Mumbai University to Introduce Civil Defence Course Across Engineering Colleges

In a significant step toward strengthening emergency preparedness, the Maharashtra government has decided to incorporate a Civil Defence course into the curriculum of all engineering colleges affiliated with the University of Mumbai. The course, which will carry a weightage of 25 marks, is designed to equip students with essential life-saving skills and train them to assist during emergencies and war-like situations.

The move comes in the wake of increased focus on civil defence capabilities, especially after recent mock drills conducted across coastal districts as well as in Pune, Nashik, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. These drills, which involved nearly 10,000 volunteers from Civil Defence, Home Guard, NDRF, and other emergency services, aimed to raise awareness and improve coordination during crisis situations.

Speaking on the initiative, Director of Civil Defence Prabhat Kumar confirmed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Directorate of Civil Defence and Mumbai University, officially integrating the course into the academic framework. “Students who wish to serve the nation while continuing their education will now have that opportunity,” Kumar said. The course will train students in rescue operations, emergency response coordination, and collaboration with government and civic bodies like disaster management cells, fire brigades, and hospitals.

This move also highlights the state government’s intent to revive and strengthen the Directorate of Civil Defence, which currently faces several operational challenges. These include a manpower shortage, outdated or non-functional rescue vehicles and ambulances, inadequate sirens, and limited training equipment. Of the 420 sanctioned positions, only 135 personnel are currently active across Maharashtra. Some units, such as those in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, reportedly operate with just one full-time staff member.

To address these issues, proposals have been submitted to the government seeking an increase in daily volunteer allowances—from the current ₹150 to ₹500—as well as enhancements in infrastructure, vehicles, sirens, and equipment. Officials remain optimistic that these demands will be met in the near future.

By integrating civil defence education into university curricula, the government aims not only to bolster volunteer strength but also to build a culture of preparedness and national service among young citizens.

#trending #latest #MaharashtraGovernment #MumbaiUniversity #CivilDefence #EmergencyResponse #StudentTraining #NationalService #EngineeringEducation #VolunteerTraining #PublicSafety