Chennai: The first batch of over 100 women disaster combatants and rescuers has been inducted in the country’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
An all-women team of NDRF personnel was recently deployed for contingency duties on the banks of the Ganga river in Uttar Pradesh’s Garh Mukteshwar town, a senior force official said.
“The first women rescuers’ team is already on ground. Recently, the UP government requisitioned an NDRF team and they (women) went there (Garh Mukteshwar). The team handled the rescue boats and related equipment,” NDRF director general SN Pradhan said.
“These personnel have all the skills to be called complete rescuers,” he added.
The move to include women personnel in the NDRF combat ranks was in the works for some time.
More than 100 women personnel have joined the NDRF over the last few months and they are being deputed with its battalions across the country as soon as they finish their pre-induction course and training, the DG said.
He said the numbers are expected to go over 200 women personnel in the near future.
The female personnel who are joining are in the constabulary and sub-officer (Sub Inspector and Inspector) ranks. As per authorisation, each NDRF battalion of over 1,000 personnel can have 108 woman rescuers.
Pradhan, however, said as there are ‘pre-existing’ vacancies in the feeder agencies or the paramilitary forces who send them to the disaster response force on deputation, it will take more time for the full strength of female combatants to join.
The DG said the women personnel will add to the strength and skills of the force in rescuing disaster victims and even in calamity mitigation.
“We can deploy both components of an all-woman NDRF team or a mix squad of male and female personnel for responding to a situation. We prefer the second because if there is a complement of women personnel it makes a great difference on the ground where women, children and old persons are being rescued,” Pradhan said.
He said the initial feedback to the first women’s team in disaster combat has been good.
“They are performing well. From initial feedback, I think they will be a great efficiency multiplier and also a great symbol of pride, inclusion and gender sensitivity which is also part of the Prime Minister’s ten-point agenda for disaster response,” he said.