Speeches :
Speech given by PRID & Trustee Ashok Mahajan on 6th December, 2009 at Patna , while conferring the “ Champion of Polio” Award to H’ble Chief Minister of Bihar, Mr. Nitish Kumar.
Our Past President William Boyd said, “We have created partnerships that will endure and will yield benefits far beyond the elimination of one disease."
I recount these words today because we are witness to an
outstanding relationship that has not only helped us come closer to the goal of
eradicating Polio from Bihar but also a relationship that has and will yield far
more benefits for the people and children of Bihar. 
Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide to provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. Ending polio forever has been Rotary's top priority, and tremendous progress has been made toward this goal. In India, where Polio is mostly confined to the States of Bihar and U.P, the progress seen over the years are encouraging.
Rotary International has enjoyed the great support and encouragement of the Government of Bihar in endorsing Polio immunization. Please accept my heartiest gratitude for the support extended to Rotary International’s Polio eradication campaign in the State.
Development doesn’t happen without effective governance. Governments have a key role in making Public Health initiatives successful. The biggest advantage of the Polio campaign has been the public-private partnership that resulted in the eradication of the disease from rest of the world. We need Governments and leaders to commit to the success of Public health initiative like Polio.
Most people living with Polio in India live in underdeveloped areas where health and education resources are in short supply and where poverty is relatively high. India needs an intensified response that overcomes myths and resistance that provides access to these underserved populations to immunization both during routine and during immunization days.
Sir, Bihar under your leadership has managed to bridge that gap to some extent. Your development initiatives in the State, social welfare programmes, health programmes like ‘Muskan’ have all been empowering the people of the State towards a better life. Whether it was managing the flood relief efforts in Bihar or getting investments and health care interest in the State, your Government’s clean and sound governance has enthused people of Bihar and India alike.
Coming
back to Polio eradication… Hon’ble Chief Minister, you have led the campaign
from the front and strengthen the partnership to deliver better. Rotary have had
the privilege of your blessings for every effort initiated in the State. Whether
it was calling the ‘Legislative Meet’ on Polio where Opposition parties were
seated for your address on collective effort or agreeing to Rotary’s call of
meetings and conferences whenever required. We have always felt humbled and
motivated in your presence.
Sir, though much has been done, yet so much needs to be done at this crucial stage. As you know, Bihar is one of the two Polio endemic States still harbouring indigenous wild Polio-virus and continues to threat the well being of children everywhere. The current epidemiology of the virus even if pointing towards eradication, bears threat of escalation if we lose our guards. Sir, meticulous and strategic efforts in coming months are very crucial to the campaign’s success. And as always, we believe, your continued support and leadership is crucial to achieving the goal of making Bihar and the country Polio-free.
We believe that if we continue to build on the achievements of the past year and at the same time accommodate and adopt innovative ways, eradicating the disease in the near future is very much on the cards. Rotary is determined and committed to be of any valuable support in Bihar’s fight to eradicate Polio and other social welfare programmes. We are sanguine that the Polio Partnership is here to benefit far more than the eradication of one disease.
The Rotary International’s decision to confer the Polio Eradication Champion Award to Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumarji in recognition of his exemplary leadership and continuous support is indeed an assertion of Bihar’s impressive efforts towards achieving Polio eradication.
It is impossible to change things unless we make politics work, and it’s your efforts and those of many others around the world, who keep up the pressure and push for change and action to make a difference.
I speak on behalf of all my Rotary colleagues in India that Chief Minister Nitish Kumarji rightly deserves this Award for all that he has done for the goal of Polio eradication and the promise he has shown in leading Bihar to the eradication milestone. Further, I am very happy and grateful that our International PolioPlus Committee Chairman and the backbone of Rotary’s global Polio eradication efforts Rtn. Bob Scott is today amongst us to do this honour.
I thank you all for your participation.
Copyright (c)2011 Ashokmahajan.com
| Webiste Developed by Vibrant eTechnologies Pvt Ltd | | MCITP Boot camps | | Redhat training Exams |