Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Students to have role in disaster management

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran said here on Tuesday that the government was working on a proposal for mass involvement of students in the disaster management plan for the State.

Addressing a function organised for the State-level inauguration of the disaster risk management programme, he said NCC cadets, Scouts and Guides and students in high schools, higher secondary and vocational higher secondary schools and colleges could be encouraged to become key players in disaster preparedness and calamity response.

Mr. Rajendran said a State-level meeting of Scouts and Guides, NCC and college-level NSS (National Service Scheme) units was being convened in Thrissur to ensure the participation of students in disaster management activities.

“The panchayat-level Yuva Karma Sena constituted by the Youth Welfare Board can also play an important role as grassroots-level teams for disaster management,” he added.

The Minister said moves were afoot to equip the Police and the Fire and Rescue Services with modern equipment and training in disaster management. A training programme was also being planned for officials of the Revenue Department who were invariably in the forefront of relief operations whenever a calamity occurred.

“Trauma care facilities will be set up all over the State to provide emergency support for victims of calamities,” he said.

Mr. Rajendran said efforts were initiated to establish control rooms at all district headquarters to collect and impart information on disasters and coordinate relief work. These control rooms, he explained, would be linked to a State-level emergency operations centre in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Minister highlighted the need to equip local-self government institutions for disaster management, rescue and relief work. He said the State disaster management policy and action plan were expected to be presented in the next session of the Assembly. “District- level action plans are already under preparation,” he added.

Mr.Rajendran said a civil defence training institute would be established in the State shortly. The project was to be funded by the Central government.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition G.Karthikeyan stressed the need to utilise local resources for early warning and preparedness in disaster management.

Revenue Principal Secretary Nivedita P. Haran said task force units were being constituted at the State, district and panchayat level to assist the administration in disaster management.

State programme coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ajith Chacko also attended the function. The disaster risk management programme is expected to develop the capacity of government institutions, local bodies and communities in disaster mitigation.

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