VOLUNTARY HEALTH AGENCIES IN INDIA
1. INDIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY:The Indian Red Cross Society was established in 1920. It has a network of over 400 branches all over India. It has been executing. programmes for the promotion of health, prevention of disease and mitigation of suffering among the people. Its activities are: (a) RELIEF WORK: When disaster strikes any part of the country in the shape of earth-quakes, floods, drought, epidemics, etc., the Red Cross Society immediately. mobilises all its resources and goes to the rescue of the affected people. (b) MILK AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES A number of hospitals, dispensaries, maternity and child welfare centres, schools and orphanges receive assistance from the society every year. The assistance given consists mainly of milk powder, medicines, vitamins and other supplies. (c) ARMED FORCES: The care of the sick and the wounded among the members of the forces is one of the primary obligations of the Red Cross. The Society runs a well-equipped hospital, 'the Red Cross Home' in Bangalore - the only one of its kind in India and the Far East for permanently disabled ex-servicemen. (d) MATERNAL AND CHILD WELFARE SERVICES: There are a large number of maternity and child welfare centres all over India, either directly administered by or are affiliated to the Red Cross. There is a bureau of Maternity and Child Welfare, which provides technical advice and financial aid to schemes for establishing model maternity and child welfare centres. (e) FAMILY PLANNING: Several States in India are running family planning clinics under the auspices of the Indian Red Cross. (f) BLOOD BANK AND FIRST AID: Some of the State branches have started blood banks. The St. John Ambulance Association in India which is part of the Red Cross has trained several lakh men and women in first aid, home nursing and allied subjects.
2. HIND KUSHT NIVARAN SANGH: :The Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh was founded in 1950 with its headquarters in New Delhi. Its precursor was the Indian Council of the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association (B.E.L.R.A.) which was renamed as LEPRA in 1950. The programme of work of the Sangh includes rendering of financial assistance to various leprosy homes and clinics, health education through publications and posters, training of medical workers and physiotherapists, conducting research and field investigations, organising All-India Leprosy Workers Conferences and publication of 'Leprosy in India', a quarterly journal. The Sangh has branches all over India and works in close cooperation with the Government and other voluntary agencies.
3. INDIAN COUNCIL FOR CHILD WELFARE: :Indian Council for Child Welfare was established in 1952. It is affiliated with the International Union for Child Welfare. Since its formation, the I.C.C.W. has built up a network of State Councils and district councils all over the country. The services of I.C.C.W. are devoted to secure for India's children those "opportunities and facilities, by law and other means which are necessary to enable them to develop physically, mentally, morally, spiritually and socially in a healthy and normal manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity.
4. TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATION OF INDIA: :The Tuberculosis Association of India was formed in 1939. It has branches in all the States in India. The activities of this Association comprise organising a T.B. Seal campaign every year to raise funds, training of doctors, health visitors and social workers in antituberculosis work, promotion of health education and promotion of consultations and conferences. The following institutions are under the management of the Association: The New Delhi Tuberculosis Centre, the Lady Linlithgow Sanatorium at Kasauli, the King Edward VII Sanatorium at Dharampur and the Tuberculosis Hospital at Mehrauli.
5. BHARAT SEVAK SAMAJ: :The Bharat Sevak Samaj which is a non-political and non-official organization was formed in 1952. One of the prime objectives of the Bharat Sevak Samaj (B.S.S.) is to help people to achieve health by their own actions and efforts. The B.S.S. has branches in all the States and in nearly all the districts. Improvement of sanitation in villages is one of the important activities of the B.S.S.
6. CENTRAL SOCIAL WELFARE BOARD: :The Central Social Welfare Board is an autonomous organization under the general administrative control of the Ministry of Education. It was set up by the Government of India in August 1953. The functions of the Board are:-(1) surveying the needs and requirements of voluntary welfare organizations in the country (2) promoting and setting up of social welfare organizations on a voluntary basis (3) rendering of financial aid to deserving existing organizations and institutions. The Board initiated, in 1968, "Family and Child Welfare Services" in rural areas for the welfare of women and children. The activities of these projects comprise teaching of craft, social education, literacy classes, maternity aid for women, distribution of milk, balwadis, and organisation of play centres for children. The Board has also started a scheme of Industrial Cooperatives to help the lower-middle class women in urban areas supplement their family income by doing paid work.
7. THE KASTURBA MEMORIAL FUND: :Created in commemoration of Kasturba Gandhi, after her death in 1944, the Fund was raised with the main object of improving the lot of women, especially in the villages, through gram-sevikas. The trust has nearly a crore of rupees and is actively engaged in various welfare projects in the country.
8. FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF INDIA: :The Family Planning Association was formed in 1949 with its headquarters at Mumbai. It has done pioneering work in propagating family planning in India. The Association has branches all over the country. These branches are running family planning clinics with grants-in-aid from the Government. The Association has trained several hundred doctors, health visitors and social workers. One of the activities of the Headquarters is to answer enquiries on family planning by correspondence or by personal interviews.
9. ALL INDIA WOMEN'S CONFERENCE: :It is the only women's voluntary welfare organisation in the country. Established in 1926, it has now branches all over the country. Most of the branches are running M.C.H. Clinics, Medical centres, and adult education centres, milk centres and family planning clinics.
10. THE ALL-INDIA BLIND RELIEF SOCIETY: :The All-India Blind Relief Society was established in 1946 with a view to coordinate different institutions working for the blind. It organises eye relief camps and other measures for the relief of the blind.
11. PROFESSIONAL BODIES: :The Indian Medical Association, All India Licentiates Association, All India Dental Association, the Trained Nurses Association of India are all voluntary agencies of men and women who are qualified in their respective specialities and possess registerable qualifications. These professional bodies conduct annual conferences, publish journals, arrange scientific sessions and exhibitions, foster research, set up standards of professional education and organise relief camps during periods of natural calamities.
12. INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES:The Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, and CARE (Cooperative for Assistance & Relief Everywhere) are examples of voluntary international health agencies.