Training of civil defence master trainers underway at Central Training Institute

DIMAPUR — Following the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Directorate General Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards, MHA, and the Directorate of Civil Defence, Home Guards and SDRF, Nagaland, on June 9, 2025, a training for civil defence master trainers was launched at the Central Training Institute (CTI) in Toluvi village, Dimapur, on October 10.

An update from the Directorate of Civil Defence, Home Guards and SDRF, Nagaland, stated that civil defence officer trainees from Nagaland and Manipur are undergoing the training. The MoU mandates training of master trainers and civil defence wardens and civil defence volunteers in the 10 categorised civil defence districts of Nagaland.

The 21-day training of master trainers programme on capacity building and preparedness was an initiative under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which envisioned strengthening the first response capacity of the states and UT against any disasters and emergencies.

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It stated that civil defence officer trainees from both Nagaland and Manipur would be imparted intensive training on civil defence and disaster management skills including VHF, HF, UHF emergency communication systems, air raid warning system, collapsed structure search and rescue (CSSR), reconnaissance and damage assessment with components on emergency methods of rescue (EMR), medical first responders (MFR) as well as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) first responder training.

Altogether, 20 from Nagaland and 10 trainees from Manipur are undergoing the training.

It stated that the scheme for capacity building of civil defence was necessitated post the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, and the subsequent war-like situation that arose between India and Pakistan. It aims to create a strong civil defence base across the country that would be effective in dealing with crisis situations, whether man-made or natural disasters.

Speaking at the inaugural function, Renchamo P Kikon, Director General of Home Guards, Civil Defence & SDRF, underscored the important role of civil defence in the country. He informed that the 21-day programme was designed to train civil defence trainers of Nagaland and Manipur, who in turn would train civil defence wardens and civil defence volunteers in their respective states.

He mentioned the mandate of Civil Defence and Home Guards to train 3600 civil defence wardens and civil defence volunteers in Nagaland spread across 10 civil defence designated districts.

“This training will not only empower the community at large but also create a sizeable pool of trained volunteers that will augment the forces available on ground during the crisis for disaster mitigation and disaster management purposes,” Kikon said.

He emphasised the vital role of the civil defence wardens in acting as the bridge between the district administration and community of civil defence volunteers. The master trainers were told to inspire confidence and instill a sense of responsibility among the civil defence wardens and volunteers in the days to come.

While welcoming the trainees especially from the state of Manipur, the DG expressed his confidence that such combined training of officers from the two states would foster bonhomie and stronger ties not only in time of crises but also during the normal discharge of one’s duties particularly in those areas sharing borders with each other.

He further encouraged the officer trainees to cultivate and sustain a functional networking relationship among them.

The programme was chaired by M Yingnyei Konyak, district commandant, Dimapur, who also delivered the vote of thanks.