Question : Functioning of Emergency Services

(a) whether the Government has any plan to ensure the smooth functioning of the fire and emergency services in view of the rising urbanization and construction of high rise buildings in various metro cities;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) if so, the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard; and whether the Government has given directions to the State Governments for providing proper training to the manpower in the field of fire and safety system/ emergency services;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a)&(b): As per the Constitution of India article 243 (W) Schedule XII, maintenance of Fire Services is a Municipal function in the States. It is therefore primarily the responsibility of the State Governments to ensure safety of life and property of the citizens in the area of their jurisdiction by providing adequate number of fire stations, fire tenders and trained manpower.

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L.S.US.Q NO. 29 FOR 11.12.2018
Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs renders technical advice on Fire Prevention, Fire Protection, Fire Legislation and Training.
National Building Code of India covers the detailed guidelines for construction, maintenance and fire safety of the structures. National Building Code of India is published by Bureau of Indian Standards and it is recommendatory document. Guidelines were issued to the States to incorporate the recommendations of National Building Code into their local building bylaws. The State Government of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, have already adopted the National Building Code of India in their building bylaws.
(c) to (e): All the State Governments are requested to provide proper training to the manpower in the field of fire and safety system/emergency services through the Standing Fire Advisory Council.
On the recommendations of Fire Chiefs, Government of India had established National Fire Service College at Nagpur in 1956. College started conducting Sub-officers’, Station Officers & Divisional Officers’ course along with other specialized courses for the Fire Service personnel from State/UT/Central Ministries/Public Sector Undertakings beside inducting fresher’s from open market in Sub-officers’ course. National Fire Service
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L.S.US.Q NO. 29 FOR 11.12.2018
College has trained more than 19591 fire service personnel. To clear the back-log of Sub-officers’ course of National Fire Service College(NFSC), Nagpur, 10 Regional Training Centres have been identified for imparting training of Sub officer’s course of NFSC. However, it is for the respective States to impart training and standard courses for the recruitment to various posts of lower level at local training centres. State Fire Services have their own training centre to cater to the training needs of lower level functionaries.
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