Chief Minister Vijay bhai Rupani on Monday expressed a determination to formulate ‘Yuva Shakti Sena’ ((Youth Power Brigade) for rehabilitation and rebuilding while facing the natural disasters.
The Chief Minister launched ‘Aapada Mitras’ (Friends during Disasters) training programme organised in Gandhinagar for selected 2,000 youngsters by the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA).
Gujarat is the only state in the country to have ministry for disaster management, said Rupani. The objective of the training is that that these volunteers of Aapada Mitras will give effective support to the district administration during the time of the disasters.
These 2,000 volunteers will be given training to dive in deep-waters and carry out search and rescue operations. The Aapada Mitras would be trained with latest technologies, equipments and techniques to ensure minimum lost during the time of disasters.
The Chief Minister also recalled the vital role played by the GSDMA in saving lives and properties during the devastated earthquake of year-2001. The state had set-up an example by formulating the first disaster management authority in the country. A team of GSDMA also helped in rescue and rehabilitation operation after devastating earthquake in neighboring Nepal, he said.
The disaster management and labour employment minister Dilip Thakor said it is in the trait of Gujarat to convert a disaster into an opportunity. He also recalled that how Prime Minister Mr. Narendrabhai Modi, who was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat, and present Chief Minister Mr. Rupani had turned the earthquake of year-2001 and the flood of year-2017, respectively, into opportunities to serve the people of state.
He also stated that over 33,000 students and 57,820 teachers of schools and colleges are being trained by 257 trainers to help the administration in the time of disasters.