Bhubaneswar, May 8: In light of heightened India-Pakistan tensions, Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja has called on officials to accelerate civil defence preparedness and significantly enhance volunteer participation across the state.
Chairing a high-level meeting on Thursday at Lok Seva Bhawan, Ahuja emphasized the need to strengthen civil defence infrastructure at the grassroots level. The discussions revolved around expanding the civil defence volunteer base across districts and improving their operational and training capacities.
Special focus was given to the strategic deployment of volunteers in densely populated urban slums, where rapid response is crucial during emergencies. Officials also discussed improving service delivery training for these volunteers to ensure an efficient response during disasters.
Senior officials present at the meeting included Home Department Principal Secretary Satyajit Sahu, Director General of Police, Fire Services Director Dr. Sudhanshu Sarangi, and OSDMA Executive Director Dr. Kamal Lochan Mishra. District Collectors and Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs) from regions such as Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Angul, Sambalpur, and Sundargarh joined the meeting virtually to share insights on local volunteer availability and future requirements.
The Chief Secretary praised the critical role civil defence volunteers play in managing emergencies—from rescue and relief operations to fire support, sanitation, and rehabilitation. He urged officials to further strengthen coordination between civil defence volunteers and organizations like the National Service Scheme (NSS), Scouts and Guides, Nehru Yuva Kendra, and the Red Cross.
Officials were also advised to conduct public awareness campaigns in vulnerable areas to educate residents on disaster readiness.
District authorities were encouraged to act swiftly on the suggestions provided and ensure that Odisha remains well-prepared for any unforeseen crisis.
