India is facing lot of threats on disasters in global condition. Though there are some mechanisms in place for combating disasters in our country both at Centre & State levels, criticism is often voiced that this system does not effectively faces the challenges posed by the disasters in the current era of technological advancement. At present there is a paradigm shift of disaster management, from crisis management to disaster preparedness. Therefore, there is a need to critically examine our disaster management structures / system in terms of disaster preparedness, and suggest measures to reduce the impact of disaster and make it more effective. India needs huge manpower, having technical expertise, in the management of disasters, certainly in terms of preparedness. As on date few institutions in the country have introduced courses on disaster management; however, University Grants Commission (UGC) has approached all the Universities/Institutions for institutionalization of Disaster Management, vide their letter no F 14-5/2007/Pt-1/CPP-II, dated February 04, 2008 and F 14-5/2007(CPP-II), dated October 30, 2009 (Enclosed herewith). Also the catering to the huge roles of Disaster Management professionals, it is very much urgent to start a course, which will be offered for servicing Society and Industries of the country.

Vide Resolution No. 12(a); dated 10/08/2017 of the Executive Council, Jadavpur University

National policies on disaster risk reduction, preparedness, emergency response, and recovery and reconstruction, individually and collectively shall be addressed to:

1. Reduce increasing the risk to people, building stock, and lifeline infrastructure that future construction and urban development will lead to increased resilience.
2. Start decreasing the risk to community, businesses, organizations, buildings, and infrastructure already placed at risk to future events by the vulnerabilities of past urban developments.
3. Devise planning and implementing ways to respond to and recover from the inevitable disaster events, including the unthinkable extreme event, such as a catastrophic earthquake in the Himalayan belt or Tsunami effect due to oceanic subduction plate movement, that will severely disrupt the production, distribution, and financial systems of habitat, industries, vital establishment and the nation as a whole.
4. Ensure implementation of bye laws relating to disaster resistant design and constructions
5. To spread awareness amongst vulnerable communities to develop hazard and risk, micro-zonation map in order to examine and evaluate life safety and to take measures for the protection of the buildings.

• Research on development of disaster warning systems including self-warning system, low cost disaster prediction system in the Indian context, research on sustainable infrastructural development, studies on poverty alleviation, design of low cost evacuation system during disasters, etc., leading to PhD degree level interdisciplinary research work, though the PhD work have already been started by Jadavpur University
• Training on Government functionaries, Local Self Government bodies, NGOs on Disaster Preparedness.
• Awareness, Sensitization and Rehearsal at the grass root level,
• Academic Training, such as short term inter-disciplinary training program for the faculty members of different Universities, Colleges, Schools, also the Students,
• Seminar and Workshops by inviting national level and international level experts, for the faculty members of different Universities, Colleges, Schools, and University Students
• Poster Competition between the students of different Universities, Colleges, and Schools
• Preparation of Disaster Preparedness & Management Plan

The initial target group for the training is the Government/ Non Government Officials directly dealing with the disasters, those who cater their service to the society. The disaster management has no syllabus and no boundary. The beneficiary would be all the members of the society.

Dr. Gupinath Bhandari ()

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

disaster.management.ju@jadavpuruniversity.in

This has been proposed considering the contemporary requirements for the society. Presently the natural disaster is occurring frequently, for which the social security is hampered. For the purpose of social security of the social elements and the members of the society, the activity on disaster management has become very much essential. This is required to be institutionalized.

2.0 Title & activity of the Proposed Centre: A centre, entitled, "Centre for Disaster Preparedness & Management" has been proposed to be established in the University directly under the University or under a faculty (not under any Department) with the following initial objectives:

Along with the above, in future the objectives will add the following:

• Institutional Courses like Post Graduate and MPhil Course.

The above became essential for manpower development in Disaster Management, at different levels of the society.

Research work will be carried out for prediction of any kind of predictable and rapid onset disasters; however in case of predictable and slow onset disasters the research will be carried out to estimate the time available and the remedial measures for the same. To cover these different models may be developed using different tools.

3.0 Target Group and Beneficiaries: The initial target group for the training is the Government/ Non Government Officials directly dealing with the disasters, those who cater their service to the society. The disaster management has no syllabus and no boundary. The beneficiary would be all the members of the society.

4.0 Collaboration: The collaboration may be sought with the Department of Disaster Management, Government of India (GoI), and Department of Disaster Management, Government of West Bengal (GoWB). Also on behalf of Government of India (GoI), the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) and on behalf of Government of West Bengal (GoWB), the Administrative Training Institute (ATI) for this program. Also the collaboration with Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok, may be initiated to have the international flavor of the program and academic activities.