Director-cum-Special Secretary (Revenue) DC Rana informed that under the first phase of the Aapda Mitra Scheme, 1,500 volunteers have been trained in disaster response across nine districts of the state. He said that his scheme was proving beneficial in enhancing community-level disaster preparedness in the state.
He said that in the second phase, the Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme (YAMS) was being implemented in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA).
A total of 4,070 youth volunteers from the NCC, NSS, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and Bharat Scouts & Guides (BS&G) will undergo a seven-day residential training. They will also receive Emergency Response Kits (ERKs) and Life & Medical Insurance coverage for three years.
He further informed that the training will be conducted at ABVIMAS and Home Guard & Civil Defence training centres, while the District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) will oversee implementation at the district level.
Additionally, 20 master trainers from the state are undergoing an advanced Training of Trainers (ToT) programme at the Central Training Institute, Kot Bhalwal, Jammu, from 3rd to 20th March 2025. These trainers will play a key role in strengthening disaster preparedness across Himachal.
DC Rana said that this initiative aligns with the ongoing efforts of the state government under the “Creation of Task Force of Youth Volunteers for Disaster Preparedness and Response”, which has already trained over 24,500 volunteers.
