Red Cross V-P Urmila no more
Noted social worker and vice-president of Indian Red Cross Society, Telangana, Mrs T. Urmila Chandrasekhar Reddy passed away here on Thursday. She was 80.
She is survived by her sons, Mr T. Venkatram Reddy, chairman, and Mr T. Vinayak Ravi Reddy, managing director of Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd.
Her last rites were performed at the Panjagutta crematorium on Thursday evening.
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan called up Mr Venkatram Reddy and expressed his deep shock and pain over the demise of Mrs Urmila Chandrasekhar Reddy.
Mrs Urmila Chandra- sekhar Reddy, born on March 18, 1936, was involved with the Indian Red Cross Society since 1966 and became honorary vice-president in 1986. She was deeply involved in social service all her life, and always led from the front. Be it in the matter of donating blood — she personally donated blood 14 times, or giving in cash and kind for the needy and for people in distress, she set the example for others to follow.
She was a pioneer in donating medicines for thalassemia-afflicted children. She donated regularly to the Red Cross Balwadi and Government Girls High School at Masab Tank.
She also instituted cash awards and medals for the first, second and third rankers of outgoing girls of Class X of the high school.
She donated a building worth `2 crore in the name of her husband, the late T. Chandrasekhar Reddy, former Rajya Sabha member, through her sons and provided furniture and infrastructure to start a vocational training institute in the name of T. Chandrasekhar Reddy Vocational Training Institute, Masab Tank, Hyderabad.
She was the recipient of many awards from the Governor, who is president of the Indian Red Cross Society, Andhra Pradesh, every year for her sustained service.
She was awarded a gold medal by the President of India at New Delhi in recognition of her voluntary social service with the Red Cross Society.
Mrs Urmila Chandrasekhar Reddy was awarded 18 medals in all for her dedicated and selfless service. She was awarded two gold medals in 2008.
Indian Red Cross Society, Telangana expressed condolences at the sudden demise of Mrs Urmila Chandrasekhar Reddy.