Govt launches skill training for civil defence volunteers

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the Indo-Pakistan tensions, state govt on Sunday launched a six-day training programme for civil defence volunteers to hone their skills, preparing them for emergency situations during war-like conditions.
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Experts from the
(NDRF) imparted training in various areas, including psychological warfare, during the inaugural session.
"We have invited experts from various domains for imparting training, whose objective is to enhance the capacity and basic skills of civil defence volunteers enabling them respond effectively to a variety of emergency scenarios," director general (civil defence), Sudhansu Sarangi, said.
DIG Uma Shankar Dash said master trainers, who will be trained during the six days, will subsequently conduct training for volunteers across the state. The civil defence wardens are being trained in psychological warfare, covering aspects such as panic management, propaganda identification, rumour control and crowd behaviour.
The training programme will encompass essential service maintenance, community drills, evacuation procedures, protection against nuclear, biological and chemical threats, stretcher handling techniques, patient transport, emergency rescue methods, casualty management, debris removal, warning systems and emergency shelter administration.
"In the coming days , the volunteers will undergo detailed training on topics such as bomb detection and identification, water purification in emergencies, and food and kitchen hygiene management," Dash said.
"The govt's emphasis on strengthening civil defence follows the Centre's directive to all states to enhance their civil defence readiness, following tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack," a govt official said.
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"New equipment will be purchased from the disaster response fund," he said.
CM Mohan Charan Majhi recently called for public participation in the state's civil defence wing as volunteers. He has instructed the extension of civil defence units beyond the current 12 districts into new areas.
Official data shows that civil defence volunteer strength has declined from 21,000 ten years ago to just 753 members presently, with 401 based in Bhubaneswar. Unlike govt-recruited firefighters and home guards, individuals can join as civil defence volunteers through an application process.

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