3,800 register for civil defence, wardens to be appointed for villages, sectors
In a major preparedness initiative, the UT Administration has begun training thousands of youth as civil defence volunteers despite the ongoing ceasefire. Nearly 3,800 young persons were registered on the first day of the drive held on Saturday.
According to officials, a civil defence warden will be appointed for every village and sector to lead volunteer efforts during emergencies. These youth will be trained in multiple areas such as first-aid, rescue operations, rumour control, evacuation and relief distribution. Volunteers will also be actively involved in social service and awareness campaigns across the city.
Though only 300 volunteers were officially invited, nearly 5,000 college and university students, working professionals and entrepreneurs turned up at the inaugural event, reflecting massive enthusiasm among the city’s youth. The Administration now plans to launch an online registration portal to include more volunteers who could not attend.
“The aim is not just to strengthen our emergency response, but also to foster a spirit of cooperation and civic responsibility,” said officials.
They further said that the training would be conducted in batches, equipping volunteers with skills for real-time disaster response. Besides emergency duties, volunteers will also support the Administration in conducting mock drills, spreading awareness during siren alerts and participating in social service drives to promote communal harmony.
Civil defence wardens will supervise the volunteer teams in their respective sectors and villages, ensuring swift and organised response in times of need. The Administration has also decided to increase the number of sirens in the city to facilitate mock drills and emergency alerts.
Youth asked to enrol as civil defence volunteers
To empower young citizens to take up vital roles in national cause, particularly during emergencies and crisis, MY Bharat, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, mobilises youth to enrol as MY Bharat civil defence volunteers. The initiative aims to build a well-trained, responsive and resilient volunteer force that can complement civil administration in times of natural disasters, accidents, public emergencies and other unforeseen situations.
The registration process is simple and accessible through the official MY Bharat portal: https://mybharat.gov.in. For more information, one can contact Vinay Kumar, district youth officer, MY Bharat – Chandigarh (9805832503), and Paramjit Singh, state director, MY Bharat – Punjab and Chandigarh (9855111034).
