RACES WING - NIAR

What is RACES?

       The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) is part of NIAR's public service activities that provides a reserve communications group in times of extraordinary need. During periods of activation, RACES personnel are called upon to perform many tasks for the government agencies they serve.  

RACES provide a pool of emergency communications personnel and maintain the list of Hams & members of NIAR across the country and prepare themselves for the inevitable day when they will be called upon.  

Traditional RACES operations involve emergency message handling on Amateur Radio Service frequencies. These operations typically involve messages between critical locations such as Government offices, hospitals, Cyclone/Flood shelters, and any other locations where communication is needed to the District or State headquarters. 

Whatever need arises, trained RACES personnel are ready and prepared to help, develop and maintain their communications ability during emergencies and public-service events. When that fateful day occurs, RACES will be there to meet the challenge.

Volunteers in action

The greatest asset any organisation working for emergencies is a dedicated group of volunteers. They often accomplish miracles that paid staff will not achieve because they are motivated by a totally different perspective. (This is not to criticize paid staff, but to point out a distinction.)

          It happens in NGOs & Voluntary agencies where there is a leadership with the requisite sense of purpose, and who understands its relationship to the volunteers. That, in turn, leads to committed and active involvement from the volunteers.

           In other words, if you are going to use volunteers you need to know the listed these aspects:

        1. Active involvement with a purpose

        2. That the purpose makes sense

        3. Both involvement and purpose must relate to the mission of the unit and the agency

        It has been said that involvement that finds out the skills and talents of each participant and puts them to tasks they can manage--tasks that interest them, and for which they have the skills, even if they themselves do not yet recognize they possess those very skills/talents.  

While there is no doubt that it is necessary for Amateur radio to integrate newer technologies into all of its public service activities in order to remain viable, the most valuable asset we have remains that of the trained operator.

 NIAR in Disaster Management 

National Institute of Amateur Radio established in the year 1983 has been involved in providing such second line communications during various emergencies in the country over the last one and a half decades. The institute has received numerous appreciations for its valuable services from national and international agencies for its role in several major disasters that occurred in the country over the years. The volunteers of NIAR have rendered selfless support to the administration in several Cyclones, Floods, Earthquakes, Rail/Road/Air accidents all over the country. Some of the major incidents are the Uttarkashi, Latur and Gujarat Earthquakes, Beechpalli Road accident and Cyclones & Floods in AP and other states, Orissa Super cyclone, Amarnath Yatra tradgedy, Tsunami in Andaman, Aila Cyclone etc.

          In a developing country like ours it is more than necessary to use such technologies, which is not only cost effective but also maintain a resource of skilled and talented personnel at village level. Where people themselves can better organise for their local needs which is the main criterion during disasters.

          With years of experience and knowledge of emergency planning and preparedness we have adopted a new concept to provide quality public service communications were CW, SSB and Digital communications work together. The systems such as Disaster Relief Vehicle is found be most ideal for emergencies wherein both emergency medical care and communication can be provided at the site of incident as well as transport of health workers and Amateur Radio operators. The institute provided similar facilities by having a medical doctor who is also a Ham Radio operator during the Latur earthquake relief operations and provided excellent support to the administration.  

The initial reports from the villages suggest that the scheme has attracted the interests of many villagers and is well received at all places where it has conducted its activities so far. 

A couple of years back, the then Central Vigilance Commissioner Mr. N.Vittal, VU2NVO has inaugurated a “National Control Room (Amateur Radio) for Emergency Management” at NIAR, which can be accessed by amateurs anywhere in the world who would like to cooperate in disasters.

         Minister for Revenue & Relief, accompanied by the Relief Commissioner, Govt. of Gujarat, visited NIAR Headquarters at Hyderabad and held detailed discussions on possibilities of expanding Amateur Radio activities in this part of the country.

The CAPART, Relief & Finance Depts. of Govt. of AP & Gujarat, Orissa, several District Collectors, Dept. of Education, Dept. of Science & Technology, Dept. of Electronics, Dept. of CSIR, Dept. of Programme Implementation MPLAD etc. have all appreciated the service.

          We are happy to say that NIAR has made a remarkable progress in its aim to provide better systems for Disaster Management for benefit of society. 

                     To register yourselves in NIAR RACES Wing, please go to:

                                                http://www.niar.org/join_races.htm

                                                            Thank you & 73.