Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Dec 1:

Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) in association with Orissa State AIDS Control Society (OSACS) observed World AIDS Day on December 1, 2016. It was a spectacular sight as 15,000 tribal students of KISS made human chain to organise themselves into a massive red ribbon formation, pledging solidarity for the cause of HIV / AIDS.

The participating students took oath to spread awareness about HIV / AIDS infection and act as peer educators in their respective communities located at the inaccessible regions of Odisha. They pledged to volunteer efforts for achieving zero infection in the State by the end of year 2020. The activity was documented and an attempt to claim as 'Largest Human Chain in Red Ribbon Shape' for entry in Guinness World Records.

Pradeep Kumar Amat, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of Odisha joined the occasion as the Chief Guest, while Dr. Pradeep Panigrahy, Minister of Higher Education, Science & Technology; Dr. Pramod Kumar Meherda, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Odisha; Shrikant Sahu, MLA, Polasara; Dr. Ajit Kumar Mishra, Project Director, OSACS; Dr. Tripati Mishra, Joint Director, (IEC), OSACS, Dr. Chandrika Prasad Das, Additional Project Director, OSACS; R. N. Dash, Secretary, KISS & KIIT and Dr. P. K. Routaray, CEO, KISS were present.