Red Cross: Selfless Service

O P Sharma
The Red Cross Day is being observed on May 8  every year with enthusiasm in the Jammu and Kashmir  State as elsewhere in India and all across the globe. The theme for 2014 is “My Story of Red Cross” and  various programmes have been chalked out for this  occasion throughout the world and in this State as  well.
The Indian Red Cross Society has lived up to  its reputation of rendering selfless service to the  people in distress due to natural or man made  calamities anywhere across the globe. It has also  helped those suffering social discrimination,  financial deprivation and physical or mental  disabilities. This organization has, in fact, a long  history of service with smile. Whenever and wherever,  the Red Cross team goes they are looked up as angels  of hope and relief.
Tasks Ahead
The task before this welfare organization is  challenging indeed. The Indian Red Cross Society  mobilized and sized itself up to the situation  extending much needed relief to the victims and  rehabilitation work.
Red Cross Day is observed on May 8,  being the birth anniversary of Jean Henri Dunant,  founder of this great humanitarian movement in the  world. After a traumatic personal experience of battle  in Solferine, Mr Dunant, a Swiss businessman wrote a  book: “A Memory of Solferino” and he pleaded for  formation in all countries voluntary relief societies  to work in the battle-fields. And in 1864 the first  Red Cross Society came into being. Firstly, it was  confined to medical care and welfare of wounded  soldiers but by later conventions it undertook other  welfare works as well. Red Cross on a white ground  (derived from the Swiss flag) has been adopted as the  symbol of this body. It serves the people without any  consideration of caste, creed, colour or faith.
Vision & Mission
This organization with a seven Fundamental  Principles of Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality,  Independence, Voluntary, Service, Unity and  Universality for mitigation of human sufferings.  In an exclusive interview on the occasion, Roma Wani,  Secretary General, J&K branch of the Red Cross is  working on humanitarian talks in this strategic and  sensitive part of the country. The only criterion is  need and urgency. The magnitude of the welfare work is  increasing and so is the strength of the Red Cross  growing to undertake the stupendous task. She spoke  about the functioning the Red Cross Society, listed  its achievements during the past few years and  outlined some of the schemes like mobilizing  resources, enrollment of volunteers and their trainings as also vigorous implementations of  important schemes for the disadvantaged and weaker  sections. She highlighted, among others, the Jan  Aushadhi scheme being operationalized in all the  district hospitals for supply of quality generic  medicines at cheaper rates.
Dedication
Indian Red Cross Society is a national  federation of over 600 branches in the country. It has  spread its network in all the important and vulnerable  corners in India with its headquarters in New Delhi to  inspire, encourage and initiate all forms of  humanitarian activities to minimize, alleviate and  even prevent human sufferings.
In our country, the Indian Red Cross Society  Act was passed in 1920. The President of India is  chief patron at the national level while the State in  Jammu and Kashmir branch is headed by the Governor,  N.N. Vohra carrying out important schemes.
Healing Touch
As the premier and largest voluntary agency in  the country, the Red Cross has entered a number of  welfare fields in a big way. A commendable job was  done during 1947 in relief, repatriation and  rehabilitation work for mass exodus of refugees. Then  again, it repeated its good work in 1962, 1965 and  1971 conflicts and also during the period of  turbulance. Its performance during the peace time is pivotal and also praise worthy. The Red Cross swung  into action and rushed relief material to mitigate  sufferings of victims.
The J&K State Red Cross has its own  website for facility of the public to give further  impetus to the volunteerism associated with the Red
Cross movement
The Red Cross has much to speak about the soothing  balm of love and relief applied on the victims of  terrorism and natural calamities. Of the 21 million born every year, one in  seven die before attaining age of five and many are  suffering from conditions preventable ailments by  dehydration and immunization and healthful habits.
The State and Union territory branches of the  Red Cross Society execute number of welfare schemes  for the mentally, physically and socially handicapped  and other distressed persons. Vocational training,  home for the aged or infirm, working women’s hostels,  crèches and balwadies for children are in the sphere  of its activities. Mobile dispensaries and blood banks  are also arranged.
The Red Cross has a significant role of  welfare both in war and peace time. The humanitarian  work is gigantic indeed and need to be strengthened by  men, money and material for the sufferings due to  natural or manmade causes. The spirit of Red Cross  must be preserved and further promoted.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the Red Cross Society  has done monumental work of selfless service. It must  take step further and make sustained efforts for  reaching out welfare activities in all the districts  in Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu has a decent Red Cross  building in the heart of the city. It manages a Red  Cross Sarai near the Government Medical College for  the stay of attendants of the in-door-patients. Plans  are afoot to further strengthen Red Cross network to  rush necessary relief material and workers even in  remotest corner and the last victim of any calamity.
All of us must join hands with Red Cross Society for doing our part of welfare service.
(Starline Syndicate Service)