Civic body to start part-time disaster management and industrial safety course, recognised by MU, from next month
Rising dropout rates from civic schools notwithstanding, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is aiming 'higher' in the education business.
The course will include first-hand training to deal with any disaster, the entire disaster management plan and rescue operation. Representation pic
From next month, it's expected to offer postgraduation course in disaster management and industrial safety. The course will include vulnerability analysis, first-hand training to deal with any disaster breakout, the entire disaster management plan, rescue operation, industrial safety, first aid and health care.
Course details
After passing an entrance test, the first batch of 40 students (BMC staffers) will start the yearly part-time course from December. From next year, it will be available to citizens for a fee of R50,000, and it will also be recognised by the Mumbai University. This will be the first time that the university will have such a course on offer, said a civic official.
The BMC plans to adequately promote the course to attract government officials to sign up for it, so that every government building can have at least one official who can deal with emergency situations and be the point of contact. The civic body is also considering giving placements to eligible passouts, as the course will involve 60 per cent practical studies.
A civic official said, "In case there are openings in the BMC, we can hire students from this course after they give appropriate exams of the government."
Serious studies
Classes will be held at the Lower Parel disaster management institute. A senior civic official said, "If government institutions start sending their staffers for this and bear the course fees, there will be at least one go-to person in case of any disaster. Citizens joining the course will have to go through serious training sessions during fire breakouts and undergo training on industrial safety. We already hold similar training sessions for several corporate houses, but this will be a specific course, where certificates will be given after the examination." Additional Municipal Commissioner Idzes Kundan was not available for comment.
Rs 50k
Fees for citizens for the part-time course
Also view - Photos: 10 best places to spot Bollywood celebrities in Mumbai