Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Nov 15: As a part of its continuing effort towards Disaster Management preparedness, a 15-day hands on training programme for preparedness and response mechanism in disaster situations organised for the employees of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board concluded at the Shrine today. The training was imparted by a 10 members team of experts of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
As many as 150 employees of the Shrine Board participated in the training programme which comprised Basic Training Programme and Advance Training Programme. Of them, 100 employees took part in the 5-day Basic Programme from 1st to 5th November and 50 employees comprising the Disaster Management Task Force (DMTF) setup to most effectively respond to any emergency situations participated in the 10-day Advance Programme from 6th to 15th November, 2014.
The Basic Programme included brief over-view of major disasters, search and rescue in collapsed structures, rescue strategy and techniques, lifting and stabilizing loads, basics of medical first response, basic life support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, rescue supervision and safety management etc.
Similarly, the Advance Programme comprised disaster response mechanism, evaluation and simulation exercises, search and rescue related inputs, rope rescue, emergency techniques from higher and lower elevations, water rescue technique, climbing, crossing and descending techniques, tying knots and hitches, use of conventional, modern and advance equipment etc.
Dr. M. K. Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, giving details of the programme, informed that on the directions of N. N. Vohra, Governor, who is Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, a very high priority has been laid an effective Disaster Management Plan for the pilgrimage by building capacities of the Shrine Board employees and evolving a culture of preparedness and response to deal effectively with emergent situations.
CEO said that, on the advice of the Governor, these training programmes are being regularly organised for the employees of the Board since 2009. He added that so far about 1800 employees have been provided hands-on training in different aspects of Disaster Management by organising 22 rounds of programmes of different durations.
The Shrine Board has also set-up a number of Disaster Management Stores at different locations on the track and these have been equipped with Disaster Management equipment. These stores are being strengthened from time to time by adding latest gadgets. The team of experts from the National Disaster Response Force also undertook audit of these Disaster Management Stores for their further strengthening.
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