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Around 210 male cadets, 71 female cadets and 10 Associated NCC Officers (ANOs) participated in the five-day camp. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 145 NBC Bn, had undertaken the training as part of its community awareness programme, aimed at making the community aware of the disaster risks and infusing disaster preparedness.
“The community and its members are the first who experience and respond to any disaster that occurs, and hence educating them is a priority. Training these NCC cadets in disaster management and post-disaster relief will enable them to ensure quick, temporary relief when disaster strikes in their region,” said Commandant 145 Bn, J S Sandhu. “The aim is to prepare the community to prepare themselves for disasters,” he added.
However, though the cadets are being trained to combat all kinds of air, land, water disasters-both natural and man-made, they will function as support systems and not be allowed to venture into situations involving any risk.
“The cadets are being trained for being the Medical First Responder (MFR) and being taught to administer first aid, CPR, bandaging and splinting. They are also being trained in Flood Water Rescue (FWR), High Rise Building Rescue (HRBR) and being imparted basic awareness about the causes and the impact of various disasters,” said Deputy Commandant and Course Officer-in-Charge, J Singh.
“Once trained, these cadets will have a strong knowledge base of disaster situations and will be prepared to combat any disaster that occurs. However their contribution would be restricted to relief and awareness, rather than actual rescue operations,” said Lt Sanjay Chaudhari, ANO Dada Patil College, Karjat. “They will go back and train their community and other cadets and once awareness spreads, so will the community’s preparedness to face disaster situations,”he added.
Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna had inaugurated the first phase of Avhan at Shivaji University of Kolhapur, in the presence of the Chief of the NCC, Let Gen Prakash Choudhari and Guardian Minister Harshavardhan Patil, last year. While the camp, being the first of its kind had seen a large number of cadets participating, this second phase is proving to be more informative, said the participants.
“The Kolhapur camp did provide basic training, but the one being held here is more instructive as the NDRF battalion here is well-equipped, as compared to Shivaji University, where the first camp was held,” said Capt S J Kulkarni, an ANO from Rajashri Shahu College in Kolhapur. “NDRF being a task force specifically designed to battle disasters boasts of the requisite discipline. Besides verbal explanations there were live demonstrations. Here, there were guided by the NDRF personnel who have worked at disaster sites, and their experiences are both enriching and educational.”
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