Home guards to be part of disaster management

BS Reporter / New Delhi April 29, 2008

Home guards, a voluntary civil defence force available with state governments, would be involved in the disaster management throughout the country.

This was announced by Radhika V Selvi, minister of state, Home affairs, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Selvi said that the centre has already directed the state governments to incorporate the services of civic defence volunteers in tackling disaster.

The Centre, she said, had also drawn up a comprehensive plan for involvement of the home gaurds in the crisis management and a provision for its implementation is being incorporated in the 11th five year plan.

This move is based on the recommendation of a committee, headed by K M Singh, member, National disaster management Authority, that had examined the feasibility of involving the home guards in the disaster management.