Training prog on disaster management held

CORRESPONDENT
JAMUGURIHAT, Sept 25 – The Centre for Disaster Management (CDM) of Tezpur University organised a three-day training programme on disaster management in collaboration with Biswanath College from September 9 at State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD), Biswanath Chariali.

The programme was sponsored and supported by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and National Institute of Disaster Management, New Delhi. Dr Dipak Nath, in-charge, CMD Kshiradhar Baruah, retired HoD, Chemistry, Biswanath College and an eminent writer, took part as resource person.

The training programme on the topic Disaster Risk Management was inaugurated by Dr. Nityananda Gogoi, principal, Biswanath College on September 9 and was chaired by Phatik Ch Hazarika, a retired lecturer.

Opening the training programme with the topic ‘Basic concept of disaster management’, Dr Dipak Nath dwelt at length on the concept of disasters, both natural and man- made, and suggested the possible ways and means of its management. He explained that as Assam is situated in the most earthquake and flood-prone area, the people, the government and NGOs have an important role to play. Disaster is a part of life and we must face it with courage, patience, proper preparation so that the damage could be minimised,” he said. He also stressed that in time of disaster, governments help, both financial and logistic, NGOs’ manpower institutions’ education and research and most vulnerable community’s identification are the four vital things in disaster management. With a documentary, he had successfully brought home the points before the participants. A documentary on the devastation of Latur earthquake was also screened. Kshiradhar Boruah gave a comprehensive, fruitful and thought provoking lecture on the topic ‘Chemical hazards and preparedness for risk mitigation’ along with a documentary.

The participants were taken to flood-prone areas of Biswanath and Sootea for field study on September 9. The participants visited No. 1. Solman, Bagoriati of Bhojmari where severe erosion has taken a devastating turn, interacted with the local people and the officials of Water Resources department, Government of Assam and suggested various short and long-term measures to stop it including complete coordination between the government, NGOs and the people, in the report they submitted. On the third day, three lectures were delivered on the topics. ‘Flood hazards and flood risk management’, ‘Environmental impact assessment’ and ‘District disaster management plan’ by Dr Apurba Kumar Das, Dr RR Hoque of Tezpur University (assistant professor of Environment studies) respectively.

In the last lecture of the training programme Bhaskar Phukan, SDO (c), Biswanath, explained in detail the district disaster management plan with special emphasis on three R-rescue, relief and rehabilitation. With the distribution of participation certificates to 28 participants and collection of feedback report from the participants. The training programme came to an end, in a valedictory function attended by Bhaskar Phukan SDO (c) and Rita Burhagohain in charge of SIRD, Biswanath Chariali. ASSAM TRIBUNE