Sri Vijaya Puram, July 15: Admiral D K Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd.), Hon’ble Lt. Governor, A&N Islands and Vice-Chairman, Islands Development Agency today inaugurated the first batch of Sub Officer Training Course to be held at State Training Centre, Sri Vijaya Puram, recognized by the National Fire Service College (NFSC), Nagpur.
This event marks a significant achievement for the Union Territory of A&N Islands, as the training centre has received its first-ever official recognition from National Fire Service College (NFSC), Nagpur. With this accreditation, the State Training Centre (STC) becomes the 11th such NFSC recognized training institute across India.
The Hon’ble Lt. Governor lauded the A&N Fire and Emergency Services unit for its unwavering commitment to professional excellence and disaster preparedness emphasizing that the recognition by NFSC is not only a testament to the Department’s rising stature but also a reflection of its significant contribution in enhancing national fire safety standards.
The inauguration was held in the august presence of Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal, IPS, Director General of Police, A&N Police, and other distinguished dignitaries.
In the welcome address, Shri Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal, IPS, DGP, A&N Police, congratulated the Department for its unwavering commitment to excellence in fire safety training. He emphasized that this milestone significantly raises the profile of the A&N Fire and Emergency Services at the national level.
The 54th External Sub-Officer Course of NFSC is a 25-week residential program, including an industrial attachment. This program is meticulously designed to prepare fire service personnel for the critical role of Station Officer, equipping them with advanced skills and leadership capabilities enabling them to lead as Station Officers of Fire Stations responsible for commanding and coordinating firefighting operations.
The first batch comprises of 30 fire service officials from 06 organizations; Gujarat Fire Service, Bihar Fire Services, Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), Maharashtra Industrial Development Organization, Heavy Water Plant (Kota) and Heavy Water Board Facilities (Vadodara) under Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India.
The vote of thanks was presented by Smt. Sindhu Pillai A, IPS, IGP (Fire) expressing heartfelt gratitude to the chief guest, dignitaries, and all participating officers for their presence and encouragement. She also extended special appreciation to INS Utkrosh for their support and collaboration in facilitating the recognition of training centre as STC of NFSC.