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The Red Ribbon Express, an AIDS/HIV awareness campaign train by the Indian Railways, will arrive at Ranchi Railway Station on September 14. The eight-bogie train - with 50 National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) people on board to pass on information and counsel - will be here for three days.In an effort to prop up the cause before the train’s arrival, Jharkhand State Aids Control Society conducted a meeting on Tuesday with stakeholders like CCL, NGOs and the media.“We requested Tata Steel, BCL, CCL, Doordarshan, NGOs and several other organisations to cooperate in creating awareness about RRE, which is about the cause itself. We would create awareness and motivate people to work for the cause of AIDS patients with the help of these organisations,” said Jharkhand State Aids Control Society additional project director Birendra.Three bogies of the train promote awareness. The National Rural Health Mission is providing health services in bogie four. The fifth compartment has a counselling room with a doctor. The compartment also facilitates a testing lab where individuals can go for a blood test.“No one can take blood testy for HIV without consent. So, we woFuld take a written consent from people and conduct blood tests,” said Birendra. While the sixth compartment accommodates medicines for patients, two bogies are reserved for the personal use of the NACO team.

Equipped with inventive and interactive communication devices, the particularly designed ‘smart train’ will cover more than 9,000 km during its year-long journey, halting at 180 stations for a few days to ensure the  message reaches far-flung villages.

‘Embarking on the journey of life’ is the motto of the express, which seeks to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS, especially in rural regions. On-platform and off-site communication activities such as exhibits, street plays and demonstrations would also be used to attract attention of the visitors.

This is the third phase of the Red Ribbon Express, which was implemented by NACO in partnership with Railways and NRHM in 2009-10 in its second phase. The project was initiated in 2007 -08 and has reached out to around 62 lakh people.

Tata Steel will set up its own stall in the platform, whereas a group from NCC will be taking care of law and order during the three days stay of the train. The project targets an audience of primarily youth groups, women’s groups, student communities, urban slum dwellers, wage earners and farmers.