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Red Cross building misused, Guv�s intervention sought

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 26 - A number of commercial activities in the Red Cross Society building at Uzanbazar here is drawing flak from the conscious residents of the locality who believe that the land and building should be used for humanitarian activities and to help needy people get medical aid, the purpose for which the infrastructure was created by the Society.

Seeking intervention of Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi, a number of conscious residents on Monday submitted a memorandum to him at his office seeking necessary steps to ensure greater good of the community.

The Red Cross Society is a voluntary humanitarian organisation having worldwide presence. Its mission is to provide relief at times of disaster and emergencies and assist healthcare activities among the vulnerable sections of society.

In Guwahati, the Society had started a hospital in a three-storey building on Ward Street, Uzanbazar, opposite Swahid Nyas, on a plot of land donated by the family of renowned scholar late Hem Chandra Goswami.

After a few years of community service, the health centre was closed down by the Society for reasons best known to them, which deprived the needy patient of medical treatment, the memorandum stated.

Urging the Governor to take measures for revival of humanitarian activities in the building, the citizens informed him that the building has been given to a private party on lease for 20 years to run a shopping mall, a fast food restaurant and a guest house.

�By allowing such activities, the Red Cross authorities have discouraged its basic objective of providing humanitarian service to society,� said one of the signatories to the memorandum.

�We understand that no property of Red Cross Society can be converted for commercial venture for the benefit of any private party or individuals, closing down its humanitarian activities,� the memorandum added.

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