Respiratory ailments, soil and water contamination, silting of water bodies, thick blanket of dust with the smell of sulphur dioxide, withering of coconut trees and changes in land use pattern.

This is the scene of the urban habitation around the famous Kolar Gold Fields(KGF) in Karnataka, South India where gold mining has been going on since 1802. The activity has also caused Ecological changes in the area, where one could witness at least 13 major tailing dumps accumulating about 60 million tonnes of mine waste occupying 15 per cent of the total land in the township.

Gold mining centers the economy of KGF but who cares for the miners and their families who are enveloped with a thick blanket of fine dust causing eye-sore and respiratory allergies? This was the question and burden of Rev. Dr. Gideon, Mrs. Ida Nickelson and his son Rev.Dr. Monovah Nickelson who started the ministry for the benefit of the miners and their children in the year 1955 in KGF. The Philadelphia church was also started in the year 1955 in K.G.F to nurture the spiritual lives of the miners.

In the Year 1965, the ministries expanded into various projects for the benefit of the miners and their families, giving birth to the "Indian Evangelical & Relief Society". In the same year (1965) the Moriah orphanages were started, giving food, clothing, accomdaion and education to under-privileged children in the surrounding areas. During the past 39 years, nearly 3000 children have been benefited through the various projects of IERS. The organization is registered under the societies act of the Indian government.