Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 26: Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Prof Nilofer Khan on Monday inaugurated a five-day training workshop on ‘Engaging Youth & Adolescents in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change’.
The workshop has been organised jointly by the varsity’s Department of Social Work (DoSW), National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
In her presidential address, Prof Nilofer said that no research will be able to bring any change if it doesn’t reach the society. She said science needs to be linked to society in all respects to develop impactful policies and programmes related to disaster management and climate change mitigation. She also called for engaging school children in disaster management programmes for greater awareness in the society.
Vice-Chancellor of Islamic University Awantipora, Prof Shakil A Romshoo, who was a guest of honour, delivered the keynote address, listing therein a host of emerging concerns vis-à-vis climate change.
Calling for developing the “culture of disaster preparedness” among people across the Indian Himalayan Region, Prof Romshoo said youth can drive a big change by raising awareness on creating a “disaster-conscious society”.
He said 1.4 billion people get water from the Himalayas which is host to more than 18,000 glaciers and this calls upon the Himalayan States to create a consortium on climate change to formulate better policies on mitigation and also to seek adequate funding for the same.
Registrar, Dr Nisar Ahmad Mir and Dean Research Prof Irshad A Nawchoo spoke about the importance of the workshop theme and University’s initiatives in this regard.
The workshop is being attended by more than 60 participants from higher education, school education, NCC, NSS, civil society and NGOs.
Dr Balu I and Ranjan Kumar, both faculty at NIDM, talked about different aspects of the workshop, which, they said, has been designed to meet the pressing need to engage youth in disaster management programmes in line with the NIDM mandate.
Dr Shazia Manzoor, Head DoSW, highlighted the objectives of the programme, while Dr Mussavir Ahmad, Programme Coordinator NSS KU, spoke about the NSS collaboration in the current workshop. Dr Javaid Rashid conducted proceedings of the inaugural session.
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