Report: LAUNCH OF THE RED RIBBON EXPRESS 2012

Bollywood Actor Jackie Shroff is felicitated by Dr. Harish Pathak

Dignitaries at the inaugural dais of Red Ribbon Express

Inaugurating the Red Ribbon Express:

The Red Ribbon Express arrived in the city of Mumbai on the March 14, 2012 to a much anticipated crowd especially youth from schools and colleges, women and government employees including police staff, ANMs and Anganwadi workers.

Mr. Ramesh Devkar lights the lamp

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Guests present at the Inaugural ceremony: Dr. Harish Pathak, Addl. Project Director, MDACS; Mr. Ramesh Devkar, Project Director, MSACS; Mr. Shama Prasad, Joint Director, IEC-NACO; Mr. Bhushan Gagrani, IAS, Maharashtra State Health Secretary; Ms. Smriti Acharya, Project Director, AVERT Society; Mr. Mohnish Kumar, CEO, Red Ribbon Express and Ms. Vinitha Venkatraman, Joint Director, IEC-MDACS.

Mr. Shama Prasad addresses the audience

2. The inaugural ceremony saw a packed platform and an enthralled audience.

3. Mr. Ramesh Devkar lighted the inaugural lamp to launch the Red Ribbon Express.

4. The lighting of the lamp was followed by a key note speech by Mr. Shama Prasad.

5. Shakti Clinic was inaugurated with the coming of the RRE and a book tracing the journey of planning and implementing Brand Shakti was launched.

Actress Renuka Sahane cuts the ribbon to inaugurate the Red Ribbon Express

6. Renuka Shahane cut the ribbon and inaugurated the Red Ribbon Express in Mumbai; throwing it open to the thousands of visitors waiting to see the exhibition.

7. Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff graced the event on March 14, 2012 and spoke to the audience, much to their excitement.

8. Marathi actors Madhura Velankar & Umesh Gupta attended the event and lent their support to MDACS.

9. Madhura Velankar gave celebrity bytes on Fever 104 FM, inviting the listeners to go see the Red Ribbon Express.

10. Umesh Gupta, along with Madhura Velankar, visited not just the exhibition, but also the Shakti Clinic at Coach No. 6.

An enthusiastic audience at the inauguration with the Red Ribbon Express in the background

The whole area of Platform no. 13 at CST was teeming with an excited crowd including Student scouts & guides; Police Officials; College youth & Nursing students; NCC students and the regular public. The air was festive and colourful as people visited the many coaches with many kinds of display. There were volunteers to answer all kinds of questions and also to impart the correct information on HIV/AIDS – testing and treatment.