KATRA: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board under the overall guidance of N. N. Vohra, Chairman (Governor) undertook proactive steps towards preparing of a comprehensive Disaster Management Plan of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine to effectively manage any natural or manmade disasters/ crisis. The plan had been prepared with the help of professionals in the area of Disaster management with a holistic approach, following international principles on Disaster Risk Reduction laid out in the ‘Hyogo Frame Work of Action’ covering various aspects of disaster management i.e. preparedness, response, coordination and mitigation.
As per its Disaster Management Plan, the Shrine Board regularly organises Basic and Advance Training Courses for its employees with the help of experts including NDRF. So far 2,300 employees have been provided hands on training in different aspects of disaster management and 35 rounds of such programmes have been organised. Besides, the Shrine Board also conducts regular in-house training through its own Master Trainers.
In series of the said capacity building exercise a five days training was organised by the Shrine Board for its employees in the Spiritual Growth Centre, Katra. Before commencement of the training a detail review of the disaster preparedness was taken by the Board functionaries which was attended by Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Shiv Kumar Sharma, Board Member, Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Chief Executive Officer and other senior officers of the Shrine Board. Thereafter the advance training programme comprising Risk Assessment, Fire and Medical First Responder, Rope Rescue, Search and Rescue Techniques and Simulation Exercises was conducted. The trainees were exposed to practical scenarios in outdoor sessions which was held at a field location at Mand (near Tikri) which helped the trainees to enhance their level of confidence in Search and Rescue Operations. At the end of the session a simulation exercise was also conducted by creating a disaster situation in which the participants actively demonstrated the acquired techniques in an effective manner.
Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board informed that as part of its Disaster Management Plan the Shrine Board has constituted its own Disaster Management Task Force (DMTF) comprising 46 members who have been given Advance Training in disaster preparedness. Regular mock drills are also conducted to check the level of their competence and preparedness. Besides, the Shrine Board has established number of Disaster Management Stores at various locations on Yatra routes which are equipped with latest equipments related to Search and Rescue.
In its last meeting the Shrine Board has also decided to set up its own Emergency Operation Centre at Katra, with other sub-centres on Yatra-route for effectively managing any disaster or crisis situation. The Shrine Board is also developing a Master Plan for its communication system to support its upcoming Emergency Operation Centre(s).