The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) has developed its four-year Strategic Development Plan (2009-12), together with sectoral goals and objectives in line with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ Global Agenda Goals. These are also aimed to contribute towards Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations. To accomplish this, IRCS held a high level Partnership Meeting on 27th February 2009, during which it presented its strategies and future priorities based on the proposals received from the Red Cross branches across the country. The IRCS took this opportunity to present and further expand its partnerships. Around twenty-one delegates from British, Canadian, French, German, Hong Kong, Italian, Danish, Spanish, American and Finnish Red Cross and representatives from different UN bodies, UNDP, ECHO and others attended the meeting.
Inaugurating the meeting, Mr. Bekele Geleta, Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva, drew attention of the participants on the global economic recession. He added that there might be less and less money for humanitarian work. He said that the impact has not been estimated but it may pose threats to our plan and budget and we may have to cut down on staff and number of delegations working all over the world. He emphasized that the Indian Government, like other governments, is to be motivated to nurture IRCS by giving it humanitarian space and encourage it to raise resources for better delivery of services to the needy’.
Prof. (Dr) S.P. Agarwal, Secretary General of the Indian Red Cross Society expressed his happiness on the interest and keenness shown by the Partner National Societies who have appreciated the proposals shared with them on community based health & care, TB , HIV & AIDS, and emergency response in areas of tension. He shared that the American and Canadian Red Cross have shown interest in psycho-social support activities, German’s in volunteer and youth development, Spanish in water-sanitation, Swedish in capacity building, ICRC in Conflict preparedness and Italian in HIV and other health related programs.
The Partners have also communicated their eagerness to enhance IRCS capacity, which shall help IRCS realize its objectives.
