NYKS to Prepare Disaster Response Teams for Disaster Risk Reduction

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) under Department of Youth Affairs of MoYAS has taken up an initiative on preparing Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) of NYKS Youth Volunteers for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in collaboration with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

It is proposed to establish institutional mechanism for organised and structured engagement of NYKS by creating Block Level Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) of volunteers as first responders in NDRF selected hazard prone districts. It is also proposed to cover such districts in India in a phased manner in collaboration with NDRF, State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMA), and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMA).

Initially, institutional mechanism for organised and structured engagement of NYKS by creating Block Level Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) of volunteers as first responders is going to be on a pilot basis in 32 multi-hazard Districts of 28 States/UTs. Further, 295 blocks have been selected in districts across India and  30 young volunteers are to be selected from each block. Around 8,850 volunteers will thus be trained through 6 days customised training at 12 battalions of NDRF during the year 2019-2020.

A video conference was organised by NDRF and NYKS with State Directors of 28 States and District Youth Coordinators of 32 Districts on August 9, 2019, to brief them about the initiative and how to go about the project. A One Day Workshop for SDs and DYCs of NYKS was successfully conducted in Ghaziabad, UP, on  August 19, 2019.

The first training batches of DRTs of NYKS Youth Volunteers for Disaster Risk Reduction training has commenced from  September 2, 2019, and will continue till  September 7, 2019, and  13 Districts’ Nehru Yuva Kendras have sent 30 youth volunteers each. Around 390 volunteers which include more than 100 female participants are attending the training programsmes. The trained NYKS Youth Volunteers will work as DRTs and will be called as ‘NDRF- friends’.

An online database is being created by registering the volunteers on NYKS portal and the data will be shared with NDMA/SDMA/DDMA for future communication with the volunteers.

Each concerned NYKS District Youth Coordinator will prepare an Action Plan in consultation with DDMA and approval of DM concerned for continued community level engagement of trained volunteers which would include deployment of trained volunteers in the District Control Rooms/Emergency Operation Centres, normal time DRR and other activities; undertaking mock drills at local levels; generating DRR awareness amongst village communities; peer education; addressing Gram Sabha meetings on DRR; encourage participation at events such as January 26 Parade etc.

Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan is the largest grassroot level youth organization, of its kind in the world. Over the years, NYKS has established a network of youth volunteers through its 623 District Kendras, according to a PIB release.