Jammu, Sept 14 (JKNS): The first day of a three-day Community First Responders Training Workshop, organised by ActionAid India in Jammu, brought together around 130 first responders from 10 districts of Jammu & Kashmir to strengthen community-level preparedness and emergency response capacities.
The training brought together first responders and representatives from SDRF, Fire & Emergency Services, Police, Civil Administration, Mission Shakti, civil society and humanitarian organisations, providing participants with practical knowledge on disaster preparedness, early warning, rescue, evacuation, coordination and community-led response.
Sheikh Nadiya Habib, State Lead, ActionAid India, J&K, highlighted the importance of the Humanitarian Action School (HAS) and its essence of Relief, Recovery, Rehabilitation and Resilience. She emphasised that humanitarian action must uphold dignity, rights and participation, while recognising communities as active first responders and leaders of recovery.
Senior representatives and practitioners, including Sh Mohammad Aslam, IPS, Commandant 2nd Battalion SDRF Jammu; Er Himanshu Gandotra, Deputy Director Fire & Emergency Services J&K; Ms Athira, JKAS, Tehsildar Mandal; Dr Ruchi Thakur and Ms Shagun Manchanda from Mission Shakti; Shri Tajinder Singh, SI, Police Station Channi; and the Founder of The Sara Foundation, shared valuable field experiences and insights on disaster preparedness, youth engagement, women’s participation, innovation and stronger coordination at the grassroots.
The speakers appreciated ActionAid India’s initiative, describing the training as an important effort to bring together local first responders, government agencies, civil society and communities to build practical capacities for disaster response.
The first day reinforced a clear message: preparedness begins before disaster strikes, and empowered communities are the first line of response.
The three-day workshop will continue with practical learning and capacity building aimed at strengthening a network of trained, confident and community-based first responders across Jammu & Kashmir. (JKNS)
