New Delhi, 23 October (H.S.): The Indian Army and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs are set to launch a joint training initiative to strengthen India’s civil defence network, with 600 civil defence master trainers from 12 states and Union Territories scheduled to undergo a specialised three-day training programme in the second week of November. Under the first phase, each trained master trainer will subsequently train 100 civil defence volunteers in their respective state or Union Territory, with the initiative aiming to train a total of 60,000 volunteers.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, efforts were under way to develop a robust civil defence network equipped with modern systems, advanced technology and the capabilities required to address contemporary security challenges. The Prime Minister had announced the creation of such a network while addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15.

According to the ministry, the Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards will conduct the specialised pilot initiative in coordination with the Indian Army. Under the programme, 50 master trainers from each participating state or Union Territory will be selected and trained at designated Indian Army training institutions. Described as a first-of-its-kind joint training initiative, the programme aims to enhance the preparedness of civil defence personnel to respond effectively to emergencies and emerging security threats.

The training programme will focus on three major areas. The first will cover modern and hybrid warfare, awareness of drone-related threats and preparedness for aerial attacks. The second will concentrate on the protection of critical infrastructure, fire safety, awareness of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats, casualty management, and search-and-rescue operations.

The third area will address emergency communication systems, cybersecurity precautions, the resilience of digital systems, civil-military coordination, and on-site command-and-control arrangements. These training activities are intended to equip civil defence volunteers to respond to emergencies swiftly, effectively and in a coordinated manner.

A key feature of the initiative is its ‘master trainer model’. Under this approach, the 600 trainers who receive specialised instruction from the Indian Army will subsequently train civil defence volunteers in their respective states and Union Territories. The model is expected to expand the reach of training within a limited period and strengthen disaster response and emergency management capabilities at the grassroots level.

The first phase will cover Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The outcomes of the training programme will be reviewed after its completion in these states and Union Territories.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said that, based on the experience gained during the pilot phase, the initiative would be expanded in a phased manner to the remaining states and Union Territories. The programme is expected to strengthen civil-military coordination, improve the protection of critical infrastructure and enhance the country’s emergency preparedness in response to evolving security threats.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar