Online Training Programme on Incident Response System Basic & Intermediate For Northern States (Part VII) [6th – 8th January, 2021] Course Report Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab Institutional Area, Sector – 26, Chandigarh In collaboration with National Institute of Disaster Management (Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India) A-wing, 4th Floor, NDCC-II Building, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi – 110001 1 Online Training Programme on “Incident Response System (IRS): Basic & Intermediate” For Northern States (Part VII) hosted by Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in collaboration with National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India w.e.f. 6th – 8th January, 2021 from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Background India is vulnerable to a variety of natural and anthropogenic disasters that hinder the country’s growth. Disaster response management requires the existing administrative set up, and all other stakeholders to carry out a large number of tasks. The activities involved in response management would depend on the nature and type of disaster. It has been observed that in times of disaster lack of coordination amongst various agencies exist. If the response is planned and the stakeholders are trained, there will be no scope for ad-hoc measures and the response will be smooth and effective. The objective of training on IRS is to pre-designate officers to perform various duties as well as train them in their respective roles. Realization of certain shortcomings in response and a desire to address the critical gaps led Government of India (GOI) to look at the world’s best practices and in this pursuit a decision was taken to closely look at the Incident Command System (ICS) developed by United States Forest Services (USFS) of United States of America (USA) which the High Powered Committee on disaster management constituted by the 2 Government of India also identified as one of the best global practices for disaster response. Government of India, with few modifications in ICS, adopted it as Incident Response System (IRS). After being identified as nodal institution for capacity building in the field of IRS, NIDM has been working closely with USFS and USAID for building capacity to have effective disaster response system in India. Meanwhile NDMA has also issued guidelines on IRS in 2010. Many state governments have started adopting IRS as a system for responding to any emergency striking their state and subsequently have notified IRS in their respective states. They have also started building their capacity in this field. About the Programme COVID-19 has put a huge challenge in training and capacity building. With social distancing, training during new normal situation would have different strategies that are truly effective for larger capacity building vision and agenda for effective COVID-19 response. Training at the time of pandemic is widely considered to be a powerful instrument for building the capacities of functionaries by enhancing and upgrading their knowledge, skills and competencies on a regular and periodic basis. In the situation of COVID-19, the response to natural hazards needs to be done more cautiously. The new normal situation would bring more challenges as response needs to be done in a structured manner to minimize the risk of infection. The IRS is a flexible system and all its Sections need not be activated in every situation at the same time. Only required sections may be made operational as and when required. This system envisages that the roles 3 and duties shall be laid down in advance, the personnel earmarked and trained in their respective roles and duties. The IRS incorporates all the duties that may be performed in case of any disaster or event. It envisages a complete team with various sections to attend to all possible requirements. If the IRS is put in place and stakeholders trained in their respective duties and roles, it will help reduce chaos and confusion during actual incident management and everyone involved will know what all needs to be done, who will do it, where the resources are and who is in command, etc. To develop capacity of the District authorities for building disaster response system, Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab in collaboration with National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has hosted/conducted an Online Training Programme on “Incident Response System: Basic & Intermediate” for Northern States (Part VII) w.e.f. 6th – 8th January, 2021 from 11 AM to 1 PM to develop capacity of the State and District Authorities for building Incident Response System. It was based on e-learning module covering 2 hours each day during the programme. This 3-days’ Online Training Programme on Incident Response System was intended for the personnel who are holding important administrative position and/or are likely to be involved in incident/ emergency management. They include State and District level officials of line departments, Sub-District Level Officers, Civil Defence, Home Guards and SDRF, etc. The programme was specifically designed for the disaster emergency responders dealing with search and rescue, relief camp management, distribution of relief materials, safe evacuation, etc. 4 Demography of Participants A total of 1264 officers/officials from various line departments namely Department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Fisheries, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Housing and Urban Development, Industrial and Tourism Development, Police, Home Affairs, Forest, Fire, Water Supply and Sanitation, Rural Development, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Defence Services Welfare, Local Government, Education, Revenue, Health & Family Welfare, PWD (B&R), Municipal Corporation, Social Security, Women & Child Development, Finance, and various districts of State of Punjab and Uttarakhand registered and attended this online training programme, who are engaged in the management of disasters. 5 StateDistrict wise-wise registration Registration of of 1264 930 Participantsparticipants Punjab Uttarakhand 19% 81% Gender-wise Distribution of Participants Male Female 58% 42% 6 Programme Events Day-1 On the first day, the webinar was unfolded by Col. Dalbir Singh, General Manager Training, MGSIPA with opening remarks. Professor Shekher Chaturvedi, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India delivered the keynote address giving insightful remarks. Professor Shekher addressed the participants about Incident Response System and helped us all know how important Incident Response System is. He also emphasized on the need of the hour for building Dynamic and Robust Response System before a disaster strike. Prominent among others who took part in the deliberations during this three-day online training programme were Shri Shekher Chaturvedi, Assistant Professor, Division of Disaster Response & Recovery, NIDM, New Delhi; Shri Balaji Singh Chowhan, South Asia Expert United States Forest Services; Maj. Gen. Dr. V.K. Naik, KC, AVSM, Senior Consultant, NDMA; Col. V.N. Supanekar (Retd.), Professor and Expert, ICS, Disaster Management; Col. Dalbir Singh, General Manager (Training, Project & Consultancy), MGSIPA and Ms. Nitika Singla, Guest Faculty, Disaster Management, Panjab University, Chandigarh. The first technical session was taken by Shri Shekher Chaturvedi, Professor, National Institute of Disaster Management, India on the topic IRS Principles and Organizations which helped us all know about the organizational set up of the Incident Response System. He shared with us how Incident Response System, earlier Incident Command System came into existence with the best practices of High Powered Committee under JC Pant. He also covered the key roles of Incident Response System as mentioned in National Disaster 7 Management Policy, 2009. He also shared the National Disaster Management Guidelines for Incident Response System, 2010 which assigned the duty to SDMAs, State Governments and District Administrations to incorporate IRS in their Disaster Plans. Further, he explained how chain of command came into existence under National Disaster Management Plan, May 2016. He gave an overview of existing response structure and explained in detail the organizational set up of the Incident Response System. He shared the Principles, Features and Management Objectives and Functions of Incident Response System with all the participants. Shri Balaji Singh, South Asia Expert, United States Forest Services took the second session on the first day of the programme, who enlightened the participants about the Incident and Event Planning Process of IRS. He explained in detail the Incident and Event Planning Process of Incident Response System. He shared the key points and factors which need to be taken care of while planning a response and its benefits. He explained Operational Period Planning Cycle in which he emphasized on Incident briefing, applicability, operational period, planning cycle and responsibilities of command and general staff members. He discussed how the planning meeting is taken up to get to an Incident Action Plan (IAP). Day-2 The second day of the programme began with recapping of proceedings of first day and the queries raised by participants were handled by the esteemed speakers. The first session of the second day of the programme was taken by Col. V.N. Supanekar, Professor and Expert, Incident