Mumbai, The Maharashtra authorities has determined to introduce a civil defence course within the Mumbai College curriculum, acknowledging the important thing position the volunteer-based emergency response mechanism can play throughout emergencies amid a highlight on the Indo-Pakistan battle that necessitated mock drill workout routines.
Civil Defence course to be launched in Mumbai College curriculum
The federal government can also be making an attempt to strengthen the Directorate of Civil Defence, beset by a number of points starting from manpower crunch to paltry each day allowance and logistical issues, together with insufficient sirens, autos and ambulances.
The Directorate of Civil Defence and the College of Mumbai lately signed a memorandum of Understanding , finalising the inclusion of the Civil Defence course within the educational curriculum, Director of Civil Defence Prabhat Kumar informed PTI.
This course shall be taught in all engineering faculties affiliated with the College of Mumbai and can carry a weightage of 25 marks.
“Students who wish to serve the nation while pursuing their education will get an opportunity through this course,” Kumar mentioned, including that college students shall be skilled in rescue operations and saving lives throughout emergencies.
They will even be ready to work alongside authorities and civic businesses, resembling catastrophe administration cells, fireplace brigades, and hospitals, particularly throughout emergency and war-like conditions. The highlight on civil defence has intensified following mock drills performed throughout coastal districts and Pune, Nashik, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
These drills aimed to boost consciousness amongst volunteers and most people.
The mock drills concerned round 10,000 volunteers from Civil Defence, Dwelling Guard, NDRF, and different emergency response businesses.
An official mentioned the federal government is taking acceptable steps to strengthen civil defence, and its revival is underway.
The Directorate of Civil Defence has lengthy struggled with shortages in manpower, autos , sirens, and coaching gear.
Nevertheless, these necessities are more likely to be fulfilled quickly, he mentioned.
Though the sanctioned manpower for Civil Defence is 420 personnel, operations are being carried out with solely 135 workers members throughout the state.
He mentioned some models, like these in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, have just one full-time authorities worker every.
“In emergencies, Civil Defence needs its ambulances and vehicles. However, many of the existing vehicles are in poor condition, with some on the verge of being scrapped,” the official famous. Volunteers at the moment obtain a each day allowance of ₹150 for his or her service. A proposal has been submitted to the federal government to extend this quantity to ₹500 per day.
He added that along with the proposed allowance hike, proposals for rising manpower, coaching gear, and sirens have additionally been submitted. The federal government is constructive about assembly these calls for.