Home Minister Amit Shah released the training manual of Aapda Mitra Scheme on September 29, 2021, on the occasion of 17th foundation day celebrations of “National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
On the occasion, he released the training manual of Aapda Mitra Scheme as well as plan documents of Aapda Mitra & Common Alerting Protocol (CAP). Foundation Day of NDMA was celebrated under the theme- ‘Stopping Impact of Disaster Incidents in the Himalayan Region’.
Aapda Mitra Scheme – Key Highlights
- The Aapda Mitra scheme was launched in May 2016 in 25 flood-prone states at a cost of nearly Rs. 16 crore.
- It is a programme to identify suitable individuals in disaster-prone areas who can be trained to be first responders in times of disasters.
- Aapda Mitra scheme will soon be launched in 350 districts of India by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
- More than one lakh young volunteers from 350 areas would be trained under this programme. So far, 5500 Aapda Mitra and 5500 Aapda Sakhi have been trained, who can extend help in case of disaster or natural calamity like flood in remote places. The government would provide life insurance to all of these volunteers.
Aim of the scheme
It aims to provide the community volunteers with the skills so they would immediately respond to their community’s needs in the aftermath of a disaster.
It enables them to undertake the basic relief training and rescue tasks during emergency situations such as floods, flash-floods and urban flooding.
Objective of the scheme
- Development of Information Knowledge Management System at National level linked to States/UTs
- Training institutions to be empanelled by respective States/UTs at the State/UT level.
- To train community volunteers in life saving skills of disaster response (flood relief and rescue), coordination, assistance, and provide personal protective equipment and emergency responder kits;
- To create a Community Emergency Stockpile/Reserve at the district/block level containing essential light search and rescue equipment, medical first aid kits, etc;
- To disseminate training and education tools developed under the project to more flood prone districts in subsequent phases of the scheme.
About Common Alert Protocol
It’s a system that sends out alerts or warnings in the event of a disaster. Tamil Nadu is currently implementing the pilot project. It would make it easier to send out location-based targeted alerts/warnings in vernacular language via SMS.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is an apex body that establishes policy for disaster management. It was formally established on September 27, 2006, under the Disaster Management Act of 2005.
Its main goal is to coordinate disaster response, both natural and man-made, as well as to enhance disaster resiliency and crisis response capabilities.
It aims to create a safer and more disaster-resistant India through a comprehensive, proactive, technology-driven, and sustainable development strategy that involves all stakeholders and promotes a culture of prevention, preparedness, and mitigation.
NDMA has been tasked with framing policies, laying down guidelines & best-practices to coordinate with the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs).
NDMA is headed by the Prime Minister and can have up to nine other members. Since 2020, there have been five additional members. There is also a provision for a Vice Chairperson.
Other Disaster Related Initiatives:
Indian:
National Disaster Response Fund.
Disaster Management Act, 2005.
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
Global:
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
The Government of India has started the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar for all the NGOs, social workers and government employees engaged in disaster management to encourage and acknowledge their work.
With this we come to the end of this blog. We mentioned all the important points related to the Aapda Mitra Scheme introduced by the government.
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