Srinagar, July 16: Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal on Saturday stressed upon officials to strengthen the Disaster Management.
 Speaking at the valedictory function of the 2-day State Level Workshop on Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Organized by Home Guards, Civil Defence and Auxillary Police, here, the Chief Secretary said, “People should be prepared for facing any eventuality either in the case of natural calamity or earthquake.”
 He expressed his keenness to organize such workshops in town and rural areas so that the common people come to know how to respond when natural calamities strike.
 He said the objective to organize these workshops was to make people aware about the challenges in case of eventuality.
 He said the Government had already framed an action plan to strengthen the Disaster Management Body. “Disasters do not wait for anybody to get prepared,” he said.
 He also asked the officials and NGOs working with Disaster Management Body to work with dedication, zeal.
 The Chief Secretary presented mementos to NGOs, officers including Police officers for performing exemplary jobs during crisis. He asked all the concerned agencies and NGOs to work in tandem with each other.
 Speaking on the occasion, Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda said the inputs and recommendations of the Workshop would go a long way in improving the skills in response to the Disaster management.
 “We have to work together as a subject itself demands a multi-sectoral approach to strengthen the State Disaster Response Force to take concrete steps to train and equip it well,”
 Khoda said that first batch from State Police would be sent for special training to Coimbatoire in Tamil Nadu in August.
 He said a voluntary community level Disaster Management Teams would be constituted in which volunteers from general public, NDMA, SDMA, Divisional Administration, educational institutions, NGOs, Police, Civil Defence and Home guards to be  involved.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 17 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST