Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): In the wake of recent tension between India and Pakistan, particularly following the killing of tourists in Pahalgam, the need for a stronger civil defence mechanism has gained urgency.
Responding to this, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has asked Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education to mobilise National Service Scheme(NSS) volunteers for civil defence registration.
As per sources in the higher education department, the objective is to collect data on NSS volunteers who can be deployed as first responders during emergencies. This initiative will also help assess how many trained people are available in the state who could act as the first line of civil defence.
In a letter issued by the Ministry, principals and heads of educational institutions have been directed to encourage NSS volunteers to register themselves on the Government of India portal. Registration is voluntary, and so far, 3,035 NSS volunteers have completed the process out of a total 1.56 lakh volunteers in the state.
Bhopal district leads in registration with 219 NSS volunteers, the highest in Madhya Pradesh.
In addition to NSS members, Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) volunteers and youths aged 18 to 40 years are also eligible to register for civil defence duties.
Notably, during the peak of the recent Indo-Pak tension, mock civil defence drills were carried out in five major cities including Bhopal, Indore, and Gwalior. These drills were aimed at preparing citizens for potential emergency scenarios in case of enemy attacks.
