative Coins and presented the first set to the President Shri Pranab Mukherjee. The coins are of Rs.150 and Rs. 5 denomination.
Minister for Communications & Information Technology Shri Kapil Sibal released a set of 4 Commemorative Postage Stamps on Swami Vivekananda and presented the first copy to the President Shri Pranab Mukherjee. One stamp is of Rs. 20 and rest three of Rs. 5 each.
Children from the Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi gave a singing performance on the occasion. This function commences the year long commemoration under which a range of activities have been planned, some of which have already begun not only in India but abroad, as well. The Government of India decided to undertake the commemoration of 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. A National Committee under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was constituted to approve policies/plans, programmes and supervise and guide the Commemoration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda including preparatory activities leading up to the Anniversary year in 2013-14. A National Implementation Committee was also constituted in 2010 under the Chairmanship of the then Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee to implement the decisions of the National Committee. On Shri Pranab Mukherjee assuming the office of President of India, Defence Minister Shri A.K. Antony has been appointed Chairman of the said National Implementation Committee.

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MNS:- The closing function of Red Ribbon Express – III was held at Safdarjung Railway Station, New Delhi today. Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Shri S. Gandhiselvan, Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal, Minister for Railways were Guests of Honour.
Addressing the closing function, Shri Azad said Red Ribbon Express – III was flagged off on January 12, 2012, the National Youth Day. The focus of RRE – III was on youth as the future of India belongs to them. Accordingly special efforts were made for mobilizing adolescents and youth during the exhibition. Communication material was more interactive and youth friendly with provision of relevant services. In its year-long journey, the RRE – III covered 162 railway stations in 23 states. Over 1.14 crore people have been reached with messages on HIV/AIDS and other health issues as a part of this mass mobilization.
Shri Azad said many welfare schemes have been launched by the Government of India for the benefit of the people. Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram is one such programme which has been started to guarantee free healthcare to all the pregnant mothers and sick neonates. But due to lack of awareness, this scheme has not reached the pregnant mothers. He felt that some innovative ways are to be found out to spread the message on these welfare schemes across the country. He expressed his view that the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the Ministry of Railways can join hands together in this noble cause. Together we can spread the message to the people, he added.
Addressing the function, Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal, Minister of Railways said RRE – III has succeeded in meeting the objectives of the campaign. He hoped that next phase RRE would be soon launched. He assured support of the Indian Railways in the noble endeavour. He also announced that railways coaches would be painted with messages which are informative and educative for the benefit of the general public in the days to come.
Shri S. Gandhiselvan, Minister of State for health & Family Welfare also addressed the function.
It may be mentioned that the first Red Ribbon Express was flagged off by Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson UPA on 1st December, 2007 for disseminating messages on HIV & AIDS. The train traversed over 27,000 km covering 180 stations across 22 states till 1st December, 2008. The second RRE train was again flagged off by Smt. Sonia Gandhi on 1st December, 2009 for disseminating messages on HIV & AIDS, H1N1 and general health issues. The train traversed over 27,000 km covering 152 stations in 22 states.
The Red Ribbon Express is one of the global best practices, innovative and effective in reaching out to a large segment of population with awareness messages on HIV/AIDS and related services. It is the world’s largest mass mobilization campaign on HIV/AIDS. It is a special exhibition train which travels across the country disseminating the messages on HIV/AIDS and general health in rural and remote areas of the country. Along with the train, special outreach programmes are organized in the villages through IEC exhibition vans and folk troupes.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/closing-function-of-red-ribbon-express-iii-held/