Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

Red Ribbon Express stops at Hubli

Warm welcome: Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council Viranna Mattikatti inaugurating the awareness campaign of the Red Ribbon Express in Hubli on Saturday.

HUBLI: The Red Ribbon Express, which started its journey from New Delhi on December 1, 2007, with the aim of creating awareness on HIV/AIDS, arrived at Hubli Railway Station on Saturday. Hundreds of people, including schoolchildren gathered to welcome it.

Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council Viranna Mattikatti inaugurated the awareness campaign where members of self-help groups, health workers and teachers braved the drizzle to take part in the campaign.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Mattikatti said that it was only through awareness that the disease could be prevented. President of the Dharwad Zilla Panchayat Subhash Dyamakkanavar, who flagged off the “Kala Jaatha” said such awareness campaigns were essential for protecting the “health” of the country.

MLA Virabhadrappa Halaharavi said that although the Government was spending crores of rupees for the awareness campaign, the results were not as the expectations.

There was a dire need to implement awareness programmes focussing on the rural areas and slums, he said.

MP Pralhad Joshi said prevention was the best tool for HIV/AIDS. He said that steps should be taken to ensure that the benefits of the awareness programme reaches everyone.

MLA Chandrakanth Bellad and Mayor Radhabai Sapareunderscored the need for treating the affected people with humaneness.

Deputy Commissioner Darpan Jain said that while Red Ribbon Express would act as a nucleus for creating awareness, the cultural troupes moving out in different directions would create awareness among villagers.

Zilla Panchayat vice-president Rukmavva Lamani; Deputy Mayor of HDMC Chandrashekhar Managundi; former MP I.G. Sanadi; a host of officials from various departments; Assistant Commissioner Mahantesh Bilagi; Divisional Railway Manager of Hubli Adish Sharma; Director of Nehru Youth Centre R. Cheluvaraju; District tuberculosis control and AIDS nodal officer M.B. Munenakoppa; District Health Officer S.D. Avaradi; KIMS medical superintendent Shivanand Doddamani, were present on the occasion.

As students of schools and colleges turned out at the Hubli Railway Station in large numbers, there was a heavy rush to watch the exhibition in the Red Ribbon Express.

The volunteers including NCC cadets, scouts and guides and teachers had a difficult time in controlling the crowd.

The cultural programmes, including “dollu kunita” presented by the Beerasiddeshwara janapada kala tanda succeeded in holding the attention of visitors for some time, which in turn resulted in reducing the rush at the exhibition.

Meanwhile, the “bus jaatha” went around seven spots in the city and conducted awareness programmes. The six cultural troupes covered 24 villages on the first day in the Hubli division.

They would be covering another 24 villages on Monday. The Red Ribbon Express will be stationed at Hubli railway station on Sunday also. It will move to Dharwad railway station on Monday and stay there for three days.

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