Donations to Red Cross exempted from tax

Eluru: West Godavari District Revenue Officer M Mohana Raju called upon the people to donate liberally to the Red Cross Society to help it spread service activities. All the contributions credited to Red Cross account would be exempted from income tax, he said. He appreciated efforts of Social Welfare Department executive engineer Jampana Nagaseshu for securing contributions worth Rs 2.06 lakh to the Red Cross. He received cheques from Nagaseshu at a programme held at Collectorate here on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, he said that everyone feeling social responsibility should come out with donations to the Red Cross to help the Society carry out its service activities. The contributions would help in overcoming the financial hurdles in the way of service agenda of the Red Cross. Every rupee donated to Red Cross would be exempted from income tax. He thanked the contractors of the social welfare department for contributing to the fund wholeheartedly. Mohana Raju said that the district topped in the State with record collection of contributions to the Red Cross last year. The district secured gold medal for its role in financially empowering the Red Cross. He attributed the achievement to the special efforts of District Collector Dr Vani Mohan. He made an appeal to officials of the district to put in serious efforts and show same enthusiasm to keep the district ahead of others this year too in the funds collection. He requested mandal-level officials to involve themselves in the fund-collection activity. The DRO said that the Red Cross funds would help in spreading service activities all over the district. A considerable number of blood banks could be set up with the funds in the district. The funds were crucial for intensifying the social services, he said.