Angels of hope and relief

Red Cross

O.P. Sharma
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 organisation has, in fact, a long history of service with smile. Whenever, the Red Cross team goes they are looked up as angels of hope and relief.
The task before this welfare organisation is challenging indeed. The Indian Red Cross Society mobilised itself and size itself up to the situation extending much needed relief to the victims and rehabilitation work.
Every year, Red Cross Day is observed on May 8, being the birth anniversary to 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 saves people without consideration of caste, creed, colour or faith.
This organisation with a mission of mitigation human sufferings, takes up humanitarian work observing strict neutrality for the benefit of all without any distinction. The only criterion is need and urgency. The magnitude of the welfare work is increasing and so is the strength of the Red Cross to do the stupendous task.
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 and branches across all parts of the country to inspire, encourage and initiate all forms of humanitarian activities to minimize, alleviate and even prevent human sufferings.
In our country it came into being after the Indian Red Cross Society Act which was passed in 1920 and the then Viceroy and Governor General became its first President. Prior to this the British Red Cross Society did the relief work in India.
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. Its performance during the peace time is also praise worthy indeed. The Red Cross swung into action and rushed relief material in the form of food, medicaments and other things.
The Red Cross has much to speak about the soothing balm of love and relief applied on the victims of terrorism.
Besides, other human sufferings engaged its active attention. We know children continue to die due to avoidable deaths in India. Of the 21 million born every year, one in seven die before attaining age of five and three million die each year from conditions preventable by oral dehydration and immunization. There is actually high incidence of diseases due to mal-mutrition, lack of safe drinking water and proper healthful habits.
A praiseworthy work is also being done in the sphere of maternity and child welfare. through its countrywide network.
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 womens 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 pivotal 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 man-made 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. During the armed conflicts of 1947, 1962, 1965 and 1971, a praiseworthy work was done in this border State. Presently, the Red Cross is rendering useful service to the people affected by calamities: natural or man-made. 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 net-work 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.

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