Sikkim volunteers in Meghalaya for disaster response training

A 15-day training programme for a team of disaster relief volunteers from Sikkim began today at an institute at Mawdiangdiang, around 7km from here, an official statement said.

The session, funded by the central government as part of its 'Aapda Mitra' initiative, will impart lessons in disaster response during floods to 200 community volunteers, it said.

The Aapda Mitra scheme, launched by the Centre in 2016, aims to provide community volunteers with the skills to respond to their communitys immediate needs in the aftermath of a disaster.

"The terrain in Sikkim is very similar to Meghalaya, therefore you (volunteers) will greatly benefit from this session here," said Rinzing C Bhutia, Special Secretary, Sikkim Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said while addressing the inaugural programme.

Sikkim has recently set up its own training institute, it still lacks adequate facilities. The Central Training Institute of Civil Defence and Home Guards at Mawdiangdiang, on the other hand, has well-trained faculty and staff, he said.

Bhutia also urged the volunteers from Sikkim to make the most of this opportunity in Meghalaya.

MK Sangma, Joint Director of Civil Defence and Joint Commandant General of Home Guards, assured the officials from SDMA that their volunteers would receive the best-possible training at the institute.

"The instructors here have been trained in the premiere institutions of the country and even abroad," he said, adding that the department will be happy to have more such collaborations with Sikkim in the future.