ADVANI CALLS FOR MORE INVOLVEMENT
OF PEOPLE IN ACTIVITIES OF CIVIL DEFENCE
The Deputy Prime
Minister, Shri L.K. Advani has called for more & more involvement
of general public in the activities of Civil Defence and Home
Guard. He said this should be taken up as a people’s movement
for security and bring relief to the affected public in times
of any natural calamity or men made disaster. He was addressing
the two-day All India Conference of Civil Defence and Home Guard,
here today.
The Home Minister
lamented that somehow after independence an impression has been
created in the minds of the people that it is the job of the administration
and the Government to carry out such works. We will have to remove
this impression. Instead people in large numbers should come forward
to take up such works which helps building a healthy society.
He also gave examples of some regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat
where people themselves have built schools/colleges/roads and
such institutions which benefit the common mass.
Shri Advani said
the focus now should be for security, because security only can
ensure development in all spheres of life. He also referred to
the Gulf war which just began yesterday and hinted the role of
Civil Defence and Home Guards and also the involvement of people
in such a situation. He said such Conferences should be regularly
held as slated and it should not be viewed as of lesser important.
In his Welcome address
the DG, Civil Defence, Shri B.L. Vohra said that out of the 225
towns in the country listed for regular Civil Defence activities
only 119 have been activated. This is because of paucity of funds
with the State Governments concerned. He however, assured the
Conference that efforts will be made for activating all the towns
and cities enlisted for Civil Defence activities. He urged the
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister to extend his help and
advice in this regard. The two-day Conference will deliberate
on several issues concerning the healthy functioning of this organization
which is of vital importance at the time of crises.
