Social Emergency Response Volunteers (SERV), formerly known as First Medical Responders (FMR) are a cadre of volunteers at the community level. They are the First responders in case of an emergency such as Earthquakes, landslides, floods and other such natural disasters. During other times, they volunteer and support long-term development of their own communities.
Indian Red Cross Society embarked upon this mega flagship initiative since 2011 with its first pilot project in Uttarkhand. Following the success of this initiative in Uttarkhand, it has been expanded across the country with technical and financial support from both IFRC and ICRC.
Objectives of SERV
- Act as First Responders in times of Emergencies
- Sensitize the community to make them more resilient to Disasters to which the community is vulnerable.
- Facilitate linkages between the community and the Government programs.
Principles of SERV
- Provide immediate relief and response to the affected communities before additional support from the Government and other agency arrives.
- Reduce vulnerabilities of the community by training the community on First Aid, Hygiene promotion etc.,
- Conduct Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment of their own communities.
- Support any other identified issues that contribute to the development of the communities.
Practices of SERV
- Community understands their problems and opportunities than anyone else.
- Community is more interested to understand their problems than anyone else.
- Community is the key stake holder for development of the country, hence it has to participate for their own development.
- Local communities are capable of initiating and sustaining their own community development.
MAIN COMPONENTS OF SERV PROJECT
- Master Trainer
- Instructors
- Social Emergency Response volunteers
- Community outreach activities
WHY KARNATAKA? RISK PROFILE OF KARNATAKA STATE
Karnataka state covers in area 191,976 square kilometers (74,122 sq.miles)or 5.83 percent of the total geographical area of India. It is the seventh largest Indian state by area. With 61,130,704 inhabitants at the 2011 census, Karnataka is the eigth largest state by Population, comprising 30 districts.
Karnataka State has been affected by various natural hazards.
FLOODS
Almost all the districts in Karnataka are facing the brunt of moderate to severe floods. Floods are caused due to cloud bursts , cyclones or depressions in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. The following distrcts are regularly affected by floods: Belgaum, Bijapur, Bagalkote, Raichur, Gulbarga, Shimoga, Chickmgalur, Udupi, Coorg, Bellary, Dakshina Kannada, Dharwad, Davangere, Gadag, Hassan, Uttara Kannada, Koppal, Bidar, Bangalore (R), Bangalore (U), Kolar, Mandya, Mysore and Chamarajanagar.
LANDSLIDE
Hilly regions of Western Ghats spread in the districts of Kodagu, Chickmagalur, Hassan, Shimoga, Dakshina Kannada, and Uttara Kananda record a very high normal rainfall of 2000mm to 4000mm. landslides are common in these districts. During the rainy periods these hilly regions regularly experience displacement of rocks and soils causing widespread damage of property. The Landslides that happened in Madikeri in the year 2018 caused severe damage to the District and relief assistance was provided to them.
EARTHQUAKE
Karnataka has reported more than 500 earthquake tremors in the last three decades with most of them having low magnitude. It is found that the weak zones around the northen Karnataka bordering Maharashtra could cause heavy damages in future. The Following districts are falling Zone III where earthquakes of moderate intensity could occur: Bidar, Gulbarga,Bijapur, Bagalkot, Belgaum, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Shimoga, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu.
CYCLOLONES
The coastal districts namely Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada with a coastal line of 322 kms and coastal population of 43.64 lakhs are under the direct threat of cylones originating in Arabian Sea and indirect effect of cyclones originating along the Eastern coastline.
The high density of population along the coastline of Karnataka has made the population highly vulnerable to the storm surge and high speed wing accompanied with cyclone. Any severe cyclone along the eastern coastline causes heavy rainfall in the interior Karnataka region resulting in damages to crops, buildings, and infrastructure services such as roads and often the impact would be severe disruption in the socio-economic life in these regions.
DROUGHT
The state is highly vulnerable to drought as compared to its neighboring states. About 152.1 lakhs ha (80%) out of 190.238 lakh ha is affected by drought in Karnataka.
SERV PROJECT IN KARNATAKA STATE
In each of the SERV implemented Districts, SERV Volunteers Training, Community Outreach Activities such as Mockdrill and community awareness programs based on Swatch Bharat, WASH, Save the Girl Child, Global warming etc will be conducted.
SERV volunteers have assisted and supported the Red Cross District branches and lockal district administration during Dakshina Kannada floods in the early year of 2018, Madikeri landslides 2018, floods in the year 2018, North Karnataka floods in the year 2019, most importantly during Covid-19 pandemic and during many other emergencies.
SERV (formerly known as FMR) was initiated in Karnataka State during the year 2018. SERV Instructors training course was organized in the year 2018, 10 people were selected as SERV Instructors, initially project was implemented in 3 District i.e. Ballari, Hassan and Shimoga generating 100 volunteers. In the year 2019 provision for 6 districts were given, i.e. Ballari, Bengaluru Urban, Mandya, Mangaluru, Shimoga and Udupi, Thus by generating 22 Instructors and 464 SERV Volunteers . SERV Scale up proposal was put up, which aims on creating 30000 volunteers in the state. The Scale up of SERV was initially approved to be conducted in Ballari, Kalburgi, Mangalore, Shimoga and Udupi for a duration of 03 months, then extend to five other districts, thus by implementing SERV in all the Districts of Karnataka.
TRAINING CURRICULUM
SERV training curriculum was developed during the year 2012-13 with technical support from IFRC and ICRC. The curriculum was revised during the year 2015 with technical support from IFRC, ICRC and Belgian Red Cross. All future trainings will use the revised training curriculum, in the year 2019, 4 new modules were added.
The volunteers are trained in different aspects of disaster preparedness. Training includes demonstration and use of WatSan equipment and First Aid Kits. There are Thirteen modules in the training curriculum.
Modules of SERV Program
1. Introduction to RCRC Movement
2. Emergency First Aid
3. Public Health in Emergencies
4. WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)
5. PSP (Psychosocial Support)
6. Family News Service
7. Management of dead bodies
8. Crisis Management
9. PMR & VM (Planning, Monitoring, Reporting and Volunteer Management)
10. Climate Change
11. Integrated Risk Management
12. Safer Access
13. Care of persons with Disabilities during disasters
Interested candidates who wish to become SERV Volunteers can contact the following District branches for enrollment
Sri. M.A. Shakeeb
District Secretary,
Indian Red Cross Society,
Bellary District Branch,
C/O Office of the District Commandant,
Karnataka Home Guards, Stadium Road,
Near Ranga Mandir,
BALLARI – 583 101
(M) 9483641234/9845145046
Email:ircsbay@gmail.com
Sri. Raveendra Shabadi
Secretary,
Indian Red Cross Society,
Kalaburgi District Branch
Room No.2A, Ground Floor,
Mini Vidhanasoudha,
D.C. Office Compound Premises,
Main Road, KALABURGI -585 102
(T)08472-255317 / (M)9620646208
Sri. S.A.Prabhakara Sharma,K.A.S.(Retd.,)
Secretary,
Indian Red Cross Society,
D.K.District Branch
Red Cross Bhavan, Behind D.C.Office Compound, MANGALORE-575 001.
Ph.No. (F) 0824-2423755,2410787/9448446099.
Dr. Dinesh. S
Secretary
Indian Red Cross Society,
Shivamogaa District Branch
Indian Red Cross Society Building
RTO Office Road, Opp: to Press Trust
Building, DC Office Compound
Shimoga:- 577 201.
M: 9964194698 /9845353930
Sri. Jayaram Acharya Saligrama
Secretary,
Indian Red Cross Society,
Udupi District Branch,
D.No.4-3-19G, Red Cross Road,
Red Cross Bhavan, Ajjarkad,
UDUPI District – 576 101
(M):9845275841
