DISASTER MANAGEMENT AWARENESS DRIVE IN PONDA
Panaji, June 19, 2025
The Office of the Deputy Collector & Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Ponda on Thursday led a Disaster Management Awareness Drive under the Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swayampurna Goa initiative, at Kavlem Panchayat Hall, in partnership with the Kavlem Village Panchayat and all allied depar tments.
T
he programme was presided over by Deputy Collector & SDM, Ponda, Shri Shubham Naik, and was graced by Sarpanch Smt Manuja Naik, Swayampurna Mitra Smt Snehal Prabhu, Chief Officer, Ponda Municipal Council Shri Suyash Khandeparkar, Health Officer PHC-Ponda Dr Smita Parsekar, Mamlatdar Ponda Shri Bhiku Gavas, Block Development Officer Shri Ashwin Dessai, PI Ponda Shri Vijaynath Kavlekar, and Station Fire Officer Shri Sushil Morajkar. Sarpanchas and panchas from neighbouring panchayats, together with Talathis, Village Panchayat Secretaries, teachers, students, Swayampurna Mitras and local residents, brought the attendance to over 250 participants.
Interactive sessions featured live demonstrations by Fire & Emergency Services on executing fire suppression, first-aid drills from Health Services, briefing on compensation schemes by Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services and Agriculture Department. The role of the State Disaster Management Authority in terms of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 was explained to the public.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Collector Naik emphasised community participation, stating, “Awareness today turns into resilience tomorrow.” He added that the Ponda taluka initiative forms part of a wider schedule, with similar awareness drives being conducted across Goa in view of the monsoon.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Smt Sharmila Gaonkar, o/o Mamlatdar Ponda, who applauded the collective effort of all departments and the enthusiastic response from the public.
DI/INF/AXP/PD/SN/2025/392