Media Coverage | 16-09-2021
State achieves unique feat in its diamond jubilee year
Lokmat News Network
Mumbai, Sept 15
In recognition of the unique initiative of Lokmat Media in connecting the people and patients in Maharashtra through blood donation campaign titled ‘Raktacha Nata’ wherein as many as 60,706 units of blood were collected throughout the state, the state government felicitated and honoured Lokmat by presenting the group a congratulatory certificate here on Wednesday.
This certificate was presented to the chairman of editorial board of Lokmat Media and former member of Rajya Sabha Vijay Darda at the hands of the chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. The deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and other ministers were present on the occasion.
The Nagpur edition of Lokmat is celebrating its 50th anniversary. To mark the occasion as well as the birth anniversary of Lokmat’s founder editor late Jawaharlal Darda, a mega blood donation campaign was undertaken by the Lokmat group.
The drive which was launched on July 2, concluded on July 27.
The State’s public health and medical education department, the State Blood Transfusion Council as well as various organisations participated in the campaign. Due to the coronavirus epidemic, there was an acute scarcity of blood in the state. At the same time, people were not ready to go out for blood donation for fear of contracting coronavirus infection. It was against this backdrop that the Lokmat group launched the blood donation campaign.
As many as 60,706 people donated blood in Maharashtra, setting a new record. Stating that the campaign has taken to a whole new level Maharashtra’s tradition of rushing to the help of the people in times of crisis, the chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said, “We congratulate everyone who participated in this blood donation campaign.” The deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar lauded Lokmat’s campaign saying it was undertaken when Maharashtra was facing acute blood shortage.
The public health minister Rajesh Tope said the campaign helped allay fears in the state about blood donation during the coronavirus pandemic. He further said Lokmat’s statewide campaign for blood donation proved to be of great benefit.
Vijay Darda described it as a success for everyone who participated in the campaign and said everyone had contributed immensely to the ‘Raktacha Nata’ blood donation campaign. During this statewide campaign, everyone in Maharashtra registered his or her active participation.
“I would like to congratulate each and every one of them on this occasion on behalf of the Lokmat family,” said Vijay Darda and noted that right from the country’s Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah to the chief ministers of several states hailed the blood donation drive, stressing the need for undertaking such a campaign.
Moreover, all of them lauded Lokmat for taking up this unique initiative. Lokmat has established a ‘blood relationship’ with everyone who donated blood during this campaign. “I am very proud of them,” said Darda.
The food and civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal, industries minister Subhash Desai, public health minister Rajesh Tope, water resources minister Jayant Patil, social justice minister Dhananjay Munde, energy minister Nitin Raut, environment and tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray, housing minister Jitendra Awhad and chief minister’s principal secretary Vikas Kharge, principal secretary Ashish Kumar Singh and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
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