Indian Red Cross Society
AbbreviationIRCS
Formation1920
PurposeMedical & Humanitarian
HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
Location
  • New Delhi
Region served
India
WebsiteIndian Red Cross Society official website

The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) is a voluntary humanitarian organization to protect human life and health based in India.[1] It is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and shares the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society's mission is to provide relief in times of disasters/emergencies and promote health and care of vulnerable people and communities. It has a network of over 700 branches throughout India.[1] The Society uses the Red Cross as an emblem in common with other international Red Cross societies. Volunteering has been at the very heart of the Indian Red Cross Society since its inception in 1920, with the Society having Youth and Junior volunteering programmes.[2] The Society is closely associated with St John Ambulance India.

History

Sorting out books for dispatch to troops in Burma during World War II

During the First World War relief services for affected soldiers in India was provided by a branch of the Joint War Committee, a collaboration between the St John Ambulance Association and the British Red Cross. On 3 March 1920, a bill was introduced to the Indian Legislative Council by Sir Claude Hill (a member of the Viceroy's Executive Council who was also Chairman of the Joint War Committee in India) to constitute the Indian Red Cross Society, independent of the British Red Cross. The Bill was passed as the Indian Red Cross Society Act, 1920 on 17 March 1920, and became Parliament Act XV of 1920 with the assent of the Governor General on the 20 March 1920.[3]

On 7 June 1920 fifty members were formally nominated to constitute the Indian Red Cross Society from members of the Indian branch of the Joint War Committee.[3] The first managing body was elected from among them with Sir William Malcolm Hailey as chairman.

Red Cross parcels

PoW parcels supplied by the Indian Red Cross Society during WW2 contained:

  • 8 ounces fruit in syrup
  • 16 ounces lentils
  • 2 ounces toilet soap
  • 16 ounces flour
  • 8 biscuits
  • 8 ounces margarine
  • 12 ounces Nestlé's Milk
  • 14 ounces rice
  • 16 ounces pilchards
  • 2 ounces curry powder
  • 8 ounces sugar
  • 1 ounce dried eggs
  • 2 ounces tea
  • 1 ounce salt
  • 4 ounces chocolate [4]

Post War

In 1947 some of the IRCS assets were provided to found the Pakistan Red Cross Order, now the Pakistan Red Crescent Society.

The act governing the IRCS was last amended by The Indian Red Cross Society (Amendment) Bill, 1992.[1][3]

Organisation

  • The IRCS has 35 state / union territories branches with their more than 700 districts and sub district branches.[1]
  • President of India is the president of the IRCS[3]
  • The chairman of the society is nominated by the president for a term they fit, by convention the Minister of Health and Family Welfare is the chairman of the society.[5]
  • The National Managing Body consists of 18 members including the chairman.
  • The chairman and 6 members of the managing body are nominated by the president with a term set by the president. The remaining 12 are elected by the state and union territory branches for a term of 2 years through an electoral college.[3]
  • The vice chairman is elected by the members of the managing body.
  • The managing body is responsible for governance and supervision of the functions of the society through a number of committees.
  • The secretary general is the chief executive of the society.

List of secretaries general of the Indian Red Cross Society

No. Secretary general[1]Start of termEnd of term
1 Balwant Singh PuriJuly 1941July 1958
2 Major General C. K. LakshmananJuly 1958April 1969
3 Major General S. S. MaitraJuly 1969October 1978
4 Lieutenant General R. S. HoonOctober 1978July 1981
5 Ajit BhowmickJuly 1981January 1991
(5) Ajit Bhowmick (2nd term)April 1991June 1991
6 Dr. A. K. MukherjeeNovember 1991March 1996
7 Dr. Manoj MathurApril 1996March 1999
8 Dr. S. P. AgarwalMarch 1999February 2000
9 Dr. Vimala RamalingamMarch 2000March 2006
(8) Dr. S. P. Agarwal (2nd term)March 20052015 November 2015
10 R. K. JainNovember 2015present

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "About Society". Indian Red Cross Society official website. Indian Red Cross Society. Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Youth Red Cross & Junior Red Cross". Indian Red Cross Society official website. Indian Red Cross Society. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Indian Red Cross Society Act XV of 1920" (PDF). Indian Red Cross Society. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  4. ↑ Taylor, Keith (1996). A tribute to the "SS Vega". p. 68. ISBN 978-0-946806-18-8.
  5. ↑ "Dr. Harsh Vardhan launches Indian Red Cross Society's 'eBloodServices' Mobile App". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
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