Yoginder Kaul
December 6 was celebrated as raising Day of Civil Defence and Home Guard.Civil Defence includes any measure,not amounting to actual combat, for affording protection to any person,property, place or thing in India or any part thereof against any hostile act whether from air,land or sea and other places or for depriving any such attack or the whole or part of its effect,whether such measures are taken before during or after the time of such attack .The aim is to save life, minimise damage to property maintain continuity of production and keep morale of public high .
The Civil Defence Amendment Act 2009 now includes the disaster management as an additional role.The Home Guard is also complimentary voluntary organisation with Civil Defence Volunteers.It is funded by central Govt for voluntary duties at the time of threat to internal security and disasters.
The Civil Defence planning in India is the responsibility of a number of Ministeries each of whom undertakes respective duties under Union Home Ministry.
Jammu & Kashmir is very distinct from the rest of the country with respect of topography, climate,economy, strategic location.
This Union Territory is multi hazard prone region with natural disasters like earthquake, floods, landslides, high velocity winds, avalanches, snow storms,cloud burst, drought besides man made disasters including road accidents, fires,Industrial accidents, managing crowd control to avoid stampede during pilgrimages.
J&K is classified in seissmic zone iv and v, which indicates very high vulnerability to earthquakes.The last major earthquake in 2005 with magnitude of over 7 on Richter scale was deadliest in subcontinent and had major impact with heavy casualities of life and property that took place in POK and in Uri, Tanghdhar, Poonch of J&K.
The flash flood incident in 2014 is a major incident that caused major damage in the erstwhile state and is grim reminder today. Most parts of City Srinagar remained submerged for about two weeks causing enormous loss of life and infrastructure. These incidents take place due to unscientific development, construction, terracing, afforestation which narrowed the space of flow of water forcing the flood waters to enter the dewelling areas risking life in those areas breaching protection bunds.These types of floods are an annual features and need to be prevented as a major department is looking after protection and prevention who need to devise methods with latest equipment and use volunteers to associate them to multiply their efforts during emergency for rescuing, evacuating in flood hit areas besides plugging flood prone areas.
A proper plan of conducting assessment of risk and vulnerability to disasters in UT of J&K needs to be taken periodically to upgrade our resources to deal against it.The volunteers need to enhance capacities and design preparedness which affects diverse population of the UT.The idea is to protect life of the people, minimize suffering of vulnerable population. Volunteers of Civil defence to be involved which provides a culture of disaster resilence to communities for appropriate prevention and mitigation strategies across various state stakeholders. Focus on natural disasters along with other related issues to be anticipated by all agencies with new development projects kept in view.
Relevant capacity building to invest in post disaster situation, as lot of confusion to manage the rescue and relief operation of affected people, often lapses are noted due to not up to the mark preparedness which needs dry run and mock drill with all agencies. In view of development and advancement in technology at fast pace many such gaps are not foreseen nor advance indicators are taken seriously , till it assumes monostrous proportion leaving a trail of destruction and suffering subsequently due to mismanagement of impending disaster . Every such disaster incident need to be thoroughly analysed what led to it, and how to respond such an emergent situation, to upgrade our preparedness.
There is general notion, any investment on any forseeable disasters appears futile and is cost prohibitive in normal times, but its importance is felt only, when it is question of saving lives as quickly as possible. Plans need to be designed constantly with area specific vulnearability to keep pace with development on all front at District level .
This year will be remembered specifically due to corona pandemic which engulfed entire world by an invisible microbe which took so far 14.62 lakh lives around world and and over 1.27 lakhs in India alone with millions effected . Presently aggressive testing, tracking and treatments are on and now research is underway for successful vaccine to treat it.The process of such a massive exercise for vaccinating masses in time is a gigantic task where need of volunteers can be thought of to aid Corona warriors for speedy vaccination doses to reach all sections of society .
There is requirement of Emergency operation centres with emergency responder teams, with Disaster shelters as essential life saving infrastructure to prepare for multihazard preparedness on border areas due to ceasefire violations from across border and other hilly areas.
The Biological hazard is a new domain, all vulnerable places need to be identified to create biosafety and biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of spread of the any leakage or mishap. Controlling epidemics need special exercise with all primary and tertiary hospital to be equipped to have protocols for epidemics when there is sudden heavy patient surge .
The civil Defence should strive in the areas which have specific vulnerabilty to equip them training local and build their capacity as how to manage crises at microlevel till proper trained teams arrive UT Disaster/national disaster response force teams.
J&K has a vast organization of Civil Defence and Home Guards which got its birth after 1962 war who continue to do the service with the help of Volunteers because our UT being adjacent to our hostile neighbour who is bent upon causing disturbances by way of aiding terrorists and to create panic which can be countered immediately with actual facts, lest it does not cause a serious internal security problem of unrest, communalism which may turn into into violent mob and crises.
The mission of Civil Defence Volunteers and Home Guards is to be recognized ,encouraged with prominent citizens to come forward to join this sacred mission of selfless service, to act as additional human resource needed in times of disasters along with Police.
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