indian red cross

8/2/2019 Indian Red Cross

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2012

ASHAR AKHTAR

CHANAKYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

THE INDIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY


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INDEX

CHAPTERS--------------------------------------------Pg.nO

AN INTRODUCTION - - - - - - 3

MISSION - - - - - - - - 3

ORIGIN - - - - - - - - 4

SEVEN FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES - - - 6

ABOUT THE EMBLEM - - - - - - 7PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES - - - 8

YOUNG RED CROSS - - - - - - 9

JUNIOR RED CROSS - - - - - - 9

ORGANISATION - - - - - - - 10


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AN INTRODUCTION

Indian Red Cross Society is a voluntary humanitarian organization that providesemergency assistance, disaster relief, medical services, and education to raise

awareness regarding health related issues in India. It is the designated Indian

affiliate of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Indian Red Cross Society was founded in 1920. It has its headquarters in Delhi.

The Indian Red Cross is a voluntary humanitarian organization having a network

of over 700 branches throughout India, and provides relief during disasters and

emergencies as well as promotes the healthcare of vulnerable people and

communities.

MISSION

The Mission of the Indian Red Cross is to inspire, encourage and initiate at all

times all forms of humanitarian activities so that human suffering can be

minimized and even prevented and thus contribute to creating more congenial

climate for peace.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanitarianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Red_Cross_and_Red_Crescent_Movementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanitarianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanitarianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Red_Cross_and_Red_Crescent_Movementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanitarian


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ORIGIN

During the first World War in 1917, India had no organization for relief services to

the affected soldiers, except a branch of the St. John Ambulance Association and

by a Joint Committee of the British Red Cross. Later, a branch of the same

Committee was started to undertake the much needed relief services in

collaboration with the St. John Ambulance Association in aid of the soldiers as

well as civilian sufferers of the horrors of that great war. A bill to constitute the

Indian Red Cross Society, Independent of the British Red Cross, was introduced in

the Indian Legislative Council on March 3, 1920 by Sir Claude Hill, member of

the Viceroy's Executive Council who was also Chairman of the Joint War

Committee in India. The Bill was passed on March 17, 1920 and became Act XV

of 1920 with the assent of the Governor General on the March 20, 1920. The

Indian Red Cross's programs are grouped into four main core areas: Promotinghumanitarian principles and values; Disaster response; Disaster preparedness; and

Health and Care in the Community.

Red Cross promotes the Humanitarian values, which encourage respect for other

human beings and a willingness to work together to find solutions to problems.

From the seven fundamental principles, the movement aims to influence the

behavior of all the people.

Disaster response continues to represent the largest portion of IRCS work, with

assistance to millions of people annually ranging from refugees to victims of

natural disasters.

The sharp increase in the number of natural disasters countrywide in recent years

has prompted the Red Cross to devote more attention to Disaster preparedness

activities. These aim to make Red Cross Societies and communities more aware of

the risks they face, how to reduce their vulnerability, and how to cope when

disaster strikes.

Too many people die as a result of access to even the most basic health services

and elementary health education. Health and community care has become a

cornerstone of humanitarian assistance, and accounts for a small part of Red Cross

spending. Through these programmes, the Red Cross aims to enable communities

to reduce their vulnerability to disease, and prepare for and respond to public

health crises.

Guilding and supporting the development of its Societies is one of the Red Cross's

fundamental tasks and runs through these four core areas and others. Capacity

building programmes and activities include: management and volunteer training,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John_Ambulancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Red_Crosshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor-General_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor-General_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Red_Crosshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John_Ambulancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I


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improving branch structures, planning, fund-raising and gender equality. creating

the opportunity for Red Cross Societies to network .

Other Major activities includes : hospital services, blood bank, HIV/AIDS

programmes, home for disabled servicemen ,vocational training centers, tracing

activities, maternity , child and family welfare, nursing, junior red cross activities,preparedness and prevention of communicable & infectious diseases, relief

operations in fire, railway & other accidents and events .

On June 7, 1920, fifty members were formally nominated to constitute the Indian

Red Cross Society and the first Managing Body was elected from among them

with Sir William Malcolm Hailey as Chairman.

Indian Red Cross Society has a partnership with National Red Cross and Red

Crescent Societies, St.John Ambulance, International Federation of Red Cross and

Red Crescent Movement (FRI3), International Committee of the Red Cross

(ICRC), Multinational firms. Individuals and others in supporting IRCS activities.It also coordinates with Indian Government and other agencies (UNDP, WHO etc.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Malcolm_Haileyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Malcolm_Hailey


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THE SEVEN FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

1. Humanity : The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of

a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the

battlefield, endeavors, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and

alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life

and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual

understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.

2. Impartiality : It makes no discrimination as to nationally, race, religious

beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavors to relieve the suffering of

individuals, being solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent

cases of distress.

3. Neutrality : In orders to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may nottake sides in hostilities or engage in controversies of a political, racial, religious or

ideological nature.

4. Independence : The Movement is independent. The National Societies, while

auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the

laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that

they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the

Movement.

5. Voluntary service : It is voluntary relief movement not prompted in any

manner by desire for gain.

6. Unity: There can be only one Red Cross Or Red Crescent in any one country. It

must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.

7. Universality : The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in

which all societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in

helping each other, is worldwide.


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List of executive officer of the IRC or Secretary General:-

Shri Balwant Singh Puri July 1941-July 1958 Major General C.K. Lakshmanan July 1958-April 1969 Major General S.S. Maitra July 1969-Oct 1978 Lieutenant General R.S. Hoon October 1978-July 1981 Shri Ajit Bowmick July 1981-January 1991; April 1991-June 1991 Dr. A.K. Mukherjee November 1991-March 1996 Dr. Manoj Mathur April 1996-March 1999 Dr. S. P. Agarwal March 1999-Feb 2000 Dr. (Mrs) Vimala Ramalingam March 2000-March 2005 Dr. s.P.Agarwal March 2005till date

ABOUT THE EMBLEM

A red Cross on a white background is the Emblem of Red Cross, recognized in

1864 as the distinctive sign for medical relief teams on the battle field.

In the Russo-Turkish war, the Ottoman Empire used a Red Crescent in place of the

Red Cross. Egypt, too, opted for the Red Crescent, while Persia chose a Red Lion

on a white background. These symbols were written and accepted into the

1929 Geneva Conventions. The IRCS adopted RED CROSS as its emblem.

More recently, in 1977, India also requested a symbol different to the cross or

crescent, as did several other countries.

These requests seem fair, but were rejected on the grounds that having too many

emblems would defeat the original goal of having just one, easily recognisable

symbol that could be used to identify collateral that should be protected.

Territorialism goes against everything the movement stands for. The issue

remained however that the main symbols, the cross and crescent, are used as

religious symbols.

Therefore in December 2005 a Diplomatic Conference in Geneva adopted a Third

Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, creating an additional emblem

alongside the red cross and red crescent. Having no religious, political, racial,

ideological or any other connotation, the new emblem adopted was the Red

Crystal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Turkish_War_(1877%E2%80%931878)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Conventionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_Conventionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empirehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Turkish_War_(1877%E2%80%931878)


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PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

Red Cross was formed to help the wounded in the wars. Therefore rendering First

Aid to any wounded personswars, accidents, disasters etc is one of the prime dutiesand aims of Red Cross Society.

The Indian Red Cross's programmes are grouped into four main core areas:

Promoting humanitarian principles and values; Disaster response; Disaster

preparedness; and Health and Care in the Community.

Red Cross promotes the Humanitarian values , which encourage respect for other

human beings and a willingness to work together to find solutions to problems.

From the seven fundamental principles, the movement aims to influence the

behaviour of all the people.

Disaster response continues to represent the largest portion of IRCS work, with

assistance to millions of people annually ranging from refugees to victims of

natural disasters.

The sharp increase in the number of natural disasters countrywide in recent years

has prompted the Red Cross to devote more attention to Disaster preparedness

activities. These aim to make Red Cross Societies and communities more aware of

the risks they face, how to reduce their vulnerability, and how to cope when

disaster strikes.

Too many people die as a result of access to even the most basic health servicesand elementary health education. Health and community care has become a

cornerstone of humanitarian assistance, and accounts for a large part of Red Cross

spending. Through these programmes, the Red Cross aims to enable communities

to reduce their vulnerability to disease, and prepare for and respond to public

health crises.

Guiding and supporting the development of its Societies is one of the Red

fundamental tasks and runs through these four core areas and others. Capacity

building programmes and activities include : management and volunteer training,

improving branch structures, planning, fund-raising and gender equality. creatingthe opportunity for Red Cross Societies to network .

Other Major activities includes : first aid training(basic and advanced levels,CPR),

hospital services, blood bank, HIV/AIDS programmes, home for disabled

servicemen ,vocational training centers, tracing activities, maternity , child and

family welfare, nursing, junior red cross activities, preparedness and prevention of


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communicable & infectious diseases, relief operations in fire, railway & other

accidents and events .

YOUNG RED CROSS

Youth represent a substantial part of the membership of Red Cross for its

humanitarian commitment. Young volunteers can make a significant contribution

to meeting the needs of the most vulnerable people within their local communities

through Red Cross youth programme. This has been designed to involve young

people as much as possible in the movement and its activities not only as workers

and also as beneficiaries, but as partners in management. The programme focuses

on the following areas:

Promote life and health through training and education on safety, primaryhealth care and healthy living,

Encourage community service through training and education. Disseminate the seven fundamental principles of Red Cross and Red Crescent

movement through activities that encourage the Red Cross ideals.

Promote international friendship with activities that cultivate a humanitarianspirit.

Technical support in the development of youth programmes, fund-raising,identification of material and human resources.

The youth unit aims to have young people recognized by Societies leadership asequal partners who address the needs of the most vulnerable.

JUNIOR RED CROSS

Children and adolescent also represent a substantial part of the membership of Red

Cross for its humanitarian commitment. Young volunteers can make a significant

contribution to meeting the needs of the most vulnerable people within their local

communities through Red Cross programme. This has been designed to involve

young people as much as possible in the movement and its activities not only as


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workers but also as beneficiaries, and as partners in management. The programme

focuses on the following areas:

Promote life and health through training and education on safety, primaryhealth care and healthy living,

Encourage community service through training and education.

Disseminate the seven fundamental principles of Red Cross and Red Crescentmovement through activities that encourage the Red Cross ideals.

Promote international friendship with activities that cultivate a humanitarianspirit.

Technical support in the development of youth programmes, fund-raising,identification of material and human resources.

ORGANISATION

Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) was established in 1920 under the Indian RedCross Society Act and incorporated under Parliament Act XV of 1920.The act

was last amended in 1992 and of rules were formed in 1994.

The IRCS has 35 State / Union Territories Branches with their more than 700districts and sub district branches.

His Excellency The President of India is the President and Hon'ble UnionHealth Minister is the Chairman of the Society

The Vice Chairman is elected by the members of the Managing Body. The National Managing Body consists of 19 members. The Chairman and 6 members are nominated by the President. The remaining

12 are elected by the state and union territory branches through an electoral

college.

The Managing Body is responsible for governance and supervision of thefunctions of the society through a number of committees.

The Secretary General is the Chief Executive of the Society.A list of Chairmen of the IRC prior to 1947:


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Sir William Malcolm Hailey G.C.S.I., K.C.S.I., C.S.I., G.C.M.G. C.I.E.,D.LITT., D. LAWS, D.C.L.I.C.S. (18721969) - as first Chairman from 1920

to 1930

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