As part of celebration of National Disaster Reduction Day yesterday, the District Disaster Management Authority, East Khasi Hills District honoured three distinguished deep divers and one Village Disaster Management Committee (VDMC) for their key contribution and selfless service to disaster response and management in the district and also for showing tremendous courage during disasters and difficult times.
The programme was held at the Central Training Institute, Mawdiangdiang and was attended by Isawanda Laloo, Deputy Commissioner and Chairperson (DDMA) as chief guest. Others who were present include Hepzibah Mabel Kynta, Additional Deputy Commissioner and CEO of DDMA, East Khasi Hills District, Joint Director Civil Defence and Home Guards, officers from the DDMA, SDMA, district Administration, police, Fire and Emergency Services, headmen and Appda Mitra volunteers.
Ridenstar Mawpat of Warbah under Khatarshnong-Laitkroh C&RD Block, Tarsan Khongshei of Mawsohmad and Tyngngait Khongshei of Mawsohmad village under Khatarshnong-Laitkroh C&RD Block are deep divers who had retrieved dead bodies from the deepest part of Kyllang river located at Laitlyngkot, Nongthymmai Lumthangding who died from drowning.
The distinguished divers had exhibited tremendous courage and skills to retrieve dead bodies from rivers, which were difficult to venture due to the terrain conditions and strong current of water.
The VDMC of Kenmynsaw along with the villagers of the area was able to rescue people trapped inside a house during the landslide which occurred on June 17 this year.
The DDMA has also distributed the Emergency Responder Kits to 202 Aapda Mitra volunteers who have completed the training organised by DDMA from the month of May to September under the guidance of experts from Civil Defence and Home Guards, Fire and Emergency Service etc under the scheme “Upscaling of Aapda Mitra”.
The NDMA in partnership with the SDMA, Meghalaya is implementing the Aapda Mitra scheme in East Khasi Hills with an aim to develop the capacity and skills of the community so that they can deal with disasters in a more pragmatic manner. The volunteers trained are from different blocks and localities under Shillong area.
The trained volunteers were provided with protective equipment/emergency responder kits comprising of life jackets, torch or emergency light, safety gloves, pocket knife, first aid kit, gas lighter, whistle, water bottle, rucksack and mosquito net, T-shirt with NDMA logo, gumboots, safety goggles, safety helmet.
The DDMA has made an effort to translate the Aapda Mitra Handbook into Khasi language with the assistance of a translator who is well versed with the concept of disaster management and response.
Each volunteer was also given a handbook to capacitate them and keep themselves updated and informed of the disaster responding skills. The volunteers will be covered under an insurance scheme identified by the government.
