+ Indian Red Cross Society, Jammu & Kashmir +

 

HISTORY & ORIGIN:

 

Young Swiss businessman, Jean Henry Dunant was appalled by the condition of the wounded soldiers he happened to see in the battle field of Solferino, Italy in 1859 during the Franco - Austrian war. He arranged relief services with the help of the local community immediately. He wrote the book 'Memory of Solferino' suggesting that a neutral organization be established to aid the wounded soldiers in times of war. 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. International Red Cross Movement was established by Geneva Convention 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 Red Cross was founded.

 

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. Later, 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 that Great War. A bill to constitute the Indian Red Cross Society, Independent of the British Red Cross, was introduced in the Indian Legislative Council on 3rd March 1920 by Sir Claude Hill, member of the Viceroy's Executive Council who was also 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.

 

Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) was created in 1920 under an Act of Parliament with its National Headquarters in New Delhi. Indian Red Cross Society is 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 strong. Indian Red Cross Society has partnership with National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, St. John Ambulance, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (IFRC), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Multinational firms, Individuals and others in supporting IRCS activities. It also coordinates with Indian Government and other agencies (UNDP, WHO etc).

 

Indian Red Cross Society – Jammu & Kashmir State Branch was formed in the year 1948. IRCS-J&K acts as an auxiliary to the State authorities in providing humanitarian assistance. It strives to provide assistance to those affected by manmade or natural disasters without any discrimination. Upholding the seven fundamental principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, the J&K State Branch works under the State level Managing Committee.

 

VISION & MISSION:

 

The mission of the Indian Red Cross is;

 

“to inspire, encourage and initiate at all times all forms of humanitarian activities so that human sufferings can be minimized and even prevented and thus contribute to create a climate for peace”.

 

This Mission is moved by the following seven visionary principles:

 

1. Humanity: The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavors, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate 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

 

2. Impartiality: It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, rich and poor, religious beliefs, sex, class or political opinions. IRCS offers its services equally, for those who are in need. It endeavors to relieve the suffering of individuals solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of

 

3. Neutrality: In order 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

 

4. Independence: The Movement is 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 they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.

 

5. Voluntary service: It is voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for

 

6. Unity: There can be only one Red Cross or Red Crescent in any country. It must be open to It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.

 

7. Universality: The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is

 

GOVERNANCE & ADMINISTRATION:

 

The Union Territory HQ of the IRCS is at Jammu & Srinagar. The present setup of the IRCS-J&K comprises of:

 

President                                  - Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Jammu & Kashmir

General Secretary                     - Sh. Rohit Khajuria Treasurer                                  - Sh. G. A. Qureshi

District Committee Representatives

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District Co-ordination:

 

IRCS-J&K coordinates its activities through the 20 District Branches each headed by Deputy Commissioner (President);

                                                                                                       Contact Nos.

District Red Cross Committee, Anantnag                                             01932-222337  

District Red Cross Committee, Bandipora                                            01957-226085 

District Red Cross Committee, Baramulla                                             01952-234210

District Red Cross Committee, Budgam                                               01951-255203

District Red Cross Committee, Doda                                                    01996-233230

District Red Cross Committee, Ganderbal                                             0194-2416142

District Red Cross Committee, Jammu                                                 0191-2544366

District Red Cross Committee, Kathua                                                  01922-234007

District Red Cross Committee, Kishtwar                                               01995-261455

District Red Cross Committee, Kulgam                                                 01931-260500

District Red Cross Committee, Kupwara                                               01955-253335

District Red Cross Committee, Poonch                                                 01965-220333

District Red Cross Committee, Pulwama                                               01933-241243

District Red Cross Committee, Rajouri                                                  01962-262244

District Red Cross Committee, Ramban                                                01998-266789

District Red Cross Committee, Reasi                                                    01991-245587

District Red Cross Committee, Samba                                                  01923-241143

District Red Cross Committee, Shopian                                                01933-260987

District Red Cross Committee, Srinagar                                               0194-2452182

District Red Cross Committee, Udhampur                                            01992-270212

                                                                                                                    

CITIZENS / COMMUNITY SERVICES:

 

IRCS, J&K promotes the Humanitarian values which encourage respect for other human beings and a willingness to work together to mitigate the sufferings of the people who are in need. We try to reach to the maximum number of people who need our services. Assistance is provided to the people who are the victims of natural and manmade disasters including fire, road traffic accidents, conflict victims, floods etc. and other type of assistance is also provided to the needy.

 

PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY IRCS-J&K

1. Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana

Red Cross has taken initiative to bring down the healthcare budget of every citizen through providing Quality generic Medicines at Affordable Prices. A Medical Shop of Jan Aushadhi is also run by the J&K Red Cross near Government Medical College, Bakshi Nagar, Jammu.

 

2. Red Cross Dispensary

There are two Red Cross Dispensaries are functioning in Jammu and in Kashmir Where patients are treated and free medicines are given.

 

3. Dispensaries at District Level:-

IRCS, J&K-UT has intended to open one dispensary in far flung areas of each district of Jammu and Kashmir. Red Cross Kishtwar has taken the initiative and opened a fully functional dispensary in Bhatkoot Village Shandri Panchayat marking a significant step towards enhancing healthcare services in the remotest village and to serve the community with a wide range of medical services.

Kishtwar dispensary has done its first institutional delivery in its dispensary in Bhatkoot Kuntwara on 19^th Feb, 2024.

 

4. Ophthalmology Centre:

IRCS, J&K, Jammu has ophthalmology centre in which free medicines/eye drops and spectacle are provided to the needy and poor patients.

IRCS-J&K also organizes free eye Check-up camps for the poor and downtrodden people of the society.

5. Pathological Laboratory

Indian Red Cross Society, J&K Jammu has Pathological Laboratory which is functioning on no profit and no loss basis i.e. minimum 50 percent less from the market rates.

 

 

6. Blood Bank:

One Blood Bank is being established in Srinagar and Hon’ble Lt. Governor has already taken up the issue with Hon’ble Health Minister (Hon’ble Chairman, IRCS) for establishing of another Blood Bank at Jammu.

 

7. Red Cross Attendant Sarai

A Red Cross Sarai located at Bakshi Nagar, Jammu having the capacity of 300 beds provides accommodation along with meals per day to patients and their attendants who are undergoing treatment at Government Medical College, Maheshpura and other Government Hospitals in Jammu.

 

8. Tuberculosis Project:-

IRCS, J&K is providing nutritional support to 232 Tuberculosis patients every month.

9. Red Cross prosthetic/ artificial limb Centre:-

The Red Cross Prosthetic Centre is functioning in the Orthopaedic Department at Govt. Medical College, Jammu for the last over 20 years for free fitment of artificial limbs (lower/upper arm/leg). It is a joint venture of ICRC, GMCH and IRCS, J&K.

 

Activities

The activities of the Indian Red Cross may be broadly grouped under the following categories:

1. First Aid Trainings

The Indian Red Cross Society, J&K under the aegis of the St. John Ambulance imparts the First Aid Training to the Corporate Houses, Belt Forces, Students, Unemployed youth, Commercial vehicle drivers and others to acquaint themselves to meet any eventuality during disaster/peace time.

2. Medical Camps/Immunization camps

IRCS, Jammu and Srinagar organizes Medical/Immunization camps for the downtrodden people of the society and necessary treatment is being provide during the camp.

 

3. Tracing Activities:

IRCS helps people trace or send massage to missing loved who have been separated ones through forced, unseen and inevitable circumstances when all other means of locating them have not yielded results. It also reunites families who have been separated under similar circumstances.

 

 

 

4. Family Welfare:

These are run by different states and district branches. All Red Cross MCW hospitals and centres, as well as family welfare clinics, carry out family welfare work. They motivate eligible couples to adopt small family norms and provide them with contraceptives and other family planning devices. Many of these centres are equipped to meet motivational and clinical arrangements

5. Dissemination
   
   In order to raise the awareness about the Red Cross and its activities among the public, Red Cross conducts various dissemination sessions with diverse audiences (students, doctors, journalists, pharmacists etc). Such interactions are useful to raise the awareness about the appropriate use of Red Cross emblem as well.
6. Volunteer Mobilization

Volunteers form the backbone of the Red Cross movement. Volunteers play a key role in assisting vulnerable people and in carrying out the Red Cross activities in accordance with the seven fundamental principles.

 

 

The staff and volunteers work together as a team and share the responsibilities. Therefore, motivation and mobilization of new as well as old volunteers from time to time remains a core activity of the Red Cross.

 

7. Covid-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, IRCS- J&K administered around 50000 approx. COVID-19 vaccination doses from 8^th February, 2021 to 31st October, 2021.

8. Junior / Youth Red Cross (JRC/YRC)

A state wise campaign has been launched in J&K-UT to register Youth and students for JRC/YRC.

9. Mobile Testing Unit:-

The service of Mobile Testing Lab has been started to cover the people living in far flung areas where no such type of facility is available.

 

10. Sanitary napkins distribution:-

The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), J&K has undertaken a significant initiative to promote menstrual hygiene and health among young girls by distributing Sanitary Napkins in various govt. schools.

 

11. Tea Services:-

The Indian Red Cross Society has started an initiative of free morning tea service in the hospitals of J&K for the patients and their attendants admitted there.

12. Shabeel Services:-

Indian Red Cross Society, J&K Initiates Shabeel Seva Program for Students and General Public Amidst intense Heat-wave. IRCS, J&K had flagged-off a comprehensive Shabeel Seva initiative aimed at providing relief to students and the general public during peak summers.

13. Institutional Membership

As per the provision of Indian Red Cross Society Committee Rules 2017, J&K UT has started a drive to register Institutional Membership.

14. Ambulance Services

IRCS-J&K is providing Ambulance Services to general public for shifting their patients inside and outside the state on no profit and no loss basis.

15. Blood Donation Camps

The Indian Red Cross Society, J&K also organizing Blood Donation Camps regularly in collaboration with different agencies/departments Besides this, an awareness programmes on Blood Donation is also a regular feature of the organization.

16. Financial/ Medical Assistance

Financial / Medicines Assistance were also provided to poor, needy and distress persons suffering from different ailments such as Cancer, Kidney Heart, Liver.

 

17. Drug de-addiction Programme

The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), J&K has conducted an impactful comprehensive Drug De-addiction programmes at various Schools and Colleges. Red Cross educates the individuals about the dangers of drug abuse, its impact on physical and mental health and avenues for seeking help.

   

MEMBERSHIP & DONATIONS:

Individuals/institutions can enroll themselves in different grade of memberships by subscribing the membership fee as follows:-

 

Patron	:	Rs. 25000
Vice-Patron	:	Rs. 12000
Life member	:	Rs. 1000
Life associate	:	Rs. 250
Annual Member	:	Rs. 100 per annum
Annual Associate	:	Rs. 50 per annum
Institutional Member	:	Rs. 5000 per annum

 

All members are associated with the Red Cross world over.

 

The Patron membership certificates issued by the national Headquarters of the Indian Red Cross Society are signed by Hon’ble President of India, in his capacity as President of the Indian Red Cross Society. Vice – Patron, Life Member and Life Associate membership certificates are signed by the Chairman and Secretary General of the society.

 

Indian Red Cross Society has its branches in every state, union territory and district. Membership is obtained by enrolling in the respective state/district branch of the Indian Red Cross society to which one belongs.

 

On becoming Patron, Vice-Patron and Life member of the Indian Red Cross Society, one gets the opportunity to be invited, on the recommendations of the enrolling State/District Branch, for attending the Annual General Meeting of the Society. The Annual General Meeting is presided by Hon’ble President of India. On becoming member in any grade of membership, the individual helps in rendering Red Cross to serve the most vulnerable and thereby reaching to the needy.

 

Donations:

 

For the purpose of voluntary donation, following bank Accounts are operated by the State Branch of the IRCS:

 

Account Name:    “Indian Red Cross Society, J&K Branch”

 

SB A/C No. 0005040100036281	J&K Bank, Residency Road, Srinagar.	IFSC- JAKA0CHINAR
SB A/C No. 0110040500000004	J&K Bank, Moving Secretariat	IFSC- JAKA0MOVING

Volunteers can deposit cash/cheque/Demand Draft at any branch of the above banks in India. They may send the donations via cheque/DD to any of the office of IRCS-J&K by post also.

 

 

 

INFORMATION & DISCLOSURES:

 

17 items(manuals) prescribed in clause (b) sub-section 1 of Section 4 which every public authority is required to publish within one hundred and twenty days from the enactment of this Act.  IRCS-J&K is a Public Authority in terms of Sec. 2(h) of J&K Right To Information Act-2005. Under Right to Information Act 2009, all declarations under Sec. 4 are disclosed and updated on our website http://www.ircsjk.org and for the purpose of dissemination of further information, Public Information Officers at HQ Jammu & Srinagar. The dissemination of the district level information shall be handled by the PIOs of the concerned district in the office of the Chairman DRCC.

Right to Information Act

 

Sh. G.A. Qureshi, Treasurer, prmjkircs@gmail.com is the designated First Appellate Authority of the Indian Red Cross Society J&K UT.

Sh Ashok Kumar Chandel, Head Assistant, 0191-2573739, ircsjkbranch@gmail.com is designated Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Indian Red Cross Society J&K UT, Jammu.

Sh Kaiser Ali Khan, Computer Assistant, 0191-3510091, prmjkircs@gmail.com is designated Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Indian Red Cross Society J&K UT, Srinagar.

 

Jammu                                                                                                                         Srinagar                                                                        Red Cross Bhawan                                                                                                        Red Cross House,                                                      Kachi Chawni, Jammu -180001                                                                                    Exchange Road,Srinagar-190001

                                0191-2520101, 4044901                                                        

                    0194-3510091                                                                                                           

 

                                                                                                                                                           

COMMITMENTS:

 

Red Cross is the worlds’ largest humanitarian organization with a committed force of volunteers. IRCS-J&K Branch is a part of this movement and is committed to the seven fundamental principles to accomplish the mission of peaceful living in this beautiful world.

 

For any further information you may visit any of our offices or may visit our website. All information is periodically updated on our website: