Disaster mgmt training for NCC cadets

Started at the initiative of the Governor of Maharashtra,who is the chancellor of all universities in the state,in 2007,the first ‘AVHAN’ training camp was organized by the Shivaji University,Kolhapur,in May 2007. The second camp was organized by the Kavi Kulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University,Remtek,in August 2008. And the third camp was organised at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University,Aurangabad,in 2009.

Under ‘AVHAN’,a platoon of 30 NCC Cadets (20 boys and10 girls) from each of the 35 districts in Maharashtra (in all 1,200 NCC Cadets) are provided training in Disaster Management by the Maharashtra Directorate of NCC. Cadets are trained in areas like first-aid and medical assistance,rescue operation and administration including precautionary measures.

Wing Commander VM(G) Ajay Kaul,one of the officials imparting training to the students,said,“ We at AVHAN are basically the responders to disaster and we are called ‘Chancellor’s brigade. Around 40 instructors from National Civil Defence College at Nagpur have come specially to assist us in training the cadets. Out of 1,200 NCC cadets 350 are girls and 850 boys.”

Mridul Nile,director of students welfare,Mumbai University,said,“The training mainly covers three aspects such as how to handle the situation from an administrative point of view,how to provide instant medical assistance and participate in actual rescue operations in the event of man-made disasters like riots or natural calamities including earthquake and floods etc.”

Cadets taking training say this is an golden opportunity for them. Shaikh Mohammed Ziauddin (18),a cadet from Thane district at the camp,said,“ This is a proper commando like training,and I am learning a lot. This is a golden opportunity for student like us.”

Another student from Mumbai,Sagar Mishra (18),said,“The training will not only help me professionally but also personally.”