To initiate immediate response on any natural calamities or disasters, the state government has decided to give training on disaster management to selected youths in all the districts of Manipur, announced Minister of Relief and Disaster Management Awangbow Newmai on Thursday.
He was delivering his speech during the ‘State Level Mock Exercise on Earthquake Disaster-Scenario: M 7.2 Earthquake; North-West of Imphal near Noney Village’ that was held at Hatta Kongjeibung in Imphal East.
It was organised by the directorate of Relief and Disaster Management and State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), Manipur in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Newmai said that as disasters cannot be predicted, giving training to the local youths will be a great initiative as they will make the quickest responses in any disasters. Until the arrival of the disaster management team they can act as an advance team, he stressed.
Such involvement of the local youths in disaster management will be of a great help to save precious life in any disasters, as every seconds counts, the minister added.
Lauding the NDMA and the MSDMA for their activities to tackle any calamities and disasters, Newmai expressed his gladness to be the concerned minister of the Relief and Disaster Management.
As a part of the programme, a team of the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Manipur Fire Services, Health department and Manipur Police conducted mock drills at JNIMS, SC office Imphal East, CIPET Manipur, DC office Imphal West and some specific oil pumps in Imphal area.
The mock exercise was held to give awareness with regard to preparedness of facing any disaster, as per the officials.
The function was also attended by member of NDMA retired lieutenant general Syed Ata Hasnain, vice-chairman of SDMA Yanglet Haokip, additional chief secretary MH Khan, senior consultant of NDMA retired major general Sudhir Bahl among others.
