Area Suraksha Mitra

Dear Friends,

The Chinese Aggression in 1962 and the Indo-Pakistan War in 1965 led to the evolution of the CIVIL DEFENCE POLICY. The Government of India made provisions under the mentioned Policy for civilians to be trained.

Civil Defense began as an effort to prepare civilians for military attacks but now has expanded its scope to include a more active disaster management movement. It uses the principles of emergency operations, such as: prevention, mitigation, preparation, response, or emergency evacuation, and recovery. The Home Guards and Fire Forces, among other trained Personnel, equip civilians with the skills required for self dependency and protection.

Fast forward… Whenever we step out of our homes we come across one or the other problems: someone meets with an accident/ a storm water drain is overflowing/ the road has an open man-hole/ traffic jams, etc. and all of us blame the Government or the municipality who is our elected representative. Many of us have come across one of these problems at some point in time and have thought of practical solutions for them; but at the end of the tunnel, we all talk about these problems and their solutions over a cup of tea and forget. How long can we continue talking and see such problems taking the shape of a demon in our lives? Can we do something? Is there a solution to all these?

Yes, of course there is!

Directorate of Home Guards & Civil Defense in association with Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship & Democracy started Area Suraksha Mitra, a Civil Defense initiative for citizen preparedness both in contingencies as well as for neighbourhood security.

The central idea of this project is to build a trained citizen force by a representation from every area in the city.

People from all walks of life who are above 18 years of age residing in Bangalore & with no prior criminal record can become Area Suraksha Mitras.

How to become ASM?

Step 1: Fill in an ASM enrollment and oath form at Civil Defense and Home Guards Headquarters, #1 Annaswamy Mudaliar Road, Ulsoor, Bangalore 560001

Step 2: All applications will be submitted to the Civil Defense for Police verification.

Step 3: You will receive an appointment letter from Civil Defense Office

Step 4: You will undergo a training program conducted by Civil Defense.

Step 5: Be active in your own division to take care of your neighborhood security.

Its as simple as that……J

Benefits of becoming ASM:

• You get trained to respond to emergency situations as well as to take preventive measures against neighborhood threats.

• You form a First-line of defense for the neighborhood.

• You become part of the police’s network for your neighborhood.

• You play a major role in case of an emergency, by putting to use the trainings acquired to protect and save.

• You acquire skills in self defense and protection of your personal property in the city.

• You become a known person in your neighborhood; people will come to you with their problems

• You get assistance from the local police station.

• You become an engaged citizen, a practical patriot.

What are the kinds of training will an ASM get?

The training is conducted by the Training Academy, Home Guards and Civil Defense

Modules covered

a. Induction Training

i. Civil Defense organization

ii. Fire Fighting

iii. Rescue

iv. First Aid

v. Roles of Wardens

vi. Neighborhood Security

vii. Practical Fire Fighting

viii. Practical First Aid

ix. Rescue Practical

x. Test

b. Sector Warden/ASM training

i. Drill & Leadership

ii. Understanding Civil Defense –Up to Div. Warden Level

iii. Watermanship

iv. Firefighting

v. Search & Rescue

vi. First Aid

vii. Communication

viii. Neighborhood Security

ix. IED

x. Terror defense

xi. Admn + Maintenance of Civil Defense diary

c. Post Warden Training

i. Drill & Leadership

ii. Understanding Civil Defense - Up to Div. & State

iii. All elements in Sector Warden Training

d. Divisional Warden Training

i. Drill

ii. Understanding CD up to National level

iii. Communications

iv. Neighborhood Security

v. Management

vi. IED

vii. NBC

viii. Rehabilitation of displaced personnel/Restoration of essential services

Why should you become ASM?

• To heighten preparedness in case of a crisis

• To create a sense of ownership

• To equip citizens to play an active role in case of any threat to safety

• To make citizens more aware and sensitive to any suspicious or potentially dangerous happenings in the neighborhood

• To advocate immediate localized response to emergency situations

• To build a bridge between common citizens & the police to inform about neighborhood safety concerns

• To love your neighborhood & the city, in which we need to live peacefully

So, come let’s join hands and protect our neighborhoods….

Our peace is in our hands; let us help each other to live in peace…..

Warm regards

Inayath Ulla Khan,

Project Manager- Area Suraksha Mitra

JANAAGRAHA- Centre for Citizenship and Democracy
Email: inayath@janaagraha.org