Chandigarh, May 31 -Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Dr. Sumita Mishra today monitored the implementation of 'Operation Shield' from the State Emergency Response Center (SERC) Dial 112 Haryana, Panchkula. The exercise, conducted under the direct guidance of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, included high-intensity simulations of securit threats such as air strikes, drone attacks and wartime scenarios.
Dr. Mishra monitored live updates from all 22 districts of Haryana and issued operational instructions in real time. He emphasized that preparedness should not be considered a one-time drill but should be developed as a continuous culture. The exercise demonstrated a seamless coordination between senior officials, local administration and community level volunteers which is a significant step in improving the response capabilities of the State.

'Massive involvement of citizens through Jan Bhaagidari'
One of the highlights of Operation Shield was the massive participation of nearly 10,000 civil defence volunteers who worked in collaboration with the National Cadet Corps (NCC), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Home Guards and National Service Scheme (NSS). This massive citizen participation showcased Haryana's ''Jan Bhaagidari'' model, which places citizens at the centre of community safety and resilience. Civil Defence Master Trainers were trained under the guidance of NDRF and Ministry of Home Affairs. He said these Master Trainers will further train more trainers in every district.

Dr Mishra praised this collaborative approach as crucial for the success of the operation. He said the successful operation was possible due to the inputs of trained trainers who were trained by NDRF teams as per the norms of Ministry of Home Affairs.

Multi-level simulations and technology deployment
Dr Mishra informed that district-level war rooms led by Deputy Commissioners conducted tactical briefings and deployed volunteers in critical areas. The exercise included mock evacuations, first-response triaging and testing of cyber-incident protocols in urban and rural areas. Advanced technologies such as drones, emergency warning systems and GIS-based resource tracking were deployed to replicate real-world emergency scenarios. These efforts helped stress-test the state’s preparedness and highlighted areas for future capacity building.

A model for other states
Calling it a “pivotal moment” in security governance, Dr Mishra said resilience becomes an inherent characteristic of society when citizens are empowered to act as first responders. He also underlined the importance of promoting a culture of coordination, vigilance and shared responsibility in internal security matters.
On this occasion, Home, Secretary Department, Smt. Geeta Bharti, ADGP Shri Hardeep Singh Doon, Special Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management Department Shri Rahul Hooda besides other senior officers of State Emergency Response Centre (SERC) were present.