Responsible Behaviour as Solution for Challenges faced by today’s youth – Virtual Youth Convention on national Youth Day 

Responsible Behaviour as Solution for Challenges faced by today’s youth – Virtual Youth Convention on national Youth Day 
One month long New India@75 Campaign to mark 75th anniversary of India’s independence on Blood donation awareness launched
to mark National Youth Day, celebrated on the birthday of Swami Vivekanand, a Virtual Youth Convention was organised with the moto of Responsible choices for bright future, in which 100 youth of Various Red Ribbon clubs participated and shared their views.

Dr. Archna Soni, Project Director of HP State AIDS control Society cum Joint Director Health Services Himachal Pradesh addressing the youth stated that role of Youth is critical in checking the menace of HIV and sufficient availability of Safe Blood Donation.The youth are more vulnerable to HIV due their risk taking behaviour.

HPSACS has been implementing many activities to make youth aware on HIV such as 35 days special Campaign implemented for Youth every year, Red Ribbon Clubs are established in 260 Colleges and Technical Institutions, National Toll Free AIDS Helpline 1097 is of great help for youth and NACO AIDS APP is available in Google Play store with all related information. HP State AIDS Control Society has also formed Joint Working Group for Youth with all stakeholder Departments and Organizations plan out and make strategy to provide safeguard from HIV/AIDS to youth.
On the occasion, CMO Kangra Dr. Gurdarshan Gupta shared that COVID vaccination is important and lifesaving, youth need to adopt responsible behaviour, to protect themselves, their family and friends from COVID infection.

He shared that we need to engage in creative activities like sports and resist the lure of drugs. The urge to get and use drugs can fill up every minute of the day, even if you want to quit. it causes financial, emotional, and other problems for you or your loved ones.
He further called upon youth and nodal officers to come up a role models for the society. He also called upon all to know your HIV status by getting tested for HIV and become a real hero by taking up regular voluntary blood donation and also motivate your friends for the same. He shared that youth can call tollfree AIDS Helpline 1097 for more information.

Dr RK Sood, District AIDS Program Office shared that, awareness on blood donation is being conducted in schools an colleges to mark 75th anniversary of India’s independence with New India@75 Campaign- Importance of blood donation and awareness on blood donation among students of selected government schools and colleges through webinars and RRC talks will be held throughout the month.

In the present era, we are witnessing a phenomenal advancement in technology. Technology has influenced the way we think about life and threatened interpersonal human relations. Friends are now inside the computer, chatting on the net, creating society with growing numbers of self-centred individuals oblivious to the society around.

Vijay Kumar talked about the various factors affecting the future of our youth such as the friend circle they spend time with peer pressure faced by today’s youth. He advised youth to not fall in the trap of social media addiction and use their precious life judiciously. Vijay Kumar shared his experiences and advised the youth to choose their friends wisely.

Nikhil lifeskills facilitator guided the youth to utilise their time for constructive nation building and urged the youth to stay away from intoxication substances. He put emphasis on the importance of the time of  youth in the life of a person in character building and personality development. Skills learnt in the Red Ribbon Clubs by all the young students will be important for building their character and becoming a responsible citizen of India.How to say no to peer pressure is key lifeskill and we need to set our boundaries.

The discussion was moderated by Sahil Sood, a student of NIT Hamirpur who motivated the youth to put forward their valuable inputs and try something innovative.

Varun, a student of Student of College of Community Science, CSKHPKV Palampur wrote a beautiful poem on the importance of blood donation and encouraged his follow mates to donate blood.

A healthy discussion was held with the youth regarding the misconceptions related to blood donation. Shivani from WRS Dehri College, Akanksha and Sahil from NIT Hamirpur, Priya and Varun actively participated in the discussion and shared their experience with blood donation. Sahil came up with an innovative idea to voluntarily donate blood on one’s birthday and save lives.
Dr Ghanshyam Sharma State Programme Officer, HP State AIDS Control Society stated that the youth can change the nation for the better, he hoped that the RRCs will lead to a heathy society.

The meeting was also attended by Vishal Acharya Regional Coordinator (IEC) NACO, Kuldeep AD (IEC), Rahul Chauhan AD (Youth), CR Sharma MEIO & Anjali Health Educator,  o/O CMO Kangra and ICTC staff of Kangra.