Mauritius: India organises blood donation camp onboard ICGS Sankalp
Port Louis, January 20
Anurag Srivastava, the High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, organised a blood donation camp onboard the Indian Coast Guard Ship Sankalp on Monday, which saw enthusiastic participation from various quarters of society.
Sharing the details in a post on X, the Indian Coast Guard said that the camp witnessed enthusiastic participation from the ship's crew, officials of the Indian High Commission and local volunteers.
High Commissioner Srivastava encouraged the donors and reiterated India's strong humanitarian commitment in the Indian Ocean Region.
India and Mauritius have multifaceted and longstanding ties.
In November, India hosted the Seventh National Security Adviser-level meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), bringing together top security officials from Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, with Seychelles participating as an Observer member and Malaysia joining for the first time as a Guest.
Earlier in October last year, INS Sutlej successfully completed a joint hydrographic survey with the Mauritius Hydrographic Service, covering an extensive area of approximately 35,000 square nautical miles.
The survey was conducted in close coordination with national agencies under the existing MoU between India and Mauritius, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The initiative will significantly contribute to marine charting, coastal regulation, resource management, and long-term environmental planning, thereby supporting Mauritius' Blue Economy goals. As part of the mission's capacity-building efforts, six personnel from various Mauritian ministries embarked onboard INS Sutlej for hands-on training in modern hydrographic techniques.
In addition, INS Sutlej carried out joint EEZ surveillance and anti-piracy patrols with the Mauritius National Coast Guard, strengthening regional maritime security.
In September, during the visit of Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navinchandra Ramgoolam, President Droupadi Murmu had noted how Mauritius occupies a special place in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the 'MAHASAGAR Vision', reaffirming New Delhi's deep-rooted commitment to the Global South, as per an official release.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Mauritius truly is a special friend. The hydrographic survey and now this blood donation camp - our ties are so deep. It's good to see India actively supporting the Blue Economy of our maritime neighbours. More power to such collaborations!
While I appreciate the gesture, I hope such events are not just for good PR. The article mentions long-standing ties, but we must ensure our partnerships translate into tangible benefits for the common people in both countries, not just government-level meetings.
The joint training for Mauritian personnel on INS Sutlej is a fantastic example of true capacity building. Sharing expertise is how you build lasting relationships. Kudos to the Indian Coast Guard and Navy for their consistent role in regional security and development.
Jai Hind! This is what 'Neighbourhood First' and 'SAGAR' vision look like in action. From security conclaves to hydrographic surveys to blood donation – a comprehensive partnership. Mauritius has a large Indian diaspora, so these bonds are also cultural and familial.
Good work by ICGS Sankalp. These soft-power gestures are important. But let's also not forget the hard work our coast guard does in anti-piracy patrols mentioned here. They keep our waters and the wider Indian Ocean region safe. Salute to them! 🙏
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