Cuttack, Nov. 3: A district-level Youth Red Cross (YRC) counsellors’ conference will be held at Ravenshaw University. Representatives from more than 70 colleges in Cuttack are expected to attend the programme.

In September, the higher education department had directed all junior and degree colleges to activate their outh Red Cross units.

According to the direction, college principals were required to open a separate savings bank account named “YRC College Fund”.

The account is to be operated jointly by the college principal and the counsellor of a nationalised bank for smooth management of Youth Red Cross activities.

“In the last couple of months, the Youth Red Cross unit of Ravenshaw has conducted two blood donation camps in which 150 and 192 units of blood were collected. A mega training camp was organised on the occasion of International Youth Day, during which 1,000 students were given hands-on training in first-aid techniques. An awareness programme on cancer, dengue and chikangunya was also held,” said Sanjay Satpathy, head of the commerce department and vice-chairman of Ravenshaw Youth Red Cross Unit.