ITANAGAR, Sep 9: A total of 52 youths registered today as community volunteers as part of a training program organized by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Capital Itanagar under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner and Chairman DDMA Talo Potom.
While inaugurating the program, the DC urged the participants to make the most of this opportunity, emphasizing that the training will equip them with crucial skills and knowledge to respond effectively during emergencies. He highlighted that community-based volunteers are invaluable assets during disasters, and this training would empower local residents and students to act swiftly and confidently, saving lives and minimizing damage.
Himalayan University Vice Chancellor Prof Venugopal Rao Komma commended the volunteers for stepping up to play a pivotal role in making their communities safer and more resilient. He emphasized that while disasters, whether natural or man-made, are often unpredictable, preparedness is something we can control.
The training, he said, would provide participants with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to respond quickly and effectively in any emergency.
DDMO Moromi Dodum Sonam, in her welcome address, underlined the essential role of volunteers as first responders during emergencies.
She explained that this program is part of the 100-day Action Plan set by the GoAP, aimed at enhancing capacity-building to create a disaster-resilient society. The project aims to train and equip 200 community volunteers with the basic skills needed to assist district authorities, the NDRF, SDRF, and other agencies in rescue and relief operations.
“You are being trained to be first responders,” said the DDMO.
“When a disaster strikes and before the arrival of the police, NDRF or SDRF, you will act as the frontline defenders of your community, reducing the impact on both lives and property.”
She further explained that the training program is divided into four phases, with technical and hands-on sessions running from today until September 21. The three-day program will cover a wide range of topics, including first aid, search and rescue operations, emergency response techniques, fire safety, water rescue, rope rescue, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic life support (BLS), wound and bleeding control, handling animal and snake bites, and responses to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) disasters.
Participants will also learn about disaster management principles and safety measures for floods, fires, landslides, earthquakes, heatwaves, thunderstorms, and lightning.
As part of the initiative, DDMA will distribute kits, including solar lamps, raincoats, and first-aid boxes, to all volunteers. These supplies will aid them in future disaster response efforts, with jerseys already provided as part of their uniform.
Today’s training sessions featured presentations on the basics of disaster management and disaster risk management (DRM) by the NDRF along with instructional sessions on earthquake safety, flood preparedness, and protection from thunderstorms and lightning by Nibia Kapa, DM instructor.
Additional sessions on landslide and heatwave safety were led by Subhash Sonar, DM instructor. Fire safety was covered by the Fire & Emergency Services Itanagar, while basic search and rescue techniques and water rescue methods were demonstrated by NDRF instructors Yukar Palang and Subhash Sonar.
The inaugural day’s training, held at the HU, Jollang, will continue until September 11. Subsequent phases of the program will take place at Dera Natung Govt College, Itanagar (Sep 13-15), Mallo Tarin GHSS, Itanagar (Sep 16-18), and Don Bosco College, Jollang (Sep 19-21). (DIPRO)