New Delhi: Observing that civil defence had been neglected over the years, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today (Dec 6, 2003) said man-made disasters, which also includes terrorism was a cause for concern.

"Man-made disaster does not confine only to fire arms but have other dimensions also which is cause for concern," Advani said at the Civil Defence Day functions, organised after a gap of 57 years.

Recalling that the concept of civil defence had actually started after 1962 Sino-Indian conflict, he said "it was kind of wake up call for us" and the country started realising that if proper attention is not provided to security it could have disastrous consequences.

Realisation also came that the Government and the Army alone could not provide security without enlisting the support of the people, Advani said, adding that the need for strengthening civil defence set up was felt even more today.

Union Home Secretary N Gopalaswami, who was also present, said that five per cent of the police modernisation fund would be spent on Home Guards in states in the next five years.

The Home Secretary said 100 per cent funding to the States for the civil defence establishment has been proposed and the Centre hopes that the Union Cabinet would approve the proposal in the next two months.

PTI