Mawthoh addresses 58th raising day celebration of CD&HG

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 8, 2020

“We are here to serve and not be served” said AR Mawthoh, Commandant General of Home Guards & Director of Civil Defence.

He was addressing at the 58th Raising Day Celebrations of the Civil Defence and Home Guards at CD & HG Parade Ground, Mawdiangdiang, Shillong on Tuesday.

Addressing the Civil Defence & Home Guards officers, jawans and guests, Mawthoh said that the department should serve the people and the state with utmost commitment and integrity. He further stated that all personnel are expected to maintain the highest standard of discipline and be respectful and obedient at all times.

At the same time, Mawthoh emphasised that “the welfare of the personnel in the Department has been accorded top priority and all genuine grievances will be addressed in the best possible way to boost their morale and confidence.”

Speaking about the department, Mawthoh said “The Civil Defence and Home Guards Department has grown by leaps and bounds in the recent years and now has a foothold in all eleven districts of Meghalaya as the Government has sanctioned 8 additional new posts of the Deputy Controllers of Civil Defence and staff for new District Home Guards Training Centres in Nongpoh, Nongstoin, Mawkyrwat, Khliehriat, Williamnagar, Baghmara, Resubelpara and Ampati during the current financial year.”

“This will enable this department to increase its disaster response mechanism and contribute immensely in community capacity building in the whole state” he added.

Highlighting the role of both the Civil Defence, Home Guards in the state, Mawthoh said that the “The two Organisations have made significant contributions at the time of natural and man-made calamities.”

He informed the gathering that the Department will be training 175 Home Guards Volunteers and 2140 Civil Defence Volunteers in 2019-20 throughout the State and this will help in generating employment opportunities for many youths in the State.

He said that the Department has deployed 1308 trained Home Guards volunteers to different agencies and 5476 Volunteers drawn from various NGOs, School and College students, Govt. Officials, etc have been trained in Disaster Management subjects till November 2019 with 12 Officers and personnel from the state being trained outside the State in 2019.

Highlighting the activities of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Mawthoh said that the Force since its inception has done a very commendable job to save lives of people in distress by demonstrating professionalism, determination and hard work, countering multiple challenges with bravery.

“The SDRF has been vital in conducting Search and Rescue operations following natural disaster in the State. It was deployed along with the NDRF during Cyclone FANI., drowning cases at Umiam Lake, Ri-Bhoi District and the ring well incident that took place at Diengiong, Mawdiangdiang, Search and Retrieval of bodies during mishaps at Nongshyrngan village, Umsohiong village, Umngot and Kyllang Rivers where the victims were swept away by the water currents” he said.

Mawthoh further added that the Department is taking necessary action to augment the capabilities of SDRF for tackling disasters such as floods and drowning in water bodies.

Mawthoh also highlighted the role of the Civil Defence, Home Guards and SDRF in the present COVID-19 pandemic and stated that the department has been at the forefront fighting the battle.

He saluted the warriors of this department at the frontline comprising of the officers, personnel, volunteers and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel for their bravery and utmost dedication to duty.

Earlier in the day, Mawthoh pinned the medals for President’s Home Guards and Civil Defence Medal for Distinguished Service and Home Guards and Civil Defence Medal for Meritorious Service to six Civil Defence and Home Guards personnel.

He also distributed the Director General Civil Defence Disc & Commendation Certificate, MHA, New Delhi 2019, to 16 recipients and the Commandant General of Home Guards and Director of Civil Defence Meghalaya Commendation Certificate, 2020 to 4 CD & HG personnel along with the Cash Awards.

Due to the present COVID 19 Pandemic, the Civil Defence and Home Guards Raising Day was celebrated in two venues viz Civil Defence & Home Guards Parade Ground in Mawdiangdiang and the District Home Guards Training Centre in Tura where MK Sangma, Jt.Commandant General of Home Guards & Jt. Director of Civil Defence was the Chief Guest.