Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 15: Two-days training programme on “School Disaster Preparedness”, jointly organized by Disaster Management Centre in the University of Jammu and the office of Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, began today at JU.
More than 250 school teachers drawn from all the 10 districts of Jammu province and the major public schools of Jammu city are participating in the training programme.
Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Minister of State for Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation, who was chief guest at the inaugural function, appreciated the initiative for organizing training for teachers on disaster preparedness. He also emphasized the need for awareness among common masses and people living in far off places.
Shantmanu, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, elaborated the need of reducing structural vulnerability of the school buildings, which is often the root cause of death and injury of school children during disasters. He discussed various steps that are being taken by the administration in disaster preparedness and management in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Prof Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, Vice- Chancellor, JU, said “Earthquakes don’t kill, buildings do”, thus it becomes imperative to be proactive in disaster preparedness rather than post disaster management. He offered the services of University Academia to help Government agencies in formulating plans for preparing Disaster Management Schemes.
Dr Muzaffar Ahmad, Member of National Disaster Management Authority, stressed the need for preparation of disaster preparedness and response plans at individual school level to tackle any emergency within the school environment.
Vote of thanks was presented by Prof S K Pandita, Director, Disaster Management Centre, JU.
Vandana Chauhan and Vishal Pathak from All India Disaster Mitigation Institute, Ahmedabad, Dr G M Dar, IMPA, J&K, Dr Ranbushan from Directorate of Health Services, Jammu and Prof S K Pandita, Director, DMC, JU are the resource persons for the training programme.
Tomorrow, Fire and Emergency Services, Jammu shall conduct a mock drill for the participants.
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