Chandigarh,Dr.Avnish Jolly November 18: Red Ribbon Express which entered in Punjab on 27th of October, 2008 and finally reached in Chandigarh on 16th & 17th November and left for Kurukshetra in late evening of 17th November 2008. Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) organized a state level function in auditorium of Govt. college sector 46 Chandigarh, to mark the conclusion of RRE activities in Chandigarh.
Sh. Raj Kishor Mishra, Regional Director Commonwealth Youth Asia Centre Chandigarh, was the chief guest of this function which was presided over by Sh. J. S. Kooner, Zonal Director NYKS Pb & Chandigarh. Sh. Pardeep Chhabra, Mayor MC Chandigarh, was Special Guest of Honour along with Sh. Harpohool Chand Kalyan, Sr Deputy Mayor MC, Dr. K. S. Saluja, Principal Govt. college and Smt. Kushwinder Sharma DEO Education department UT, as guests of Honour. Sh. Sukhdev Singh, Deputy Director, NYKS; Dr. G.S. Bajwa, Distt. Youth Coordinator NYK Chandigarh alongwith other respectable guests and more than 1000 youth volunteers of NYKS and education department also attended this function where RRE plays were enacted and other cultural shows were organised. Dr. G.S. Bajwa presented the report of activities under taken in HIV/AIDS awareness campaign through the Red Ribbon Express train. Giving a summary of this project Dr. G.S. Bajwa told that the Red Ribbon Express Project, conceptualized by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and being implemented by NACO and NYKS as a multi-sectoral project to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS and promote safe behavioral practices through programmes and activities in 48 villages and schools of Chandigarh.
Sh. Raj Kishor Mishra, in his address to the young generation made an appeal to them to stand up and face the challenges put up to them on various issues of youth concern along with HIV/AIDS such as drug abuse and female foeticide, because as per the statistics these issues are also of main youth concerns in this part of INDIA. Sh. Pardeep Chhabra, Mayor Chandigarh, applauded the efforts put in by NYKS in successfully achieving the targets set by RRE in Chandigarh.
Sh.J. S. Kooner, Zonal Director NYKS, in his presiding address, applauded the role played by youth volunteers in RRE programmes and assured that NYKS youth will be always ready in implementing any such programme of youth conern in future too. Sh. Sukhdev Singh, Deputy Director NYKS, presented vote of thanks for all who helped in the activities and programmes of RRE.