In a bid to strengthen disaster preparedness and response mechanisms, Odisha’s Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja chaired a crucial meeting today regarding the readiness for a Civil Defence exercise.
Held at Lok Seva Bhawan, the session emphasised scaling up the number of Civil Defence volunteers and reinforcing their training protocols to ensure a rapid and effective response in emergencies.
Senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Satyabrata Sahu, Director-General of Police (Fire Services) Dr. Sudhanshu Sarangi, and OSDMA Executive Director Dr. Kamal Lochan Mishra, participated in the deliberations.
District Collectors and Superintendents of Police from various regions joined virtually, sharing insights on the necessity of deploying more trained Civil Defence volunteers in high-risk industrial and urban areas.
The initiative focuses on equipping volunteers with specialised training in first aid, search and rescue operations, fire safety, and post-disaster rehabilitation. The officials stressed the importance of maintaining preparedness for natural calamities, accidents, and unforeseen crises, ensuring that volunteers can provide swift assistance to affected communities.
One of the key discussions revolved around alert systems, with recommendations to install sirens in densely populated areas to enhance early warning measures. Officials underscored the pivotal role played by Apada Mitras (disaster response volunteers) during emergencies, praising their contributions and advocating for their inclusion in coordinated disaster relief efforts.
Furthermore, the Odisha government aims to collaborate with organisations such as the National Service Scheme (NSS), National Cadet Corps (NCC), Nehru Yuva Kendra, and St. John Ambulance to optimise disaster management capabilities. The meeting reinforced the need for public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on safety measures and emergency response protocols.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja reiterated that crises should be perceived as opportunities to strengthen resilience. He urged district authorities to formulate proactive measures and conduct regular training drills to enhance preparedness.
