The concept of Civil Defence owes its origin to erstwhile ARP Organisation raised and operated during World War II (1939-45) to safeguard the life and property of the civilian population and also to maintain the continuity of productive and economic activity of the nation during war time crisis. The Civil Defence concept once again got a proper thrust immediately after Sino-Indian conflict during
October, 1962. The post of DGCD was created and first DGCD was appointed on 14th November, 1962. Civil Defence aims at saving life, minimising damage to the property and maintaining continuity of industrial production in the event of an hostile attack. The Civil Defence Policy of the Government of India till the declaration of emergency in 1962, was confined to making the States and Union Territories conscious of the need of civil protection measures and to ask to them to keep ready civil protection paper plans for major cities and towns under the then Emergency Relief Organisation (ERO) scheme. Chinese aggression in 1962 and Indo-Pak conflict in 1965 led to a considerable re-thinking about the policy and scope of Civil Defence. As a result, the Civil Defence Policy as it exists today, was evolved and Civil Defence legislation was enacted in the Parliament in 1968. The country was subjected to further hostile attacks from Pakistan in December, 1971 when the Civil Defence Organisation acquitted itself commendably. Although the Civil Defence Act 1968 is applicable throughout the country, the organisation is only raised in such areas and zones which are tactically and strategically considered vulnerable from enemy attack points of view. At present, Civil Defence activities are restricted to 225 categorised towns spread over 35 States/Union Territories. Civil Defence is primarily organised on voluntary basis except for a small nucleus of paid staff and establishment which is augmented during emergencies. The present target of Civil Defence volunteers is 12.49 lakhs, out of which 6.0 lakhs have already been raised and 4.8 lakhs have been trained. These volunteers are administered and trained by 68 Deputy Controllers, 17 Medical Officers and 503 Nos. D. Instructors, which are full time paid posts.
