Indian Red Cross Society

History

During the First World War relief services for affected soldiers in India was provided by a branch of the Joint War Committee, a collaboration between the St John Ambulance Association and the British Red Cross. On 3 March 1920, a bill was introduced to the Indian Legislative Council by Sir Claude Hill (a member of the Viceroy's Executive Council who was also Chairman of the Joint War Committee in India) to constitute the Indian Red Cross Society, independent of the British Red Cross. The Bill was passed as the Indian Red Cross Society Act, 1920 on 17 March 1920, and became Parliament Act XV of 1920 with the assent of the Governor General on the 20 March 1920.{{cite web

On 7 June 1920 fifty members were formally nominated to constitute the Indian Red Cross Society from members of the Indian branch of the Joint War Committee. The first managing body was elected from among them with Sir William Malcolm Hailey as chairman.

Red Cross parcels

PoW parcels supplied by the Indian Red Cross Society during WW2 contained:

• 8 ounces fruit in syrup
• 16 ounces lentils
• 2 ounces toilet soap
• 16 ounces flour
• 8 biscuits
• 8 ounces margarine
• 12 ounces Nestlé's Milk
• 14 ounces rice
• 16 ounces pilchards
• 2 ounces curry powder
• 8 ounces sugar
• 1 ounce dried eggs
• 2 ounces tea
• 1 ounce salt
• 4 ounces chocolate

Post War

In 1947 some of the IRCS assets were provided to found the Pakistan Red Cross Society, now the Pakistan Red Crescent Society.

The act governing the IRCS was last amended by The Indian Red Cross Society (Amendment) Bill, 1992.

Organisation

• The IRCS has 36 state / union territories branches with their more than 700 districts and sub district branches.
• President of India is the president of the IRCS
• The chairman of the society is nominated by the president for a term they fit, by convention the Minister of Health and Family Welfare is the chairman of the society.
• The National Managing Body consists of 18 members including the chairman.
• The chairman and 6 members of the managing body are nominated by the president with a term set by the president. The remaining 12 are elected by the state and union territory branches for a term of 2 years through an electoral college.
• The vice chairman is elected by the members of the managing body.
• The managing body is responsible for governance and supervision of the functions of the society through a number of committees.
• The secretary general is the chief executive of the society.

List of secretaries general of the Indian Red Cross Society

References

References

1. "About Society". Indian Red Cross Society.
2. "Youth Red Cross & Junior Red Cross". Indian Red Cross Society.
3. Taylor, Keith. (1996). "A tribute to the "SS Vega"".
4. "Dr. Harsh Vardhan launches Indian Red Cross Society’s ‘eBloodServices’ Mobile App".