Indian Red Cross Society
Puducherry
Who We Are ?
About us
Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) is a statutory body constituted under the Act XVof Parliament in the year 1920, functioning under the guidance of International Red Cross Society. The State/ Union Territory branches are functioning in all States and Union Territories are under the Presidentship of either Hon’ble Governor / Lt. Governor of the respective State /U.Ts. The Honorary Secretary of the State/U.T. branches has been nominated by Hon’ble Governor/ Lt. Governor of the State/U.Ts. or elected by the Governing committee of the respective State/U.T Branches. Usuallythe Director of Health & Family Welfare Services of the State/ Union Territory have been nominated as Honorary Secretary of the Branch, since the activities of the Red Cross Society are very much relates to the extension of emergency Medical Service, relief to the victims of the natural disasters, Health services and social assistance to the individuals and communities, blood bank services, and first aid Training etc.
Our Origin
A young Swiss businessman, Jean Henry Dunant was appalled by the condition of the wounded soldiers he happened to see in the battlefield of Solferino, Italy in the year1859 during the Franco – Austrian war. He arranged relief services with the help of the local community immediately to the war wounded soldiers. In this regards he wrote a book on Memory of Solferino war sufferings & suggested that a Neutral organization shall established to help and aid the wounded soldiers during the war timings. Just a year after the release of this book, an International conference was convened in Geneva to consider the suggestions of Henry Dunant and thus the Red Cross Movement was born. TheInternational Red Cross Movement was established by the Geneva Convention Act of 1864. The name and the emblem of the movement are derived from the reversal of the Swiss national flag, to honor the country in which The Red Cross movement was originated. During the First World War in 1914, India had no organization for relief services to the affected soldiers, except a branch of the St. John Ambulance Association and by a Joint Committee of the British Red Cross society. Later, a branch of the same Committee was started to undertake the much-needed relief services in collaboration with the St. John Ambulance Association to give aid to the soldiers as well as civilian who suffers of the horrors of that Great War. A bill was introduced to constitute the Indian Red Cross Society, Independent from the British Red Cross Society, in the Indian Legislative Council on 3rd March 1920 by Sir Claude Hill, a member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council and who was also the Chairman of the Joint war Committee in India. The Bill was passed on 17th March 1920 and became Act XV of 1920 with the assent of the Governor-General on the 20th March 1920. On 7th June 1920, fifty members were formally nominated to constitute the Indian Red Cross Society and the first Managing Body was elected from among them with Sir Malcolm Hailey as Chairman. The Indian Red Cross Society is become a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Relations between the IRCS and the India Delegation of the Federation are become strong. The Indian Red Cross Society, Tamil Nadu Branch has partnership with the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies through the National Headquarters and individuals and philanthropists in supporting its activities. In fact, the Indian Red Cross Society is become an auxiliary Unit to the Government.
Principles of the Red Cross Society
Humanity: The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born with a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded people on the battlefield, endeavors in its International and National capacity, to prevent and alleviate the human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all the peoples.
Impartiality: It makes no discrimination as to nationally, to race, to religious beliefs, to class or political opinions. It endeavors to relieve the suffering of individuals, being solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.
Neutrality: In orders to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.
Independence: The Movement is independent as The National Societies; while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries.Must always maintain their autonomy, so that at all timesthey may be able to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.
Voluntary Service: It is voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for any gain.
Unity: There can be only one Red Cross or Red Crescent in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.
Universality: The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping with each other, in worldwide.
Our Emblem
Red Cross on a white back ground is the Emblem of Red Cross, recognized in 1864 as the distinctive sign for medical relief teams on the battle field. In the Russo-Turkish war the Ottoman Empire used a Red Crescent in place of the Red Cross. Egypt too opted for the Red Crescent while Persia chose a Red Lion on a white background.
These symbols were written and accepted into the 1929 Geneva Conventions. The IRCS adopted RED CROSS as its emblem. The National Society makes use of the emblem as an indicative device in peacetime and during armed conflicts within the limits stipulated in National legislation, the regulations and its statutes only for activities consistent with the principles set out by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
About Society
The Indian red Cross Society is a Worldwide, well known, universally accepted and admired and internationally identified humanitarian Voluntary Service Organization. It organizes relief and assistance without discrimination to the victims of armed conflicts, endeavors to mitigate and alleviate the human sufferings, wherever and whenever the naturals/man-made disasters cripple the society, work to ensure respect and dignity for human being and serves to promote mutual understanding, friendship and co-operation among all the peoples of world wide.
Indian Red Cross Society is constituted under the enactment of Parliament Act XV of 1920 and is governed by the New Uniform Rules circulated by the National Headquarters of Indian Red Cross Society at New Delhi. His Excellency the President of India is the President of the Indian Red Cross Society at National Level. The Hon’ble Union Minister for Health is the Chairman of the Managing Body of the Indian Red Cross Society at the National level. At the State/U.T., level, His Excellency the Governor of Puducherry is the President of Indian Red Cross Society, Puducherry and at Districtlevels the District Collector is the Ex officio President for District Red Cross Branches.The Indian Red Cross Society, Puducherry has 1 District Red Cross Branchi.eKaraikal District Branch. At present Karaikal District Collector and Deputy Director (IMM), Karaikal is the President and Secretary of the Karaikal District Branch. The Indian Red Cross Society serves as an auxiliary to the State authorities engaged in Social Welfare activities.
Who We Are
Indian Red Cross Society, Puducherry Branch was started on 29th January, 1977 under the Presidentship of His Excellency the Lt. Governor of Puducherry.Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) was established in 1920 under the Indian Red Cross Society Parliament Act XV of 1920. The Act was last amended in 1992 and rules were framed in 1994. His Excellency the Governor of Puducherryis the President of the IRCS –Puducherry. The affairs of IRCS, Puducherry are managed by the Chairman nominated by the Management Committee, the Secretary (IRCS) -cum- Director (Health), Vice Chairman, Treasurer and by the Management Committee members duly appointed by the President IRCS.
Management Committee
The first management committee was formed during the year 2006 and the first Chairmanof IRCS, Puducherry wasThiru Sivaramachandran.O (2006). After that, Dr.H.Ranganth, Cluny Hospital, Puducherry was elected as Chairman IRCS, (2008-2011),Management Committee by Hon’ble Lt. Governor –cum- President (IRCS). In his period various service Programmes and training in various areas were conducted. Then Prof.DR. V.Gopal, Principal, College of Pharmacy, Mother Theresa Post Graduate and Research Institute of Health Sciences, Puducherry,has been elected as ChairmanIRCS, Puducherry, for the year (2011-2021). During the period various programme and relief materials were distributed to the needy people affected by disasters. Nowat present, Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Puducherry is the President of Indian Red Cross Society, Puducherry Branch,Dr. G.Sriramulu, the Director of Health &Family Welfare Services is theHonorary Secretary (IRCS),Dr.G.Lakshmipathy, is the Chairman of the Managing Committee for the year 2022. Also Dr.S.Bascaran is the Treasurer of the Indian Red Cross Society, Puducherry Branch. For the year 2021-2022the relief materials received from IRCS, NHQ, New Delhi like tarpaulins, Family tents, kitchen sets and hygiene kits were distributed to the needy people affected by the Nivaar cyclone at Puducherry.
Activities: Our major activities includes, organizing of Blood Donation Camps, First Aid Training programme to the youths, Starting Junior Red Cross/Youth Red Cross Clubs at Schools, Colleges and regulating its activities, organizing First aid booths during festivals, Awareness programme like Dengue Awareness, blood donation awareness, Cancer Awareness, swine flu awareness and diabetes awareness etc., As a part of the First Aid Training programme Indian Red Cross Society, Puducherry Branch imparted First Aid Training to all the categories such as Police personals, Traffic police, Industrial workers, Self-employment groups, Students of colleges & Schools etc.