The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Disaster management training for Home Guards

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Monday, Feb 04, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Disaster management training for Home Guards

Staff Reporter

It will give them additional skills to earn a living

BANGALORE: C.R. Harish, a young Home Guard from Mandya, minced no words when he said: “We are remembered only when there is a law and order problem. No one cares about us later. Now I have something more for which I will be called for.”

Mr. Harish and 44 others are from the first batch of Home Guards who have been through the three-month training programme called “Civil Engineering Skills in Disaster Management”, at the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation.

It is being given with the twin objective of providing Home Guards with an avenue to earn a livelihood and also to give them skills to be part of disaster management. “Many of the Home Guards are unemployed,” said the Chairman and Managing Director of KSPHC R. Sri Kumar on Saturday. Said Mr. Harish: “The training has taught me skills that will help me earn a living. It has also given me the confidence in playing a useful role in handling disasters in our area.”

The Home Guards have been trained in construction activities such as bar bending, masonry, plumbing and electrical wiring. In addition, they have been trained in fire fighting, handling wireless communication, traffic management and first aid. Apart from theory, the Home Guards were made to practise their skills at the field sites. The participants were also given kits to help them in plumbing, electrical repair and other construction work.

On-hand service

This batch of Home Guards is the first of 11 batches to be trained by the KSPHC as a part of its initiative to build the capacity of children of police personnel. “We extended this training to Home Guards to provide them with an avenue to earn while they are not performing duties related to Home Guards,” Mr. Kumar said, and added, “We will also have on-hand the services of these men during disasters.” K.L. Mohan Rao, President of Construction Industry Development Association, said the construction industry was in crying need of trained and disciplined work force.

Requirement

He said the trained Home Guards will be considered as “skilled employees”. Chandrashekar Hariharan, Chief Executive Officer of Biodiversity Conservation India, presented appointment orders to 35 personnel to work in their firm’s eco-friendly construction projects.

Director General of Police and Commandant Home Guards Jija Madavan Harisingh said many more Home Guards would undergo the training programme. There are about 20,000 Home Guards in the State. “We are preparing a specially trained and motivated group that will be in a position to handle any task,” she said.

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