Fire prevention and fire fighting services
are organised by the States/UTs. Ministry of Home Affairs
renders technical advice to States/UTs and Central Ministries
on Fire Protection, Fire Prevention and Fire Legislation.
For up-gradation of Fire Service in
the States, MHA arranges soft GIC loans through the
Ministry of Finance, (Insurance Division) for the purchase
of capital fire fighting equipment and also for construction
of buildings. From 1980-81 till to-date, a total sum
of Rs. 313.30 crores GIC loans had been arranged by
the Ministry for development of State Fire Services.
Tenth Finance Commission had also allocated Rs. 80 crores
as grant-in-aid for modernisation of Fire Services in
the States during plan period 1995-2000. The 11th Finance
Commission had also allocated Rs. 201 crores for the
proper development of Fire Services in States, specially
in all Districts HQ towns and also for towns having
population of 50,000 and above, during the plan period
2000-2005.
Training of junior level fire professionals
are conducted by the States/UTs in State Fire Training
Schools. At the moment 14 such State Fire Training Schools
are operating in various States/UTs. Training of officers
of Fire Services is conducted in the National Fire Service
College which was established in Nagpur as a subordinate
training establishment of the Ministry, way back in
1956.
During the calender year 2002, NFSC
had projected 18 training courses including B. E. (Fire)
1st , 2nd and 3rd year courses, which are on-going in
nature. Since inception in 1956, the college has so
far trained total 12,433 fire officers including 71
foreign trainees from 12 countries.
Standing Fire Advisory Council (SFAC)
constituted by the Ministry is the apex body of Fire
& Safety experts comprised of Heads of Fire Services
of all States & UTs. SFAC advises Govt. of India
on various aspects on fire and safety. Recently, Ministry
compiled all recommendations of SFAC (up-dated upto
latest 28th meeting) and The Compendium of Recommendations
of SFAC has been printed in two volumes and circulated
it to all concerned.
