Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral
Panaji, Goa: In a significant step towards strengthening the state’s disaster mitigation and response capabilities, the Office of the Home Guards and Civil Defence, Altinho, successfully concluded a seven-day ‘Capacity Building Training’ programme on March 2, 2026.
The initiative focused on essential disaster management techniques, rescue operations, and emergency preparedness. The programme was organised under the guidance of the Director General of Police (DGP), Commandant General of Home Guards, and Director of Civil Defence, in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Speaking at the inauguration, Superintendent of Police (SP) Francis Corte urged participants to convert their willingness to help into professional life-saving skills. He encouraged volunteers to remain prepared for any emergency situation and to assist communities through structured rescue operations.
Ezilda D’Souza, Deputy Commandant General of Home Guards and Deputy Director of Civil Defence, described volunteers as the backbone of national security and community resilience. Addressing the closing ceremony, she said the training would empower participants with the confidence to serve society with dignity and efficiency.
Throughout the week, expert instructors conducted sessions covering key operational areas, including:
Firefighting and Emergency Response, led by instructor Satyavan Gawas
Technical Operations, including Wireless Unit operations, First Aid, and Disaster Management
Media Management during Emergencies, delivered by John Aguiar, highlighting the importance of responsible communication during crises
Dr. Viraj Parab (CDMO) noted that the newly trained batch of volunteers is now equipped with fundamental first aid and civil defence knowledge, making them “field-ready” to respond effectively during emergencies.
Community and Collective Responsibility
Chief Warden Mohan Deshprabhu emphasised that while the spirit of philanthropy is common, it requires structured guidance to be truly effective. The programme also featured addresses by John Aguiar, Adv. Avinash Bhosale, Rupesh Parvatkar, Vijay Surlakar, and Adv. Harsha Naik.
The training concluded with the distribution of certificates to participants. The Office of the Home Guards and Civil Defence continues to encourage citizens to volunteer and contribute to strengthening Goa’s disaster preparedness and community safety framework.
The ceremony was attended by Constable Instructor Rajan N. Zhore, Lady Home Guard Dilshad Yakalashpurkar, and Civil Defence volunteers Adv. Neeti Damodar Naik Mayekar and Omkar Gupta.
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