Essay on “World Red Cross Day- 8 May” Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

World Red Cross Day- 8 May

Each year on May 8, the world commemorates World Red Cross Day Since 1948 by organizing activites around the theme, “together for humanity”. World Red Cross falls on the birthday of Noble laureate Sir Henry Dunant of Switzerland, the founder of the Red Cross, in 1984 it became ‘ World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day’.

Dunant’s foresight , humanitarianism, and voluntary spirit led   to the creation of the Geneva Conventions and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement , a network of organizations that save and improve lives around the world. With more than 97 million volunteers – the world’s largest volunteer force – the international Red Cross assists more than 233 million beneficiaries each  year.

World Red Cross Day is observed to recognize the services that Red Cross societies perform. This Day will highlight the work of tens of millions of the volunteers who respond to human suffering all over the world.

“The world has never seen such a powerful expression of the wish of people to help others in restoring their lives and their dignity,”   said President of the International Federation of Red Cross Society.

Red Cross Society provides relief as the world’s largest humanitarian network, with activities  and presence in more than 170 countries. The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement were born of the desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield and to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found.  

The Fundamental Principles of Red Cross Society

Humanity

The International Red Cross Movement are active in bringing assistance without discrimination, to the wounded on the battlefield and endeavor in their international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering, wherever it may be found. Their purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. They promote mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all people.

Impartiality

It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavors to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided, solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

Neutrality

In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

Voluntary service

It is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.

Unity

There can be only one Red Cross Red Crescent Society 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 each other, is worldwide.      

Emblem in use

The Red Cross is an emblem which is to be placed on humanitarian and medical vehicles and buildings to protect them from military attack on the battlefield. The Red Cross flag is not to be confused with the St George cross which is the flag of England, Barcelona, Freiburg and several other countries. The Red Cross was originally intended to be a reverse image of the flag of Switzerland. Historically neutral nation.

Use of the emblems

As specified by the Geneva Conventions, the red cross emblem is to be used only to denote the following:

• Facilities for the care of injured and sick armed force members.
• Armed force medical personnel and equipment.
• Military chaplains.
• Red Cross Groups such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross Societies, and the 182 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies.

In order to ensure universal respect for the emblem, the Geneva Convections obliged their signatories to forbid any other use of the name of emblem in wartime and peacetime. Nevertheless,  medical supplies, and the like. In 2006, the Canadian Red Cross issued a press release asking video game makers to stop using the red cross in their games. In order to avoid this conflict, a green cross is often used as a generic alternative

Membership

Individual / institutions enrolling themselves in different grade of memberships by subscribing the membership fee as follows.

Parton : Rs. 20000

Vice – Patron: 10000

Life member :  Rs. 500

Life associate : Rs. 250

Annual Member Rs. 50 per annum

Annual Associate : Rs 10 per annum

Institutional Member : Rs. 10000 per annum

All members are associated with the Red Cross world over.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

The ICRC is a private humanitarian institution founded in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland. Its 25-member committee has a unique authority under international humanitarian law to protect the life and dignity of the victims of international and internal armed conflicts. The Red Cross gained huge momentum as an internationally respected movement, and the national societies became increasingly popular as a venue for volunteer work.

When the first Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in 1901, the Norwegian Noble Committee opted to give  it jointly to Henry Dunant and Frederic Passy, a leading international pacifist. More significant than the honor of the prize itself, the official congratulation from  the International Committee of the Red Cross marked the overdue rehabilitation of Henry  Dunant and represented a tribute to his key  role in the formation of the Red Cross. Dunant died nine years later in the small Swiss health resort of Heiden.      

National Red Cross society exists in nearly every country in the world. Within their home country, they take on the duties and responsibilities of a national relief society as defined by International Humanitarian Law. Within the Movement, the  ICRC is responsible for legally recognizing a relief society as an official national Red Cross society.   

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

 On becoming a member in any grade of membership the individual helps in rendering Red Cross a noble cause to serve the most vulnerable and thereby reaching the needy through Red Cross.  

Aims and Objectives of India Red Cross

Aims and Objectives as laid down in the Indian Red Cross Society Act – Act XV of 1920 as amended, which are reproduced below :

• Aid to the sick and wounded members of the Armed Forces of the Union in accordance with the terms and spirit of the Geneva Conventions of 12^th August, 1949 and discharge of other obligations devolving upon the Society under the Conventions as the recognized auxiliary of the Armed Forces Medical Services.
• And to the demobilized sick and wounded members of the Armed Forces of the Union.
• Maternity and Child Welfare.
• Junior / Youth Red Cross.
• Nursing and ambulance work.
• Provision of relief for the mitigation of suffering caused by epidemics, earthquakes, famines, floods and other disasters, whether in India or outside and rehabilitation of Victims.
• Work parties to provide comforts and necessary garments etc., for hospitals and health institutions.
• To raise funds to provide for the expenses of management of the society and its branches and affiliated societies and bodies.
• The representation of the society on or at International or other Committees formed for furthering objects similar to those of the Society.
• The improvement of health, prevention of diseases and mitigation of suffering and such other cognate objects as may be approved by the Society form time to time other allied activities.

Junior / Youth Red Cross (YRC)

Junior Red Cross/ Youth Red Cross sections are functioning under Indian Red Cross Society aimed at inculcating a spirit of Service , National Integration, International Friendship, etc. amongst the Students and youths in the educational Institutions. Proper rules & regulations of junior / Youth Red Cross have been framed by the National Headquarters of IRCS which are applicable throughout the Country. students up to class 12^th in school or 17 years of the age are called “ Junior Red Cross students” and students in Colleges or of age between  18 to 30 years are called “Youth Red Cross members”.

Junior / Youth Red Cross groups are organized for the purpose of inculcating the ideal and practice of service amongst the students /Youths especially in relation to i) Taking care of their own health and that of others; ii) Understanding and  accepting of civic responsibility; iii) Maintaining a spirit of friendliness and helpfulness towards other children/ students / Youths of the State. Nation as well as all over the world.

Indian Red Cross Society 2007

Indian Red Cross observed World Red Cross Day on May 8^th by Organizing activities around the theme, “ Together for Humanity”. The states of Bihar , Maharashtra, Haryana, Orissa, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Miorma and Chattisgarh held marches, cycle rallies, felicitation functions to Red Cross volunteers  and blood donors. Many dignitaries such as Governors, Chief Ministers and other of the respective states participated in the functions.

Ms. Anitta Underlin, Head of Regional Delebation, International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies inaugurated the seminar at the IRCS, National Headquarters for the South Asia Region. In her address she said that “By working partnerships at all levels – global , regional and local – the Red Cross is striving to achieve its Global Agenda, which complements the United Nations Millennium Development Goals of reducing the impact of disasters, diseases and public health emergencies”.