Civilian are the best disaster managers as they can make a great difference during the first hour of the calamity, when the maximum damage is done, a seminar was told here on Thursday.
“It is important to involve civilians in disaster management as the first hour is the most crucial to any rescue operation, and citizens are the first one to respond to any disaster situation,” Maj Gen TM John, chief warden, civil defence, told ‘Safe World 2010’, the seminar on disaster management which was inaugurated at the headquarters of the department of fire and emergency services here on Thursday.
The speakers also sought to examine why the civilian role was absent in disaster management. “There is a lack of interest among the bureaucracy in involving citizens in disaster management, this has to change. In any rescue mission, it is the local people’s knowledge that has helped save many lives,” said Srikumar, former DG & IG.
The seminar was inaugurated by the urban advisor to the chief minister and former chief secretary, Dr A Ravindra. JK Sinha, member of the National Disaster Management Authority, and Jija Hari Singh, director-general of the Fire and Emergency Services, were present.
The seminar will discuss fire and explosives management and terrorism on Friday.
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