Part of Red Cross building given to NGO

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 1

The District Red Cross Society has given its building to a private NGO and that too on very a nominal rent, whereas its own officials are facing shortage of space for conducting first aid training.

Earlier, the NCC unit of the 20th battalion had an office in the building and they were paying around Rs 24,000 per month as rent.

They had one hall and 10 rooms, which they vacated last month as they shifted to a government building.

Later, Prayaas International Educational Charitable Society was given the office at Rs 5,000 monthly rent to run a school for slum children.

Later, more rooms were given to this organisation but there is no hike in the rent.

As per the norms, the PWD (B&R) inspects the space and thereafter proposes the rent of the building to be taken from the tenant.

It is learnt that a few days ago, the District Red Cross Society chairperson visited the office building and directed Red Cross officials to vacate the training and other rooms on the first floor of the office block as there was a plan to set up a library for the school.

Consequently, first aid training of 70 students is going on at the chairperson or president’s office, which cannot accommodate more than 25 students.

Even the secretary office at the Red Cross building has been converted into a storeroom.

A Red Cross society official, on condition of anonymity, said the district administration is planning to shift the office of the District Red Cross Society in the working women’s hostel building.

However, this move also entails some problems as at present, 15 women are staying there.

Even the condition of a few rooms where students are studying is dilapidated and there is seepage problem.

Deputy Commissioner Diprava Lakra said there was no commercial activity going on as the school was teaching slum students free of cost.

He said a few rooms were in a dilapidated condition, due to which renovation work would also start.

On shifting the Red Cross Society office, the Deputy Commissioner said at present they had not decided on shifting the office from here.

The Red Cross Society has no role to play in the school. It is running a school for deaf and dumb and an evening school in the city.