The Richards Town Residents Association (RTRA) held an Appreciation Ceremony for the Civil Defence at Richards Park recently to launch a campaign of greening Richards Town with five hundred free saplings from the Civil Defence Division 40.
Maj Gen John planting the first sapling.
The 40th and 41st Civil Defence divisions were formally inaugurated under the Directorate of Home Guards, Civil Defence and Fire and Emergency Service in October 2009.
Area 40 includes Fraser Town and D J Halli, The campaign was launched by Jija Madhavan Hari Singh, DGP, Home Guards and Fire Services; Major General T M John (retired), chief warden, Civil Defence, Karnataka; Khalid Anjum and N Ramesh, divisional wardens of the areas. Dignitaries from the Civil Defence such as Maj. Gen. T M John (retd) Chief Warden and P S Sandhu, IPS, Inspector General of Police and Addl Director General, Fire & Emergency Services together with Khalid Anjum, Divisional Warden, Division 40 and Shankar Narayana, Chief Warden, Peenya & Rajagopal Nagar Division were present.
Division 40 was ably represented by Khalid Anjum’s team of dedicated and committed members. RTRA and RTCA (Richards Town Citizens Association) the two Resident Welfare Associations of Richards Town were present with their office bearers and committee members. Residents of the area made up the rest of the audience.
The function started off with fellowship where the guests met the residents. Maj. Gen. John the Guest of Honour expressed his appreciation of the Park being maintained in peak condition and invited the residents to join hands with the Civil Defence and volunteer as Area Suraksha Mitras.
Maj Gen John with Civil Defence and RTRA members.
PS Sandhu spoke on behalf of his superior Jija Madhavan Harisingh IPS Director General of Police, Commandant General, Home Guards, Director, Civil Defence, Director General, Fire & Emergency Services who was unable to grace the function due to personal commitments.
The saplings were distributed to schools, Holy Ghost Church and neighbouring apartment complexes and are doing well to replace trees that have fallen in the storms that Bangalore has faced. The ceremonial planting of the saplings with the turning of sod further emphasises the greening of Richards Town which has been a high priority with the RTRA since its inception. ⊕