Task Force of Youth Volunteers for “Better Disaster Preparedness and Response

                 

 

Vijyender Sharna

Shimla----A Spokesman of the State Government said here today that Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), Department of Revenue has launched a Scheme on creation of Task Force of Youth Volunteers for "Better Disaster Preparedness and Response in the State". Under this scheme the aim is to create a cadre of alteast 10-15 volunteers per panchayat for effective disaster risk reduction and to train the Youth volunteers in life saving skills of medical first aid and search and rescue.

He said that in order to attract talented youth to act as a volunteer and spare his/her valuable time to undergo the relevant training courses, he/she is being paid an honorarium of Rs. 200 per day while undergoing the training. The duration of training on search and rescue and medical first aid will be for three days. 

He said that the HPSDMA scheme is already being implemented in each district by respective District Disaster Management Authority headed by the Deputy Commissioners and the projected target for the 3226 panchayats in the State with 15 volunteers per panchayat, the number of the trained volunteers for the state in next three years will be 48,390. The database of these volunteers will be prepared and updated by the respective districts regularly and their services will be utilized during the disasters, road accidents and other emergencies. The volunteers will be paid by the district authorities as and when their service will be used. This will significantly enhance the capacity of the State at the grass root level to deal with the disasters and emergencies.  

The Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management has created an online Volunteer Registration platform which is available in bilingual form at HPSDMA website Url: https://www.hpsdma.nic.in/Volunteer.aspx. for public interest.

He said that to be a volunteer under this scheme and to participate in the training programmes organized by District Disaster Management Authorities interested person may approach the Panchayat Pradhan/ Block Development Officer/ District Disaster Management Authority. In case of any query concerned person may contact 1070 (State Control Room)/ or 1077 (District Control Room). The local youth may join this initiative of the Government and learn life saving skills and save themselves, their families, their society and citizens in need. The Local NGOs, Yuva Mandals, NCC and NSS students should join this initiative in large numbers.