Uttarakhand Aapda Sakhi Yojana

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Uttarakhand, due to its fragile Himalayan geography, remains highly prone to natural disasters such as landslides, cloudbursts, flash floods, and earthquakes. Recognising the need for stronger community participation - especially of women - in disaster preparedness and response, the state government launched the Uttarakhand Aapda Sakhi Yojana. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami formally announced the scheme on 31 May 2025 during the Monsoon-2025 Preparedness Workshop organised by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) in Dehradun.

Official statements released by the Chief Minister's Office and the Department of Information and Public Relations confirmed that the initiative aims to train women volunteers in essential disaster management skills. These include pre-disaster early warning dissemination, first aid, relief and rescue operations, and psychological support. The primary objective of Aapda Sakhi is to enhance women's active role at the grassroots level so that local communities become better prepared and more resilient. By involving women who are already connected with Self-Help Groups, the scheme seeks to create a network of trained responders who can quickly share information, assist during emergencies, and support recovery efforts in their villages.

Following the announcement, the Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihood Mission began identifying women associated with Self-Help Groups and cluster-level organisations for participation in the Aapda Sakhi initiative. The identified women are intended to receive specialised disaster-management training from USDMA, enabling them to support awareness, preparedness and response activities in their respective communities. On 9 January 2026, an official USDMA release further stated that the state government was working towards strengthening initiatives such as Aapda Sakhi and Yuva Aapda Mitra.

The initiative is being implemented through coordination between the State Rural Livelihood Mission (responsible for selection) and USDMA (responsible for training and technical guidance). As of 2026, the government continues to strengthen this effort as part of its broader focus on community-based disaster management. In essence, the Aapda Sakhi Scheme represents a targeted step to make disaster response more inclusive by placing trained women at the centre of village-level preparedness and support systems in Uttarakhand.

Scheme Benefits

• Selected Aapda Sakhis are trained in the following areas:
  • Pre-disaster early warning and information dissemination
  • First aid
  • Relief and rescue operations
  • Psychological support
• Women from Self-Help Groups as well as other women's organisations are being included under the scheme.
• In addition, the following benefits may be introduced as the scheme is rolled out:
  • Selected Aapda Sakhis receive modern disaster-management training at reputed institutions.
  • An incentive/honorarium (मानदेय) is provided to the selected women.
  • Free insurance cover is extended to the Aapda Sakhis.
  • Aapda Sakhis will run awareness campaigns in villages and schools
  • Special identity cards are issued to the selected women.
  • Necessary disaster-management equipment is provided to enable them to perform their duties effectively.

Roles and Responsibilities of Aapda Sakhis

• They are expected to:
  • Share timely information at the village level before, during, and after a disaster
  • Support risk assessment and relief work
  • Act as a link between the local administration and the community
  • Train other women and school children in basic disaster management skills
  • The scheme aims to increase women's participation in disaster preparedness and make community response more effective.

Eligibility Requirements

• Selection is internal - there is no open public eligibility criterion or application process.
• Women must be active members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) functioning under the Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihood Mission (USRLM).
• Preference is given to active and aware women associated with community institutions (Village Organisations / Cluster Level Federations).
• USRLM officials carried out selection at the cluster and district level.

Steps to Apply

• No official announcement has been made yet regarding the opening of applications or registrations.
• The scheme is currently being implemented through government efforts.
• Women are being selected through the State Rural Livelihood Mission (USRLM).
• If the government opens an official application or registration process in the future, the information will be updated.

Relevant Links

• Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority Official Portal
• Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihoods Mission Portal

Contact Information

• Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority Contact Link