Community Volunteer Programme – Apada Mitra

About the Programme

Community Volunteer Programme named “Aapda Mitra” is a programme under cooperation of National Disaster Management Authority, State Disaster Management 

Authority, Greater Chennai Corporation and Tamilnadu Commando Training Academy was held in Chennai during August and September of 2018. It is aimed to improve resilience capacity of society to respond immediately when a disaster stuck.

Chennai being one of the disaster prone area for multiple hazards ranges from flooding, Cyclone and Tsunami. Chennai is one of the 26 Districts at national levels keeping in mind Chennai floods 2015 and Cyclone Vardha 2016 to train 200 Community Volunteers.

OLI’s Participation

Oli Organisation got request from Chennai Corporation Zone 8 to participate in National
Disaster Management Authority’s “Community Volunteer Programmme”. We have sent fifteen
willing volunteers.

Objectives

– Create batch of First Responders to society
– Inculcate the habit of Volunteer-ship in youth
It was immense pleasure and learning experience for volunteers who take part 12 days,
week end program of “Aapdamitra Flood Disaster Response Course”.

It had covered,

1. Basics of Disaster Management in general and floods in particular.
2. Flood rescue Drill, flood water behavior.
3. Uses of boats, ropes and other safety equipments.
4. Practical works on how to use life jackets, life buoys, under water search and rescue,
   recovery.
5. Transportation and handling of casualties.
6. Swimming aids and Varies types of rope brides
7. Flood protection methods like sand bag walls etc.
8. Flood survival techniques and impacts of Heat, cold and Moisture, Escape procedure and Self
   rescue.
9. Methods of using Motor boats.
10. Uses of communication equipments etc.
    – All this session includes in-site practical classes like swimming, boat riding and scuba diving
    by officials of National Disaster Response Forces.
    – We, Oli organization is immensely happy to help and to improve our society preparedness
    for natural calamities.
    – It is also opportunity to learn this kind of basic skills to respond in emergency situations.