OREANDA-NEWS. In a special humanitarian gesture, Railway Women's Welfare Central Organization (RWWCO), a noted voluntary organization of the wives of Indian Railway officers, has come forward to make a donation to Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for extending help in the rehabilitation of the flood victims of Uttarakhand.

The Minister of Railways, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge received a cheque of Rs.10 lakh for this noble cause from Smt. Poonam Mittal, President, RWWCO, here today. RWWCO's General Secretary, Smt. Samidha Gupta and Treasurer Smt. Amita Chauhan were also present on the occasion.

While the primary concern of the RWWCO is the welfare of Railway employees and their families, it has also risen to the call of the society and the nation - be it environmental awareness, family welfare drives, disturbances on the borders or the natural calamities. With a very modest start about 48 years ago, RWWCO today has gained importance as one of the foremost voluntary organisations functioning in the country.

Broad activities of RWWCO are to run nursery schools, vocational training centres to contribute to national cause of education and literacy amongst women and children, to encourage children through competitions in sports, essay writing, drawing and painting etc. on All India Railway level, and to provide financial assistance to children of low-paid railway employees for studies in engineering, medical and other academic courses by way of giving scholarships and educational assistance. The organization also runs craft centre for imparting training in tailoring and crafts to wives/daughters of railway staff and masala/craft centres to provide gainful employment to women. Besides RWWCO also organizes awareness drives about environmental pollution, family welfare, AIDS etc. as well as also provides financial assistance to railway employees and their families in sickness and distress cases.