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 the country. The theme for 2015 is “Principles of Red Cross in Action” and a number of activities have been chalked out for across the globe.
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 to the suffering humanity. Whenever and wherever, the Red Cross team goes they are looked up as angels of hope and relief.
Tasks Ahead
The tasks before this welfare organization are 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 across the globe. After a traumatic personal experience of battle in Solferine, Mr Dunant, a Swiss businessman wrote a book: “A Memory of Solferino” and 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. Initially it was confined to medical care and welfare of wounded soldiers but later on undertook other welfare works as well. Red Cross on a white ground (derived from the Swiss flag) has been adopted as its symbol and it serves the people without any consideration of caste, creed, colour or faith.
Vision & Mission
This organization has seven Fundamental Principles of Humanity: Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary, Service, Unity and Universality for mitigation of human sufferings.
Roma Wani, Secretary General, J&K branch of the Red Cross says that the organisation is working on humanitarian tasks 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. 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 operationaliszed 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 turbulence. 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 a 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.
To create awareness among the people and raise resources, the Red Cross Society, J&K branch has been organizing Red Cross Melas at various places. These measures have evoked positive response from the public and yielded tangible results. Some of the District Red Cross units have been performing good job and achieving proud record with the inspiring and dynamic leadership of this humanitarian organization in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the havoc caused by unprecedented flash floods in Kashmir in the recent past, the Red Cross also played a pivotal role in mitigating the sufferings of the people. This humanitarian body is doing a commendable job in providing a relief to the victims of cross-border firings on the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in the recent past. It is worth mentioning that the Governor N N Vohra has been personally visiting the relief camps and constantly monitoring the relief and rehabilitation measures. The Red Cross has always been taking up the challenging task for the well being of the disturbed and disadvantaged sections of the society by providing much needed assistance.
The spirit of Red Cross is being further streamlined and strengthened in sensitive Jammu and Kashmir by actively involving the youth and students in this humanitarian work. It is notable that more and more people are voluntarily participating in the mission of Red Cross Society and serve the ailing humanity.
(Starline Syndicate Service)
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