Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Aug 4: State Home Guards director general and general commandant Jija Madhavan Harisingh said that she will be giving priority to training quick response team training to the district-level rapid action forces to prepare them to combat emergencies arising out of disasters.
Speaking after participating in the inaugural function of the 'disaster management' workshop organized jointly by the district home guards and Manipal University at the air conditioned auditorium of Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Manipal on Sunday August 3, she said that the volunteers of home guards have been working towards providing security to our homes and the citizens. For infusing fresh life into the home guards, volunteers will be inducted and necessary training will be imparted to them. Rapid action teams have been formed in all districts of the state, she said.
Volunteers can be recruited for jobs like working as informants, espionage and detection duties, on the basis of payment of allowances. Our volunteers have also been working in the horticultural department of Bangalore University and the youth services department. They have been playing a stellar role in protecting property and lives of the people, whenever law and order exigencies arise. The fire brigade and emergency services department has been doing a commendable job in protecting lives and properties, she explained.
The department has been arranging for symposiums in association with other departments, for expanding the objectives of the home guards. Ten new fire stations will be opened soon. Staff quarters are also being built at places like Belgaum, Karwar, Koppal etc., she said.
Union minister Oscar Fernandes who inaugurated the workshop informed that after becoming the prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh set up an exclusive authority, considering the important role home guards are playing. The union government is prepared to extend necessary assistance to the state government for strengthening home guards, he declared.
Manipal university pro-vice chancellor Dr H S Ballal, who was the chief guest at the programme, extended best wishes. State home minister V S Acharya who participated in the valedictory function of the programme, strongly supported the need to raise rapid action teams and assured of necessary help from the state government.
Head of the disaster management department of MIT Prof R P Deshmukh, Bangalore Homeguards Training Academy deputy commandant A B Wajre and Mangalore region fire brigade officer Varadarajan participated as resource persons.