Disaster Management Volunteers Honoured at Training Programme in Dharmasthala

MANGALURU — Over 330 volunteers from the Shourya Disaster Management team, under the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP), were recognized for their dedicated service during a disaster management training programme held in Dharmasthala. The training was conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to enhance emergency response and rescue skills.

Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, inaugurated the event and praised the Shourya volunteers for their invaluable assistance during natural calamities in Dakshina Kannada over the past five years. He urged volunteers to treat their disaster relief work as divine service and to always prioritize their own safety during operations.

NDRF senior officer Shantilal Jatiya appreciated the commitment of the Shourya team and emphasized the need for more such community-based volunteer groups across the country to improve the effectiveness of disaster relief.

As part of the event, four individuals—Ravindra (Ujire), Avinash (Arasinamakki), Dinesh Shetty (Naravi), and Savita Pereira—were honored for their exceptional contributions. In addition, the Shourya teams from Shishila-Arasinamakki and Madanthyar were recognized for their outstanding performance in disaster preparedness and response.

The programme underlined the vital role of trained volunteers in managing emergencies and highlighted the importance of continued training and coordination. The recognition served as both a motivation and a reminder of the crucial part community members play in ensuring safety during disasters.