A collaborative programme on training on the task force and distribution of emergency kits was organized in Karimganj Indian Red Cross Society conference hall in collaboration with District Disaster Management Authority and Indian Red Cross Society Karimganj, Assam. The programme was organized for six days from 1st of July to 6th of July, 2019 the participants were from 15 project implementing villages of two blocks Patharkandi and Lowairpuwa of Karimganj District of Assam. Caritas India with the support of HCL is implementing the direct project in the villages. The participants were from the task force groups of the respective 15 villages representing the three sub-groups of task force namely Early Warning, search & rescue & First Aid.

At the inauguration session, the DPO of DDMA was present with the Honourable Secretary of Indian Red Cross society to motivate and show regards to Caritas India for taking such initiative in such interior places where the people really need it. In the community sensitization session, the resource person shared how community participation can help to reduce the effect of flood or any kind of disaster. He also talked about different types of disasters and the various techniques to use the local resources to mitigate the impact of the disaster.

On the second session the meaning of task force was explained, ‘Temporary group of people formed to carry out a specific mission or project, or to solve a problem that requires a multi-disciplinary approach’.  A task force comprising youths will be formed under the guidance of concerned authority to facilitate quick intervention for relief and rescue during outbreaks of natural calamities and disasters. These are different from the committees as these are temporary and has broader powers of action and decision, greater responsibilities for investigation, analysis, planning, and research. Generic rules and responsibility of the task force groups have been explained to the participants.

Each Task Force group includes voluntary representatives from public officials, regulatory agencies, residents and other entities. The responsibilities of the Task Force members are to attend all scheduled meetings to the extent possible and participate in discussions and activities. Keeping the broader community up to date on the progress of the study based on detailed information provided by the TFG. Working to achieve a general project understanding among all interested parties and the public. In carrying out these functions, the Task Forces will play an important role in defining the area’s important features, identifying improvement preferences, and understanding the project’s potential impacts.

The Task Forces will be conducted based on a set of ground rules that form the basis for the respectful interaction of all parties involved in this process. These ground rules will not be considered final until they are agreed upon by the Task Force members. All input from all participants in the process is valued and considered. The project must progress at a reasonable pace, based on the project schedule.

Second-day sessions were mostly taken on the practical activities on the Importance and the use of the emergency kits in the early warning, search and rescue, and first aid techniques of the Bandage.

The two day’s sessions were carried with three different groups, the participants showed a keen interest in the session and some of the participants also shared their feedback as they will apply all the learnings whenever they needed and will also teach other respective task force members of their villages.

In continuation of this, 15 Emergency Kits were distributed in the respective 15 project implementing villages and handed over to the School Management Committee in the presence of the distribution committee and Task Force Groups.