The Hindu : People too have a role in country's security: Advani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 22, 2003

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People too have a role in country's security: Advani

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MARCH 21. The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, today advocated a greater role for ordinary people in dealing with the country's security. Speaking at the 12th Civil Defence and Home Guards conference, he said he realised this aspect while on a recent visit to the aircraft carrier, Viraat.

Mr. Advani said the dominant ideology of India's post-Independence governments had led people to believe that it was the responsibility of the State and the Government to ensure the development and security of the country. The country "is at a stage where the rulers and the ruled must play their part''.

It was through Civil Defence and the Home Guards that ordinary people could be involved in various aspects of security.

There was a role for volunteer corps not only in the country's security but also during times of natural disaster. He said the Civil Defence Act would be amended to extend the remit of Civil Defence and Home Guards to disaster management.

Mr. Advani said disasters could be converted into a ``boon'' if they were handled well. Due to the role played by people in places such as Gujarat, massive disasters had become "massive opportunities". After the flood in Morbi, in which many people died, the town was rebuilt.

It was a better town after the flood than before.

The same was the case with Surat after the plague. Mr. Advani said post-plague Surat was much cleaner.

On his many visits to Kutch since the earthquake two years ago, he said he had found that villages and towns that had been built anew were improvements on the ones flattened by the quake.

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