Locals in calamity prone talukas to be trained

TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services will have training programmes for local citizens living in the disaster prone talukas of Pernem, Sanguem and Sattari from January to prepare them in the event of a disaster.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Director Ashok Menon said the training campaign titled ‘Disaster Preparedness and Fire Safety’ will be organized to educate people about disaster preparedness as well as prepare them to deal with such eventualities.
“The training will include disaster preparedness, fire safety, proper and safe use of LPG at home, various electrical safety and other aspects,” he informed.
The phase-wise training will cover all 12 talukas during a specified period and to begin with, the department chose the three talukas considering they are the most affected with disasters like falling boulders and flash floods. Menon said phase-I training will continue till April.
The department has tied-up with three petroleum companies – Hindustan Petroleum Ltd, Bharat Petrolem and Indian Oil Corporation. “Using this training during exercises, these citizens can impart train to others and also assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event,” he said.
The department is already training several professionals from across the State and country, on fire safety and disaster management. Last year, State fire officers who are already trained abroad, have conducted 16 training courses for 2150 officers from other states at its heaquarters at St Inez. It earned Rs 21 lakh from the training. Menon told reporters that Union Ministry has appreciated the State Directorate for which it had also received an appreciation letter.
With State Disaster Response Force in the process of being formulated in Goa, the fire officers will train 200 policemen, home guards and civil defence and others post-Lusofonia Games on fire safety, medical first responder, swift water flood rescue and other safety measures. Menon said Shuweihat CMS International Power Company in Abu Dhabi, UAE has approached the Fire Department requesting to train their employees in this sector.
The department received a total 6341 distress calls all round the year wherein it saved nearly Rs 67 crores property and conducted 4035 fire prevention inspections all over. 
Seven Satellite Fire Stations: The process for land identification is underway except at Patto where the land has been identified. The six other areas are – Baga-Candolim-Calangute, Varca-Benaulim-Mobor, Majorda-Betalbatim, Anjuna-Vagator and Morjim-Mandrem-Arambol.
E-services: Menon said the department has set up help desks at all its 15 fire stations across the country who are trained to upload fire reports on its website, scan NOCs or other relevant documents, etc. The concerned person will get mobile updates, he said.
WOMEN FIRE FIGHTERS: In addition 1878 men fire fighters, women will now be a part of operational duties with the government accepting proposal for changing recruitment rules, which is now in its final stages. Goa will be the first state in the country to have women fire fighters while Chennai has women Fire Officers at Gazetted level. Menon said advertisement inviting women applicants for the Grade-C job will be released soon.
Lusofonia duty: The department has allotted 134 personnel for Lusofonia Games scheduled to begin on January 18, 2014 who will work in tandem with the Games organizing committee. Menon said fire prevention will be carried out at all six venues where the Games will be held. Motorcycle response teams, Quick Response Vehicles will also be stationed. Menon said they will hold a mock-drill a day prior to the event to prepare for any eventuality.