GUWAHATI, Oct 3: The Assam government has put forward a plan to make swimming proficiency mandatory for Class I officers and employees. The proposal was discussed at the 51st State Executive Meeting, chaired by Chief Secretary Dr. Ravi Kota. The initiative aims to enhance disaster risk reduction in the flood-prone state, where officials often travel by boat for work.
The policy encourages government officials to learn swimming by offering incentives and suggests linking the completion of swimming training and certification to promotions and regular increments. Initially, the focus will be on Class I officers, with a reimbursement of up to Rs. 10,000 for training costs. The plan will eventually be extended to include employees in non-flood-prone areas, with regular certification updates.
The Chief Minister has approved the proposal. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has already started Phase I of swimming and life skill training in Kamrup Metro district, training 53 officials so far, with more expected to participate soon.
Flooding affects a significant portion of Assam, with over 40% of the state’s land susceptible to flood damage. This year, 153 revenue circles across 35 districts were impacted, resulting in 108 deaths, including 10 due to landslides.
