Volunteers conclave on Cachar flood response held in Silchar

way2barak, Dec.21: A one-day volunteers conclave on Cachar Flood Response was organised at Don Bosco School, Silchar by District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Cachar under the  patronage of Assam State Disaster Management Authority in collaboration with UNICEF, IAG Cachar and Deshabandhu Club here on Monday.

The programme was organised to acknowledge the selfless service of volunteers in helping in search and rescue operations and also extending humanitarian aid to victims of Cachar Flood 2022. Yubaraj Borthakur, CEO, DDMA, Cachar presided over the inaugural function and the conclave as chief guest with a host of eminent personalities from various institutions and disciplines. Almost 500 volunteers from NSS, NYK, Apaadamitras and NGOs participated in the conclave.

Speaking on the occasion, CEO DDMA Cachar and additional deputy commissioner, Yuvaraj Borthakur heartily acknowledged the services of volunteers in Cachar Flood Response activities and termed them as real heroes of community who worked hand in hand with trained institutional response agencies and personnel of line departments of Government in rescuing victims and providing essential items.

While talking part at the event, Dr. Kripaljyoti Mazumdar Project Officer (Response) ASDMA, appreciated the involvement of volunteers in Flood Response despite tremendous ground challenges and assured all possible support in mainstreaming local community volunteers with Govt agencies in strengthening collective preparedness and response activities. He suggested documentation of best practices of voluntarism on Cachar Flood Response 2022.

Relevant speeches were also delivered by Kishore Dutta Project Officer ( Training and Capacity building), ASDMA, Sanjib Sikdar,  President Deshbandhu Club cum Chairman, IAG, Bro. Reggy Vice Chairman IAG, Swapan Ashangbum, Dr. G Albin Programme Officer, NSS unit Assam University Silchar, Prof. Tineswari Devi, HoD Social Work Dept. Assam University, Silchar, Mehboob Alam LasKar, Dy. Director NYKS, Cachar, Dr. Rajib Gupta, DRR Consultant among others.

Almost 10 volunteers both boys and girls representing various institutions and organisations individually  shared their experience and learnings in response and rehabilitation activities with all attendees. Each volunteer was handed a certificate of appreciation issued by the Deputy Commissioner Cum Chairman DDMA, Cachar Rohan Jha, as token of acknowledgement of their selfless service in flood response and urging them to continue inspiring youths of their locality  to adopt voluntarism in DRR Practices and humanitarian response activities.

Earlier, Shamim Ahmed Laskar, DPO, DDMA Cachar welcomed all the guests and volunteers and while explaining the need and context of such conclave extended warm welcome to all and thanked all the stake holders for which the conclave was possible. The conclave ended with a vote of thanks by Debajit Gupta, Coordinator IAG, Cachar.