Bhubaneswar: Odisha govt initiated efforts to strengthen its civil defence wing. On Thursday, chief secretary Manoj Ahuja instructed district collectors to boost volunteer enrolment to enhance the state’s wartime response capabilities.The civil defence unit, operating under the state directorate of fire services, home guards and civil defence, has experienced significant neglect over the years, unlike its counterpart wings, according to govt sources.The number of civil defence volunteersin Odisha has drastically reduced from 21,000 a decade ago to merely 753 active members currently, with 401 stationed in Bhubaneswar, according to official sources. Unlike govt-recruited firefighters and home guards, civil defence volunteers are enrolled into the voluntary service through a simple application process. “The meeting focused on strengthening the civil defence organization and increase the number of volunteers.Discussions were held on deployment of more civil defence volunteers in various industrial, densely populated areas and cities having vital installations,” the office of the chief secretary said.Collectors and SPs of various districts who attended the meeting virtually were instructed to immediately assess the status of civil defence volunteers in their areas and take steps to activate them. “Collectors are controlling authorities of civil defence volunteers. They have been asked to strengthen the civil defence system in their areas by enrolling as many volunteers as possible during the crisis situation. They have been asked to train the volunteers on a war footing,” a senior govt official said.Officials discussed improving the volunteer remuneration during the meeting. As reported by TOI on May 7, volunteers receive Rs 31 daily, the lowest in the country, forcing many active members to leave the unit.Data from the state civil defence unit reveals varying per-day allowances across states: Rs 732 in Delhi, Rs 590 in Rajasthan, Rs 565 in West Bengal, Rs 532 in Haryana, Rs 400 in Bihar, Rs 300 in Karnataka, Rs 250 in Jharkhand and Rs 200 in Maharashtra. Since the 2009 Civil Defence Act amendment, their role has expanded from preparing citizens for enemy attacks to include response to natural and artificial disasters. Their core mission remains saving lives while providing protection against hostile attacks.