In a bid to improve disaster risk reduction strategies in the flood-prone state of Assam, the state government has proposed a fresh policy that would make it mandatory for Class I officers and employees to be proficient in swimming. The initiative was discussed during the 51st State Executive meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Ravi Kota.
This move would help reduce the impact caused by floods every year in the northeastern state, which faces annual flooding due to the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries. It would equip officials with the skills needed to respond better in such areas that are worst hit by annual flooding, India Today reported.
"A large number of government officials and staff travel by boats to their workplaces and also during field visits. They may be encouraged to learn swimming by giving incentive for attaining proficiency in the skill," The Assam Tribune quoted, citing the proposal.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has also reportedly given his nod to the proposal in a step towards utilising life-saving skills into the state’s workforce.
Floods this year ravaged 153 revenue circles across 35 districts, claiming 108 lives in Assam, highlighting the necessity of equipping government officials with practical skills, such as swimming. This could enable them to potentially mitigate the impact of such disasters and ensure the safety of both officials and the public.
Here's What The Proposal Includes
According to the proposal, the Class I officers, who mostly travel by boat as part of their duties, must learn to swim to enhance their efficiency and safety during fieldwork in flood-hit regions. The policy also includes provisions for reimbursement of training cost up to Rs 10,000 to officers. With this incentive, the government aims to encourage employees to acquire proficiency in swimming.
While the plan is currently for Class I officers, there are talks about expanding it to other categories of government employees across all departments over time. Once that happens, those working in non-flood-prone areas will also be required to pursue this essential life skill under the universal policy.
A committee has been set up to explore whether it is possible to link regular increments and promotions with the completion of swimming training and the submission of proficiency certificates. This would further motivate officers to take the training seriously and attain the necessary level of proficiency.
Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has already initiated Phase I of swimming proficiency and life skill development training for government officials in the Kamrup Metro district. So far, ASDMA has trained 53 officers, and others are likely to undertake the training sessions within the next two months, the report noted.
The Kamrup Metro training will enable the state government to assess the effectiveness of this program and make adjustments before rolling it out to other districts.
The policy of mandating swimming proficiency will mark a major shift in Assam’s disaster preparedness as the state aims to minimise risks and life-threatening challenges faced by officials navigating flood-hit regions. The state government has stressed that the policy will be made universal, applying to employees in both flood-prone and non-flood-prone areas.
The employees will also be required to provide regular updates of proficiency certificates to ensure that they maintain their swimming skills over time.