RED RIBBON Express (RRE) Success

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

 

Its encouraging that, the success of RRE is leading to such kind of efforts by

different states. Infact, what I have seen, it is the vision of a comprehensive

and strategic IEC plan rooted in NACO (by the IEC Division) and I must

congartulate Mr. Mayank Agrawal & his team at NACO for this effort.

 

It is also good to see that, RRE is comming once again. I hope the recruitment

process has been done and the pace of work will strat soon.

 

But here, I would like to raise one point that, the success behind any campaign

is a well coordinated team effort with consistence patience and perseverance. If

any team is disturbed during or after such a campaign then I have an experience

that, the campaign either will out of track and become objectiveless or the

desired output and impact are not achived. In any case, what matters is the loss

of time, money and faith of people. So I hope, those who are at the helm of the

affaires, be at the state or national level, should try to keep the team and its

spirit.

 

I haven't seen such a well planned and coordinated campaign like RRE which

leaves an impact for all the times to come. It is a great work of mainstreaming

among all stakeholders, patners, donors and a great view bringing two

extremes (implementer vs the so called " benificiaries " ) into one platform and

feel the absense of each other, if missing any one of them and ofcourse getting

the feedback instant.

 

I remember one such incident in Angul (Category A ) district of Orissa where RRE

had a halt for one day. I was in the Counselling Couch and one women of about

35-40 years comming from a hard to reach village of about 30 miles from the

district HQ had an interaction with a doctor. She was refereing his husand's STI

problem and was describing all that a village women of her statute usually do

not divulge.

Infact, she had the information on local Radio Station about RRE that morning

and forced his husband to accompany her to RRE for treatment.

Though, any kind of treatment was not possible inside the train, she was

referred to the nearest ICTC and hospital alongwith a volunteer to ensure they

reach.

When I enquired why she did not take him to the nearest hospital, she told that

the doctor was not available in the hospital. She and her husand had been

harassed by local quack and the condition of her husband had been worsened. She

somehow got the information from that village quack that, it might be the

symptoms HIV and AIDS and that can't be treated.

Now that a train on " AIDS "  was comming to Angul, she smelld it advantageous and

came down for a check up.

 

This is just one story, that I had experienced in a district of a state. RRE

went to 24 states and halted at 180 stations. Imagine how many such cases could

have been occurred. This is the impact of RRE.

 

Well, for the 2nd time, I would sincerely suggest that, whenever the strategy

with Indian Railways is designed, opinions of people involved in the state

should be ENSURED which is not done, although it is planned and approved the

highest level and becomes a problem in its actual implmentation.

 

All good wishes to NACO and its partners for its 2nd such big effort !!

 

with regards,

 

Manoj Kandher

New Delhi

e-mail: <manoj_kandher15@...>