Training for Aapda Mitra volunteers begins in Tura

TURA, Oct 10: The Final and 4th Phase Training for community volunteers under Upscaling of Aapda Mitra Scheme started from Monday at SMELC, Dakopgre, Tura. The programme, which will conclude on October 22, was organised by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), West Garo Hills, Tura.
Stressing on the importance of Aapda Mitra or Friends of the Disaster, the chief guest of the inaugural function, Dolrich B G Momin, Project Director, DRDA and CEO, DDMA, West Garo Hills, said the volunteers once trained would work as first responders and help those in need when disaster, whether natural or man-made, occurs in the neighbourhood.
Informing that the training is being conducted under the directive of the Government of India, he said that this was the last phase of the training in the district and these Aapda Mitra volunteers would be given training on first aid, search and rescue operations, fire and emergency services, lifting or moving injured persons, et al.
District Disaster Management Officer, West Garo Hills, James D Sangma, informed that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is the implementing agency for organising this scheme for training of community volunteers with a focus on training 200 community volunteers per district in disaster response in select flood-prone areas in India.
He also said that so far 150 volunteers had already been trained in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd phase.
Others who also spoke during the programme include Sub-Divisional Medical Officer (SDMO), Dr. Priya Sengse Sangma and Deputy Comptroller, Civil Defence & Home Guards, Tura Sentilla Marak.