SDRF empowers women by training them as first responders under ‘Aapda Sakhi’ in Srinagar

Updated:9 months, 1 week ago

Srinagar (J&K), September 27, 2025 (ANI): The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in Srinagar has rolled out the Aapda Sakhi (Disaster Friend) training program, a unique initiative designed to empower women as community first responders. The program aims to strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience at the grassroots level by equipping women with practical skills to act swiftly and effectively during emergencies. The training program brought together women from various government departments and civil defense organizations. These women were trained to take on the roles of community disaster advocates and first responders. Sessions covered a wide range of skills, including disaster awareness, first aid, evacuation drills, rescue operations, fire safety, and water rescue operations, coordination techniques that are crucial during both natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods, and man-made incidents like fires and accidents. The goal of the program is to create a trained network of women who can act as the first line of support in their neighborhoods when disaster strikes. By involving women directly in disaster management. Women are central to every community. Their participation in disaster management not only enhances preparedness but also ensures quicker recovery as women being present in households and local communities are often the first to respond when emergencies occur, and empowering them with skills can save lives. The Aapda Sakhi program is part of a wider effort to shift disaster management strategies from being purely response oriented to community driven and preventive. By raising awareness and creating a network of trained volunteers the SDRF is aiming to build a culture of preparedness where citizens are active partners in managing risks. Kashmir is vulnerable to multiple natural hazards, including earthquakes, floods, avalanches, and landslides. Past disasters in the region have highlighted the importance of community participation in disaster response. The devastating floods of 2014 showed that trained local volunteers can make a crucial difference in rescue and relief operations when formal agencies take time to reach affected areas. By launching the Aapda Sakhi program in Srinagar, the SDRF is setting an example of inclusive disaster management. The program not only enhances preparedness but also provides women with leadership roles in their communities. This empowerment is expected to create a multiplier effect, as trained women will pass on their knowledge to families, neighbors, and wider communities.

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SDRF empowers women by training them as first responders under ‘Aapda Sakhi’ in Srinagar

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