INTRODUCTION

The Red Cross Society is a worldwide, well known, universally accepted, admired and internationally identified humanitarian service organization. It is the biggest, independent nonreligious, non-political, non-sectarian and voluntary relief organization treating people equally all over the world without any discrimination as to their nationality race and religion beliefs. It was established in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland. “Youth Red Cross” is one of the wings of Indian Red Cross Society. It is a movement that organized at the college level. This is for students between 18 and 25 years of age. A qualified Lecturer is recognized as the leader. He is called the Programme Officer under whose guidance, the students are trained and encouraged to manage the affairs of the group, electing their own Office-Bearers.

PRINCIPLE
  • Protection of Health & Life.
  • Service to the Sick & Suffering.
  • Promotion of National & International Friendship, to develop the mental and moral capacities of the youth.
FATHER OF RED CROSS
JEAN HENRY DUNANT
8th May 1828 – 30th Oct 1910

The Father of Red Cross movement and recipient of noble award for peace in 1901 was “Jean Henry Dunant”. Henry Dunant was a Swiss humanitarian, businessman and social activist. He was the visionary, promoter and co-founder of the Red Cross. In 1901 he received the first Nobel Peace Prize together with Frédéric Passy, making Dunant the first Swiss Nobel laureate. While going on a business mission, Dunant came on 24th June 1859 to Castiglione. It was on the same day, the battle of Solferino was fought nearby between French and Austrian armies. Dunant was horrified and moved by the sight and plight of the wounded soldiers. On witnessing the pathetic scene he forgot his business and started relief operations to all the wounded soldiers without any discrimination taking the help from people in villages nearby. In 1862 Dunant wrote a book “A memory of Solferino” which paved the way for the first Geneva Conference in 26th October 1863.The Geneva Society for Public Welfare, consider the Dunant’s proposals which was mentioned in the book and convene a multinational conference for implementing them.

ORIGIN

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 Association and 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 to 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 Legislatiove 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 Gneral 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 Halley as Chairman.

TWO PROPOSALS
  • Formation of trained medical relief team in every country in peace time to be employed in the relief work for wounded soldiers in the battle field.
  • Framing of rules to alleviate the suffering of war victims and to have international treaty among the nations once agreed upon and satisfied might assure humane care for wounded.

Based on the proposals a resolution for the formation of medical relief societies “ Society for the relief of wounded combatants” was passed and the Red Cross Emblem to protect the members of Relief team was adopted. The name was changed subsequently in the year 1867 as “Red Cross Society” by Netherland. In 1875 the five member commission of the Geneva Society for Public Welfare began to call itself the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC)
The involvement and contribution of young people to the work of the Red Cross has an interesting history. This genesis of their engagement originated in the province of Quebec, Canada in 1914, when school children first participated in the humanitarian work of the Red Cross work by making bandages, dressings and other comforts for soldiers. The idea soon spread to Europe, United States Australia, Italy, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Yugoslavia France, Japan, Romania and Sweden in short duration.

PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION

Informing youth members and others the role and the responsibilities of the Red Cross and encourage them to contribute.

  • An awareness on the care of their own health and that of others.
  • The understanding and acceptance of civic responsibilities and acting accordingly with humanitarian concern, to fulfill the same.
  • To enable the growth and development of a spirit of service and sense of duty with dedication and devotion in the minds of youth.
  • To foster better friendly relationship with all without any discrimination.