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The Home Minister has called upon the States to take necessary steps to upgrade and strengthen their fire fighting capabilities. Shri Shivraj Patil was inaugurating the 13th All India Civil Defence, Home Guards and Fire Services Biennial Conference here today. He said that it is essential to reassess the existing capabilities and capacities of each fire station. The Home Minister informed the meeting that the Government has decided to upgrade the National Fire Service College and an amount of Rs.103.95 crore is being earmarked for the purpose. He said that the endeavour of his Ministry is to strengthen the capacity and capability of fire services for emergency response and transform these forces into multi-hazardous response units. As regards the functioning of civil defence, the Home Minister pointed out that it forms an integral part of the disaster management system and, therefore, has to play a pro-active and not a reactive role. He said that with change in time and global scenario, there is a need to upgrade training programmes so as to enable Civil Defence volunteers, Home Guards and Fire Service personnel to acquire cutting edge capabilities to face any threat from biological, radiological and chemical weapons of mass destruction.
The Minister gave away the President’s Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service to two officers, Fire Service Medal for Meritorious Service to three, President’s Home Guard & Civil Defence Medal for Distinguished Service to one and Home Guards & Civil Defence Medal for Meritorious Service to 5 persons.
Earlier in his address, the Director General of the National Emergency Response Force and Civil Defence, Shri Vijay Shanker informed the gathering about the role of Civil Defence Home Guards and Fire Services. He said that with all round development in rural areas, fire hazards are assuming serious proportions there. This calls for urgent attention to ensure availability of appropriately empowered, trained and equipped fire services.
The Conference will discuss the problems faced by the States and Union Territories in implementing and improving the Civil Defence and Home Guards schemes. Fire Service has been included in the Biennial Conference for the first time to identify difficulties and impediments with a view to finding solutions to the problems related to Fire Services.
Directors of Civil Defence, Commandants General, Home Guards, Chiefs of Fire Services of States and Union Territories and a larger number of specialists are attending the Conference.
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