The President of India and Indian Red Cross Society President, Smt. Draupadi Murmu, graced the ceremonial session of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) on 17th July, 2023 at the Rashtrapati Bhawan Cultural Centre.
The AGM was held in the physical presence of Governors and Lieutenant Governors from nine states and Union Territories, with others joining virtually. The Chairman of IRCS also participated in the event. Notably, this AGM took place physically after a gap of six years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 300 delegates from across the nation actively engaged in the meeting.
Addressing the gathering, the chairman of IRCS emphasized that the Red Cross is dedicated to serving the needs of the vulnerable and underprivileged. He expressed the vision of taking the “Indian Red Cross to the next level by engaging in relief programs beyond Indian boundaries.” The Union Health Minister highlighted the importance of efficiency and transparency within the organization and announced that state IRCS branches would be required to present monthly reports in the form of presentations to their respective Hon’ble Governors. This measure aims to disseminate the Red Cross’s humanitarian work and attract more people to join the noble cause. The chairman also stressed the need for greater transparency in the organization’s functioning to attract funding from the corporate world under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
During the AGM, the President of India presented Red Cross Gold Medals to two distinguished individuals, Dr. LN Ambati Natraj from Telangana and Dr. Goparaju Samaram from Andhra Pradesh, in recognition of their significant contributions to society. Furthermore, the IRCS, Odisha State branch, was honored for raising the highest funds, and the IRCS Jammu & Kashmir branch received recognition for raising maximum funds in relation to its population during the year 2021-22 amongst the Union Territory branches.
The Gujarat State branch and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu UT branch received the prestigious Blood Donation Shields for their exceptional efforts in organizing voluntary blood donation drives. The Gujarat State branch also proudly secured the Gold Medal for collecting an impressive 2 lakhs 77 thousand units of blood throughout the year.
