Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

State Aids Control Society observes Youth Day

By The Assam Tribune

GUWAHATI, Jan 15 � The Assam State Aids Control Society (ASACS) observed the National Youth Day near Dighalipukhuri here today in association with the Red Ribbon Clubs (RRC) of various colleges of the State. The programme was organised on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

According to an official press release, the meeting was inaugurated by well-known music composer-singer Manas Robin. Exhorting the youths of the State, Manas Robin said the youths of the State must come forward to fight the dreaded menace of AIDS, which has been affecting millions of lives across the globe.

Speaking about his association with the awareness drive against AIDS, Manas Robin further said he had composed songs on the HIV/AIDS menace during the Red Ribbon Superstar competition organised by the ASACS a couple of years back. �Such songs should be a source of inspiration for the youths to fight this dreaded disease,� the singer added.

Speaking on the occasion, Project Director of the ASACS, SK Roy said, �The young generation is highly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. And that is why, we have decided to extend the awareness programmes by declaring the National Youth Day as a month-long event. We have also urged many youth organisations to extent their support and cooperation in our month-long drive, which include blood donation camps in all the districts, walkathon, easy competition, etc.�

Swapnanil Baruah, Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Assam in-charge of Health, in his speech said there are two ways of doing our work. First, by expecting that the work will be done by someone, and secondly by assuming the responsibility by ourselves and doing our work. Swami Vivekanda had always inspired the youth to work with self-confidence.�

President of the Indian Network of Positive People, Jahnabi Goswami, in her speech, said, �Like every child, I too had a dream for serving the society and I have fulfilled that dream.� She said that not only HIV, today�s youth must be ready to fight against all kinds of dreaded evils like dowry, witchcraft, etc.

Manish Deka, Mt Everest conquerer, also spoke about his dream coming true and exhorted the youths to fulfil their goals of life.

Dr Amalendu Chakraborty, Head of the Bengali Department, Gauhati University, asked the youths to imbibe the ideals of Swami Vivekananda and become respectable citizens of the country.

The programme was moderated by Dr Niranjan Kalita of the SB Deorah College.

The Red Ribbon Clubs of educational institutions, in association with the Assam State AIDS Control Society, will observe the National Youth Day as the �National Youth Month�. The month-long programme will include a mass rally by all the Red Ribbon Clubs of the greater Kamrup and other youth organisations of the State, which will be followed by a mega voluntary blood donation camp in Guwahati. As a part of the month-long programme, the Red Ribbon Clubs of other districts will also conduct voluntary blood donation camps.

Apart from these programmes, under the aegis of the Red Ribbon Clubs, massive awareness drives including health check-up camps, blood test, etc, will be conducted in the identified vulnerable areas of the districts.

A State-level essay competition will be organised among the students from 11th standard to degree-level. The outline of the essay will be: �Youth, Leadership and HIV/AIDS�. The language of the essay may be in Assamese, Bengali and English. The first three winners will get cash awards of Rs 10,000, Rs 7,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. The essay may be sent to the following address: Apurba Bezbaruah, Coordinator, National Youth Day Celebration Committee, Assam State AIDS Control Society, Khanapara, Guwahati-22, through speed post or e-mail. The last day of receipt of the essays is January 31, 2014.

Next Story