The inaugural training program of the Civil Defence Wardens and Volunteers, organized by the department of Home Guards, Civil Defence and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Nagaland was held on 18th November 2025 at the Council Hall, Zeliangrong Ram Colony, Dimapur. The programme was chaired by Viboto H. Sumi, SI.
Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, Dr. Tinojongshi Chang in his speech, emphasised the crucial role of trained volunteers in disaster management. Chang said that the trainees should consider the training as a privilege and urged all volunteers to take it seriously. He emphasized that the training was not only important for the individual but also for the larger public.
He noted that Nagas as a community are very willing and forthcoming, always ready to help one another. Having knowledge of safety measures and first aid, he said, it is crucial to equips individuals to prevent injuries and assist the injured when the need arises. He encouraged all participants to complete the course sincerely.
Chang reminded the trainees that Nagaland is an incident-prone area where disasters can strike unexpectedly. Therefore, it is essential to know how to act and what steps to take during such situations. He added that people should not rely solely on the government during emergencies, as the first line of defence is always the public itself. “Our family and neighbours are our first priority,” he said, stressing that Civil Defence knowledge is vital both in pre-disaster preparedness and post-disaster response.
He further called upon the volunteers to support the government with manpower whenever required and expressed hope that the training would equip and empower the public to respond more effectively during emergencies. He urged the participants to utilise the training as an opportunity to build resilience within their communities and support government initiatives during emergencies and natural calamities.
In his opening remarks, M. Yingnyei Konyak, District Commandant, HG, CD & SDRF, Dimapur underscored the importance of strengthening community-based disaster response mechanisms and urged the trainees to take the programme seriously in order to enhance local preparedness.
The training scheduled from 18th to 24th November 2025, has drawn more than 50 youths and will cover key areas such as disaster management and mitigation, rescue techniques and the use of rescue equipment, basic fire science and fire fighting, search and rescue operations, first aid, and related emergency response skills.
The programme concluded with closing remarks from the Chairperson, a detailed training briefing for the participants.
(I. Tiakumla Ao, IA Dimapur)
