Serving a humanitarian cause

Born in the battlefield of Solferino in Italy in 1859, the International Committee for Relief to the Wounded, initiated by Jean Henry Dunant for the help of thousands of unattended wounded soldiers in war, later on became the International Committee of Red Cross. Keeping with the changing world and its needs, the Red Cross activities have come to embrace every need of man in peace and war.

The general activities of Red Cross include relief operations on national and international level, health projects, social welfare, nursing, first aid, blood transfusion, hospital and allied services and information, dissemination of Red Cross principles and the International Humanitarian Law as depicted in well-known Geneva conventions.

The fundamental principles of Red Cross movement are Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Unity, University, and Voluntary service.In 1901, founder of the movement Henry Dunant was awarded the first Nobel Peace Award, for his passionate devotion to the humanitarian cause. The International Committee of Red Cross was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 1917 and 1944 for the splendid job during the world wars. In 1963, the award was given jointly to the league of Red Cross societies and the International Committee of Red Cross on account of completion of 100 years of dedicated movement.

The Indian Red Cross Society:
When the first world war broke out in 1914, India had no machinery for organising relief to those affected by the war, except a branch of the St John Ambulance Association. Following the example of Britain, where relief services were being rendered by a joint war committee of the British Red Cross, 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 the 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 Claud Hill, Member of the Viceroy8217;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 June 7, 1920. Fifty members were formally nominated to constitute the Indian Red Cross Society and the first managing body was elected from them with Sir Malcolm Haily as chairman.

Today the Indian Red Cross Society has 29 branches across India with a total membership of 84 lakhs. The President of India is the president of Indian Red Cross Society. Governors of different states head Red Cross societies in their states.

Activities of Indian Red Cross Society ICRS:
The Indian Red Cross Society helped soldiers and war prisoners during crisis with neighbouring countries. IRCS is always in the frontline to help people during natural calamities in situation such as cyclones, earthquakes, floods, famines. The general activities of Indian Red Cross are in the field of family welfare, antenatal and postnatal care, immunisation, eradication of TB, polio and other like diseases. About four lakh units of blood are collected every year through Red Cross blood banks. Artificial limbs and other accessories such as wheel chairs and hearing aids are provided to needy and poor people.

The Red Cross in Pune:
Established in 1921, the Pune Red Cross was initially managed by British army officers. The first civilian secretary was Khan Bahadur E S Bharucha, with Sir Maneckji Mehta as honorary treasurer. Upto 1957, the Red Cross office was located in the Nurses8217; quarters in Sassoon Hospital. It was then shifted to a cottage-like construction on M G Road. In 1973, Late Atur Sangtani assisted the organisation a great deal by constructing the present Atur Sangtani Red Cross House on M G Road.

The Red Cross Blood Bank started in 1955 under the leadership of Dr N J Bandorawalla, the then secretary of IRCS.

Today the Pune Red Cross is conducting its activities through Red Cross Blood Bank, Health Department, Red Cross School for Deaf, Junior Red Cross and Disaster Relief Department.

The Red Cross Blood Bank supplies best quality of blood in accordance with the regulations of WHO and food and drug administration to citizens in Pune city and Pune District. About 7,000 donors donate blood each year. Financial assistance is given for major surgeries and for prolonged costly treatments.

The Junior Red Cross wing which has membership of around 9,000 in 80 schools and colleges organises programmes such as first aid courses, blood donation programmes, street exhibitions on health topic, antidrug movement, tree plantation, etc. Eight students from Pune have attended international camps of Red Cross in Japan, Italy and Switzerland, and other foreign countries.The Red Cross school for deaf provides education to 85 deaf children.

Of course, all this is possible only because of voluntary contribution of eminent social workers, doctors and volunteers with enthusiasm for the noble humanitarian work.