Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on said Goa is striving to become self-reliant in disaster management, with a focus on harnessing the support of youth volunteers.
The State government signed an MoU with Goa University (GU) to encourage students to join the Apda Mitra initiative and work as volunteers during emergencies.
Highlighting Goa’s 108-km coastline as both a lifeline and a source of vulnerability, Sawant said it sustains sectors like tourism, fisheries, ports, shipping, coastal agriculture, and defence, but also exposes the State to disasters.
“We are working towards strengthening our disaster preparedness and self-reliance,” he said.
The Chief Minister informed that around 300 boys and girls have already been trained as Apda Mitra, with each village now having two to three trained volunteers ready to assist in times of crisis.
He urged Goa University to actively motivate students to contribute as disaster response volunteers.
The MoU, officials said, will institutionalise collaboration between the government and the university in building a stronger volunteer network across the State.
