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"Time to make civil defence a national movement"

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has said it is time civil defence became a national movement so that victims of disasters and acts of terrorism could be helped more effectively and quickly.

Addressing a gathering of hundreds of civil defence volunteers at their first ever rally organised by the Civil Defence Department here on Monday, Mr. Patil said every neighbourhood, colony, village and market should have civil defence volunteers who could be the first to respond to any disaster and should be trained to deal with terrorist acts besides working in close coordination with the police.

All support

He also promised all possible support to the Civil Defence and Home Guards departments all over the country.

More than 200 women instructors trained by the Civil Defence Department demonstrated self-defence techniques.

The department has reached out to more than 200 schools and colleges, besides residential areas, in the Capital and trained over 10,000 women and girl students in self-defence techniques.

Director-General (Home Guards) and Director (Civil Defence) Kiran Bedi requested the Home Minister to declare July 10 as wCivil Defence Day so that people's attention could be drawn towards this vital aspect of disaster management.

The Civil Defence Act was passed by Parliament on this day in 1968. Mr. Patil also released a CD and a newsletter on disaster management.

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