Kakkodi has become the first grama panchayat in Kozhikode district to have a full-fledged Community Rescue Volunteers (CRV) team with 105 members trained by the Fire and Rescue Services Department.
Minister for Local Administration K.T. Jaleel will inaugurate the formal induction ceremony of the newly trained CRV team at Kakkodi on Friday. A public demonstration on how to fight gas leakage too will be part of the inaugural ceremony.
Project convener A. Shajilkumar says the local panchayat now boasts of a five-member CRV team in each of its 21 wards. All volunteers in the team have been trained well in basic rescue operations, and to support the Fire department during unexpected calamities, he adds.
The CRV scheme, which was proposed by Director of Fire and Rescue Services A. Hemachandran, aims at equipping the local community in mitigating disasters, and promptly handling rescue operations during calamities without waiting for the arrival of Fire and Rescue squad. Students and members of various voluntary organisations too will be part of the regional CRV teams.
“The strange situation now during emergency situations in many of the areas is that people just play the role of onlookers. CRV aims at changing this practice and make all people equipped in managing disasters,” says Mr. Shajilkumar who is also a leader of the Kerala Fire Services Association.
All the trained members will be given identity cards and special jersey to be used during their job, he adds.
Fire and Rescue Department officers say the CRV initiative, which was officially launched by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on April 6, 2017 with the participation of 300 members, has been evoking a very warm response from various circles.
Several other districts in Kerala too have come up with their groups with the participation of students, merchants and voluntary organisations to support the new concept, they point out.
