Red Cross Society, Mansa

Red Cross Society, Mansa

The Red Cross Society, Mansa is a branch of the Indian Red Cross, a voluntary humanitarian organization having a network of over 700 branches throughout the country, providing relief in times of disasters/emergencies and promotes health & care of the vulnerable people and communities. It is a leading member of the largest independent humanitarian organization in the world, the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement. Since Mansa is one of the most backward districts of the otherwise prosperous state Punjab, with large number of social problems like poverty, illiteracy and drugs abuse, lack of industries, proper educational institutions, Red Cross has a much greater role to play. The District Red Cross Branch and its subsidiary and sister organizations have played a remarkable role in the society by helping poor and deserving people, creating awareness in general public about diseases and social evils, providing blankets, sewing machines, tricycles, medicines, extending computer education to under privileged children etc.

The Mission of the Indian Red Cross is to inspire, encourage and initiate at all times all forms of humanitarian activities so that human suffering can be minimized and even prevented and thus contribute to creating more congenial climate for peace. And the Red Cross Society, Mansa is tirelessly working towards upholding these principles.

Fundamental Principles of Red Cross:

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 peoples.

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

3.	Neutrality: In orders 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 nature.

Independence: The Movement is independent. 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 gain.

6.	Unity: There can be only one Red Cross Or Red Crescent in any one country. It must be open to all. 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 worldwide.

Programs and Activities:

The Red Cross's programmes are grouped into four main core areas: Promoting humanitarian principles and values; Disaster response; Disaster preparedness; and Health and Care in the Community. Guiding and supporting the development of the society is one of the Red Cross's fundamental tasks and runs through these four core areas and others.

Capacity building programmes and activities include: management and volunteer training, improving branch structures, planning, fund-raising and gender equality.

Other major activities includes: hospital services, blood bank, HIV/AIDS programmes, drug de-addiction centre, vocational training centers, tracing activities, preparedness and prevention of communicable & infectious diseases, relief operations in fire, railway & other accidents and events.

The Red Cross Society, Mansa is a nodal organization for various charitable institutions within the district like the Child Welfare Council, Pensioner’s Association, youth clubs etc. Under the aegis of the RCS, Mansa the following activities are undertaken in particular:

Vocational Training Centres: These include basic computer learning centres and sewing centres.

Computer Centres: Close to 200 local students have been benefited through erstwhile 12 functional computer centres which impart basic computer skills at marginal rates to students from the economically weaker sections of the society. Given the backwardness of the district, these Red Cross aided centres have been able to bring the under-privileged into its fold. At present there are 3 computer learning centres run by the Red Cross Society in the district, one of which has been awarded ISO certification for better industrial standing. The rest were forced to close due to lack of institutional funding. But the Society is striving to make these centres live again.
Sewing Centres: Females from the under-privileged section have been provided with sewing machines free of cost from the Red Cross Society apart from a Rs. 100/- stipend per month for a 3 months training camp held under the guidance of the Society. More often there is a greater demand for such camps and machines than can be provided through the meagre funds of the Society.

Evening Schools: Till March 2010, the Red Cross Society was running 6 evening schools for children (6-14 years) who had been left out from the institutionalized educational system of the country. These children were mostly those whose parents were either migrant labours or poor enough to be unable to support their studies. The evening schools were a medium by which one teacher along with a helper would provide free textbooks and an environment conducive for both the child and the parent for acquiring basic literary skills. Free books, note books and other stationary and playing material was provided in addition to attendance incentive to children. Four lac per annum was the expenditure for the schools. Unfortunately, the grant received from the Central Govt. has now been stopped and the schools had to be closed since April this year for lack of funds.

Crèche Centres: Four Crèche centers at (i) Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar Mansa, (ii) Drug De-addiction centre complex Mansa, (iii) Court Road Mansa and (iv) Bal Bhawan, Mansa are being run for providing up keep services to the children in the age group of zero to six years. Playing equipments are provided in each crèche’ along with educational games for the welfare of children of the working ladies. Nutrition is also provided to the children admitted to the crèche. The monthly recurring expenditure on these crèche centres is Rs. Six thousand per centre.

St. John’s Ambulance: This is an initiative in consonance with the originating principles of the Society. The district wing organises first-aid training camps on a regular basis.

Drug De-addiction Centre: The District Drug De-addiction Centre, a 15 bedded centre at District Head quarter, a centrally sponsored scheme is run under the supervision and guidance of the Red Cross as the mandate for two organizations are similar. All organizational and logistic support to the de-addiction centre is provided by the RCS. Adequate staff, well qualified doctor, yoga therapist and a psychologist as per norms laid down by the Ministry of Social justice & Empowerment, is recruited for the centre. The centre has been running successfully in spite of the fact that the funds received from the central ministry have been erratic. The need and demand of the area has kept the district administration going with the project with the help of the Red Cross Society.

Jan Aushadi Store: A Jan Aushadi Store (or a Public Medicines Facility) is being run by the society in the Civil Hospital Mansa as per the guidelines of Government of India to provide generic medicines at reasonable rates to the general public. One pharmacist and two salesman are working at this store to provide twenty four hours service. The logistics and other institutional support is being provided from the Red Cross Society.

Aid to physically handicap and poor: The Society provides aid to the physically handicap by way of hearing aids and tricycles and by way of medicines, sewing machines and consumables to the financially weaker sections. Though the poor financial health of the Society itself is a major constraint in this area, the efforts have always been to be able to reach out to those sections of people who have no-one to go to. On a day-to-day basis the DC Office receives requests for financial assistance but is unable to do much due to lack of funds. This can be an area for voluntary donation and participation. Two children of Mansa City, Jaspreet Kaur and Lakhwinder Singh, aged 9 years & 14 years respectively, orphans and suffering from AIDS are being given monthly assistance up to Rs. 3000/- received from one voluntary donor amounting to Rs.1,09,000 /- for this purpose. Efforts are being made to receive more help for the children and for many others like these two.

8. Awareness & Relief Camps: The Society organises blood donation camps, eye and general heath check-up camps, AIDS awareness camps on a frequent basis to reach out to people who otherwise cannot come to the health centres. Red Cross also assists the administration in case of any eventuality that might occur within the district. People can donate for these so that camps can be held under their names.

Getting Involved:

Individuals/Institutions can enrol themselves in different grades of memberships by subscribing the membership fees as follows:

Patron	:	Rs. 20000
Vice-Patron	:	Rs. 10000
Life member	:	Rs. 500
Life associate	:	Rs. 250
Annual Member	:	Rs. 50 per annum
Annual Associate	:	Rs 10 per annum
Institutional Member	:	Rs. 1000 per annum

Red Cross Society, Mansa has 576 Life Members and is eager to increase in fold amongst generous an like-minded individuals to further and strengthen its cause for humanity. Since the Red Cross renders its humanitarian services with the help and the co-operation of people at all levels of Society, donation in any form and degree is welcome.