ircs:// URI scheme, seeInternet Relay Chat § URI scheme. | |
| Abbreviation | IRCS |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1920 |
| Legal status | Active |
| Purpose | Medical & Humanitarian |
| Headquarters | New Delhi, India |
| Location |
|
Region served | India |
| Website | Indian Red Cross Society official website |
TheIndian Red Cross Society (IRCS) is a voluntaryhumanitarian organization to protect human life and health based inIndia.[1] It is part of theInternational Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and shares theFundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society's mission is to provide relief in times of disasters/emergencies and promote health and care of vulnerable people and communities. It has a network of over 700 branches throughout India.[1] The Society uses theRed Cross as an emblem in common with other international Red Cross societies. Volunteering has been at the very heart of the Indian Red Cross Society since its inception in 1920, with the Society havingYouth andJunior volunteering programmes.[2] The Society is closely associated withSt John Ambulance India.
During theFirst World War relief services for affected soldiers in India was provided by a branch of theJoint War Committee, a collaboration between theSt John Ambulance Association and theBritish Red Cross. On 3 March 1920, a bill was introduced to theIndian Legislative Council by SirClaude Hill (a member of theViceroy'sExecutive 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 theIndian Red Cross Society Act, 1920 on 17 March 1920, and becameParliament Act XV of 1920 with the assent of the Governor General on the 20 March 1920.[3]
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.[3] The first managing body was elected from among them with SirWilliam Malcolm Hailey as chairman.
PoW parcels supplied by the Indian Red Cross Society during WW2 contained:
In 1947 some of the IRCS assets were provided to found the Pakistan Red Cross Society, now thePakistan Red Crescent Society.
The act governing the IRCS was last amended byThe Indian Red Cross Society (Amendment) Bill, 1992.[1][3]
| No. | Secretary general[1] | Start of term | End of term |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Balwant Singh Puri | July 1941 | July 1958 |
| 2 | Major GeneralC. K. Lakshmanan | July 1958 | April 1969 |
| 3 | Major GeneralS. S. Maitra | July 1969 | October 1978 |
| 4 | Lieutenant GeneralR. S. Hoon | October 1978 | July 1981 |
| 5 | Ajit Bhowmick | July 1981 | January 1991 |
| (5) | Ajit Bhowmick (2nd term) | April 1991 | June 1991 |
| 6 | Dr.A. K. Mukherjee | November 1991 | March 1996 |
| 7 | Dr.Manoj Mathur | April 1996 | March 1999 |
| 8 | Dr.S. P. Agarwal | March 1999 | February 2000 |
| 9 | Dr.Vimala Ramalingam | March 2000 | March 2006 |
| (8) | Dr.S. P. Agarwal (2nd term) | March 2005 | 2015 November 2015 |
| 10 | R. K. Jain | November 2015 | present |
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| National | |
| Other | |
