Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

State vulnerable to natural calamities

Photo: S. Mahinsha

Awareness campaign: Education Minister M.A. Baby inaugurating an awareness campaign on ‘disaster management for schoolchildren through Edusat’ organised by the Institute of Land and Disaster Management in Thiruvananthapuram. -

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Studies conducted by Central government agencies have shown that the State is becoming increasingly prone to various natural calamities, including earthquake, landslips and cyclone.

According to the studies, the State is vulnerable to earthquake up to a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale. Nearly 1,800 sq. km. area of the State is prone to landslips and more than 95 per cent of the land area is susceptible to cyclone.

The findings were revealed here at an awareness campaign on ‘Disaster management for schoolchildren through Edusat’ organised by the Institute of Land and Disaster Management here on Wednesday, World Disaster Reduction Day. The campaign titled ‘Disaster risk reduction begins at schools’ launched by the United Nations aims at mobilising governments, communities and individuals in making disaster risk an integral part of school curriculum, while ensuring that school buildings are built or retrofitted to withstand natural hazards.

Inaugurating the campaign, Minister for Education M.A. Baby said that topics pertaining to disaster management would be introduced in the curriculum soon.

“The section will inform students about the uncanny ability of birds and animals to anticipate the onset of disasters,” he told the students of Cotton Hill Government Girls Higher Secondary School. “Man has progressed so far by controlling nature, but then he should also be prepared to receive unexpected setbacks in the form of calamities from nature,” he said.

The Education Minister said the popular adage ‘prevention is better than cure’ should also be applied while dealing with the ‘health’ of nature.

Minister for Revenue K.P. Rajendran said the objective of the campaign was to create a disaster-free environment in the State.

The inaugural campaign was simultaneously viewed by school students across the State through the ‘Receive Only Terminals’ in their respective schools.

“From now on we will conduct periodic awareness campaigns on various natural calamities in schools through Edusat from 1.30 p.m. to 2 p.m.,” said K.G. Thara, head, disaster management faculty and member, State Disaster Management Authority.

The inaugural function was followed by a magic show by ventriloquist Vinod Naranat. A five-minute documentary on earthquakes was also screened for the students.

The documentary showed how earthquakes occur and what precautionary measures should be taken. The function was also attended by Nivedita P. Haran, Principal Secretary, Department of Revenue.

The campaign, initiated by the United Nations, will last till the end of 2007 and will continue after that under the auspices of the U.N. decade of education for sustainable development.

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