*Rs 104 lakh to be utilized in 13 Multi-Hazard Districts
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 20: In order to create sizable trained volunteer force of emergency workers in the disasters prone Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Home Affairs has sanctioned Rs 817 lakh for the State under its recently launched scheme. Of this, an amount of Rs 104 lakh would be utilized exclusively in 13 Multi-Hazard Districts of the State.
In order to create a mechanism for efficient and effective response to any emergency, whether natural or manmade, a sizable trained volunteer force of emergency works needs to be made available as stand by in all vulnerable areas. Keeping this in view, the Ministry of Home Affairs has sanctioned Rs 817 lakh for Jammu and Kashmir under newly launched Scheme of Mainstreaming Civil Defence in Disaster Risk Reduction, highly placed sources told EXCELSIOR.
“The mainstreaming of the Civil Defence is imperative as being a community based voluntary organization, it can play a stellar role not only in raising public awareness related to disasters but also in building the community’s capacity to face the challenges presented by any disaster situation”, they said. Moreover, the community invariable being the first responder to any disaster situation, adequate awareness and preparedness respond to any emergency/disaster can be very crucial in mitigating the damage and suffering.
For Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Home Affairs has made total allocation of Rs 817.78 lakh under this scheme for revitalizing Civil Defence Organization and development of Civil Defence training infrastructure in such districts where it is not available. The funds would also be utilized for augmenting Civil Defence volunteer strength in Multi Hazard Districts, creating pool of trained manpower by enhancing their skills and to generate public awareness about Civil Defence activities and its role in disaster risk reduction and disaster management.
Out of Rs 817.78 lakh, an amount of Rs 27 lakh would be utilized for strengthening of Civil Defence Training Institutes, Rs 104 lakh for strengthening of Civil Defence setup in 13 Multi Hazard Districts—Anantnag, Budgam, Baramulla, Doda, Jammu, Kargil, Kupwara, Leh, Poonch, Pulwama, Rajouri, Srinagar and Udhampur.
Similarly, Rs 636.27 lakh would be utilized for community participation in Multi Hazard Districts at the rate of Rs 13 lakh in each such district and Rs 50.51 lakh for training in these districts, sources informed.
According to the sources, the funds would be utilized under the direct supervision of Additional Director General of Civil Defence. Even the Ministry of Home Affairs would monitor utilization of funds through its Disaster Management Division, which in turn would engage a Project Monitoring Unit. The staff of this unit would also visit the State to monitor the physical and financial progress and advise the State on corrections.
Stating that sanctioned funds would be utilized during the 12th Plan Period, sources said, “the release of grant-in-aid during the subsequent years would be based upon submission of Utilization Certificates for funds released in the preceding years”.
In response to a question, sources said, “no doubt the Civil Defence network is still existing in different parts of the State but it has not come up to the desired level”, adding “the revamping of the Civil Defence activities would go a long way in mitigating the damage and suffering during the disasters especially in the light of the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is vulnerable to different types of disasters like fire, road traffic accidents, avalanches, flash floods etc”.
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