DW BUREAU / cHANDIGARH Aiming to equip the community volunteers of Moga District with the skills of rescuing tasks during emergency situations of floods, the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab, Chandigarh in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) today started a unique 12-day training programme of Community Volunteers of Moga District here today. This programme is a part of the centrally sponsored scheme by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for training of Community Volunteers across India for contributing in rescue and relief operation during floods. Launching the programme through online portal, Principal Secretary to Government of Punjab & Director, MGSIPA, Jaspreet Talwar said that community participation is the most effective element dealing with natural disasters. It is, therefore, essential to empower the communities so that its members can cope with the adverse effects of natural hazards. She further emphasized the need of taking effective, proactive, preventive and mitigation measures for checking the loss of life and property of the people with effective community involvement. The community volunteers so trained during this 12-day programme can be an useful and volatile force to contribute in such a challenging task. (editor@dailyworld.in)