400 volunteers trained to respond to emergencies

Panaji: The directorate of fire and emergency services has achieved its target of training 400 volunteers under the ‘Aapada Mitra, Aapada Sakhi’ scheme. Under this central scheme, community volunteers are trained to assist in the aftermath of a disaster, enabling them to undertake basic relief and rescue tasks during emergency situations such as floods and urban flooding.

Aapada mitras were utilised in Goa during the forest fires of 2022-23.

“The training programme was launched with the intention of training young people who can assist us at the community level in the event of a fire or a calamity with basic response efforts. This will help with making more successful rescue efforts and spread awareness on ways to prevent damage,” said director of fire and emergency services, Nitin Raiker.

The volunteers consist of young individuals who are students in educational institutions, NCC and Bharat scouts and guides, NSS cadets, and employees working in a private corporation. Of these 400 volunteers, 200 were from North Goa and 200 from South Goa. The training programme commenced in 2022 by Raiker on the recommendation of the revenue department.

The training equips young civilians with multi-tasking tools to aid people in the event of natural and man-made disasters. The directorate has been appointed as a nodal agency to provide training and the required knowledge base on fire rescue and triage. It also recently undertook the responsibility of rescuing inland drowning cases to assist the Navy.

The volunteers are trained for 15 days at the directorate’s headquarters. The first module was conducted in April 2022. The revenue department gave the directorate a target to train 400 volunteers across Goa, which it achieved this year. It provides certificates and rescue kits at the end of the training programme.