Volunteer service has been a part of virtually every civilisation and society. Defined in the broadest terms as the non-profit contribution that individuals make for the well-being of their neighbour, community or society at large, voluntary service can range from tradition al customs of mutual self-help to responses in times of crisis. The concept includes local and national volunteer efforts, as well as bilateral and international programmes which operate across frontiers. Volunteers have come to play a significant part in programmes of humanitarian assistance, technical cooperation, promotion of human rights, democratisation and peace. Volunteering is also the basis of much of the activity of non-governmental organisations, professional associations, trade unions etc. Given the adverse impact of global problems, the need for increased volunteer effort is greater today than ever before. While the contribution of volunteers is vast, much of their work often goes unrecognized because it does not involve the payment of market wages and because it is often spontaneous, informal and unstructured.

The idea for an International Year of Volunteers (IYV) to be proclaimed as the world entered the 21st Century, arose in deliberations of several major international organisations and the United Nations General Assembly in its 52nd session declared to designate the year 2001 as International Year of Volunteers. The objectives of the International Year of Volunteers are increased recognition and facilitation of volunteers, networking through different media for wider publicity and promotion of volunteers and their activities.

The premise underlying IYV 2001 is that voluntary service is called for more  than ever before to tackle areas of priority  concern in the social, economic, cultural, humanitarian and peace building fields and that more people are needed to offer their service as volunteers. For this to happen, there is a need for greater recognition and facilitation of volunteer work and greater promotion of such service. Designation of an International Year of Volunteers by the UN General Assembly has provided a valuable framework and established a favourable environment for the growth and more strategic use of voluntary contributions. It is hoped that this initiative will generate enough awareness to ensure that the Year extends beyond Governments and the UN to touch all sectors of society.

Department of Posts is happy to issue a postage stamp to commemorate the International Year of Volunteers.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India