Gujarat villagers get training in disaster management

Managing any disaster in rural areas has always remained a challenge for administration.

A training programme for people in 18 villages and students in 12 schools of Talala and Maliya Hati was organised by an NGO - Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) - to train them in rescue operations in case of earthquakes, cyclones, forest fire or any such natural calamity.

The programme focused on the strategy to be adopted to rescue people at the time of natural calamities till they get any outside assistance. The 15-month training programme, which started in July 2009, will end this month.

As part of the programme, a map was made with the help of the villagers which showed position of every house and information about people residing in it.

The rescue operation was planned giving priority to handicapped and unhealthy members and then women, children and others. The map showed the road by which one can reach the people and bring them to a safer place.

"In every village we formed a team of villagers which was further divided into four groups. Each group was given a special task which included providing medical facilities to giving first aid to the injured, besides search and rescue works," said Sameer Karia, project manager, FOCUS.