Kohima ,24 June: Nagaland Governor, K.Sankaranarayanan has called upon the Indian Red Cross Society, Nagaland State Branch (IRCSN) to expand their humanitarian service to the people and make greater efforts to make their presence felt for the needy and the distressed in the State. Sankaranarayanan, who is also the President of the IRCSN said the society should accelerate its endeavour to reach out more people particularly the youth and people living in remote areas to ensure that the society is vibrant and active.
In his Presidential address in its 22nd Annual general meeting at Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan in Kohima today, the Governor deeply regretted that the rate of enrollment to the IRCSN has been come down during the last few years. He therefore called upon the society to launch membership drive in the State. As per the IRCSN annual report there are 6746 members in the State. The Governor expressed appreciation to the Society for extending relief to the victims of incidences such as fire, road accident and needy individuals for undergoing medical treatment.
He also expressed happiness to the Junior Red Cross of IRCSN for bagging the first prize in the National level in Poster Competition. He also commended the prompt ambulance service rendered by the Society to the needy people.
In his vice-presidential address, Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio commended the Society for their active involvement for the welfare of the society. He particularly appreciated the Society for their participation and activities such as blood donation, medical camps and first aid. Chief Minister also expressed his happiness for their involvement in all government-sponsored programmes in the State.
On the enrollment of IRCSN membership Chief Minister concurred with the Governor that there are many rooms for improvement to rope in people from all categories from across the State. On the activities of the Society Chief Minister said even though many districts have shown encouraging trend in enrolment of members to the Society there were, no fresh enrolment from Dimapur, Mokokchung, Zunheboto and Kiphire during the last year, which, he said, needs to be improved. Stressing on the need to have its own building in all the district headquarters, Chief Minister urged upon Ds to make greater efforts to have Society’s own building in their respective districts.
The annual report of the Society 2007-08 revealed that the IRCSN put themselves on alert for any eventuality both natural and man-made calamities within and outside the State in the form of relief, medical help and other services and also extend financial help to the victims of disasters.
The report also revealed that the IRCSN extended financial help to fire victims of Wungrum Colony, Dimapur on 23rd April 2007, to the victims of NST bus accident on 18th may 2007 at Tseminyu, to the victims of landslides at Wokha town and to the victims of Manipur bus accident at by-pass Kohima on 12th August 2007.
During the meeting, Planning & Coordination Minister T.R.Zeliang has been inducted as Patron and Y.Henpong Konyak and Pawan Ladha were inducted as vice-patrons of the IRCSN by its President, Sankaranarayanan, the Governor of Nagaland.
Earlier, during IRCSN business session it has resolved to conduct vigorous membership drive of all categories in the State. It also decided to reorganize and revamp any district/sub-district which are found not functioning. The meeting was presided over by its Chairman, Povotso Lohe.