The Hindu : New Delhi News : Involve women to mitigate effects of disasters, says Sheila

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Involve women to mitigate effects of disasters, says Sheila

Staff Reporter

– Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Woman power: UN resident coordinator and UNDP resident representative Maxine Olson (left) lighting a lamp to inaugurate a workshop on “Gender Mainstreaming in Disaster Management” in New Delhi on Friday. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Guild of Service chairperson Mohini Giri look on.

NEW DELHI: Involving women in all aspects of disaster management can help mitigate its effects, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said on Friday after inaugurating a sensitisation workshop on “Gender mainstreaming in disaster management.”

Ms. Dikshit underlined the need for dissemination of proper information about all aspects of disasters to women. Stating that research shows both men and women are psychologically affected during disasters, Ms. Dikshit added that it was essential to develop gender mainstreaming in disaster management.

The Chief Minister referred to Delhi’s susceptibility to natural disasters and said that by roping in women in disaster management, the adverse impacts of the disasters can be minimised.

Ms. Dikshit said that cultural beliefs and restricted mobility make women more susceptible to disaster. Women suffer during disasters due to lack of information and awareness, she observed, exhorting non-government organisations and agencies concerned to spread awareness among women about the effects of disaster.

Social activist Mohini Giri and the UN Representative Coordinator for Disaster Management, Maxine Olson, also expressed their views at the inaugural session. Development Commissioner Nutan Guha Biswas and Disaster Management Authority Special Secretary Chandra Bhushan Kumar were among those present.

Ms. Dikshit also released a booklet titled “Women Participation in Disaster Management”. She said Indraprastha University in Delhi had been offering a course in disaster management.

The Chief Minister said government efforts alone cannot be adequate and therefore NGOs and social organisations should pool in their know-how to meet the challenges of disaster management.

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