First Meeting of the State Civil Defence Advisory Committee Held in Jaipur
Jaipur, May 10 – In the wake of escalating hostilities between India and Pakistan, Rajasthan Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant chaired the inaugural meeting of the State Civil Defence Advisory Committee to assess and bolster civil defence preparedness across the state.The high-level meeting comes on the heels of India's retaliatory strikes on May 7, following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that left 25 tourists and a local resident dead.
Comprehensive Directions Issued Across Departments
During the review, Chief Secretary Pant issued key directives to enhance preparedness in critical sectors such as disaster management, electricity supply, medical services, and essential commodities. Departments including Home Guards, Fire Services, Civil Defence, district administrations, and the State Disaster Management Authority were instructed to adopt proactive measures for swift implementation of these directives.He emphasized the need for effective drills encompassing siren alerts for air strikes, blackout procedures, fire response strategies, search and rescue operations, casualty evacuation, and first aid provisions.
Public Awareness and Community Involvement Stressed
Underscoring the role of public awareness, Pant stated that community-level preparedness is vital in managing any future disaster scenarios. He reiterated the importance of civil defence efforts not just during emergencies but also in peacetime for the protection of life and property.Plans for Volunteer Enrolment and Mock Drills
The chief secretary also reviewed enrolment strategies for civil defence wardens and volunteer units, including those from the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and National Service Scheme (NSS). Focus was placed on identifying sensitive areas, establishing early warning systems, conducting blackout and evacuation drills, and ensuring continuity of emergency services such as fire safety, medical aid, and food and water supply.Civil Defence Department Director Jagjeet Singh Monga presented a detailed overview of the state's current civil defence infrastructure.
Senior Officials in Attendance
The meeting was attended by several key officials, including:- Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Anand Kumar
- Principal Secretary (Medical and Health) Gayatri Rathore
- DISCOMs Chairperson Aarti Dogra
- Director General of Police (Intelligence) Sanjay Agrawal
- Additional Director General (Civil Rights) Malini Agrawal
- Additional Director General (SDRF) Hawa Singh Ghumaria