Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has launched a special enrolment drive to significantly increase the number of civil defence volunteers across the state, following concerns over a sharp decline in active personnel. The initiative aims to raise the strength of the force to 10,000 volunteers by March, officials said.
At present, Odisha has only about 1,071 active civil defence volunteers, far below the required operational strength. The shortfall has prompted the state administration to intensify recruitment efforts to enhance preparedness for emergencies and disasters.
As part of the drive, the government plans to tap into the experience of ex-servicemen and encourage participation from National Cadet Corps (NCC) volunteers. To make the process more inclusive, age and educational eligibility criteria have been relaxed, enabling a wider section of citizens to enrol.
District collectors have been designated as the controlling and enrolling authorities for the programme, while fire officers will serve as deputy controllers to assist in coordination and implementation at the district level.
In parallel with recruitment, the state government has proposed expanding civil defence operations beyond the existing 12 districts to cover 13 additional regions. This expansion is intended to strengthen emergency response capabilities across Odisha.
Officials also said that detailed training manuals are being prepared to upgrade the skills of volunteers. Training will focus on evacuation procedures, disaster management, and protection measures against chemical, biological, and nuclear threats.
The enrolment drive forms part of a broader effort by the Odisha government to reinforce community-based emergency response systems and improve overall public safety infrastructure in the state.
-OdishaAge
