CUDDALORE: Public sector undertakings and non-governmental organisations should organise awareness programmes on disaster management besides health and literacy campaigns, according to National Disaster Management Authority member N. Vinod Chandra Menon.

This would equip people to face disasters better and execute timely relief measures in a coordinated manner, he said.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the national seminar on "Disaster management" organised by the Coimbatore Institute of Technology Alumni Association under the aegis of Neyveli Lignite Corporation at Neyveli on Sunday.

Mr. Menon said every disaster left a message on how to prepare for further eventuality. Under the Disaster Management Act passed by the Centre in 2005, the National Disaster Management Authority was constituted with the Prime Minister as its chairman and five other members. State and district level disaster management establishments came under its purview, he said.

The Centre took a policy decision that all major construction activities such as bridges, power stations, telecommunication towers and multi-storeyed buildings should incorporate earthquake resistant features, Mr. Menon said.

Tsunami experience

Cuddalore District Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi said new strategies were being evolved to tackle emergencies in the aftermath of the floods and the tsunami. For instance, in Samiyarpettai coastal village, people were taught steps to be taken after a storm or cyclone struck the coast.

During the tsunami, the nine groups formed here for coordinating relief measures minimised losses. Thereby, Samiyarpettai emerged as a model village in the country.

Mr. Bedi said electronic sirens and public address systems were installed in 60 coastal villages with assistance from the United Nations Organisation to alert people about impending disasters.

NLC Director (Mines) K.S. Anandan said 60 per cent of the landmass in the country was vulnerable to natural disasters due to its geographical location. He suggested inclusion of subjects on disaster management and the techniques to construct cyclone and quake resistant proof buildings in school thecurriculums.

NLC Chief Vigilance Officer V. Narayanan spoke.

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