Online Training Programme on Child Centric Disaster Risk Reduction For South-Western States (Part IV) [3rd – 5th November, 2020] Course Report Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab Institutional Area, Sector – 26, Chandigarh In collaboration with National Institute of Disaster Management (Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India) A-wing, 4th Floor, NDCC-II Building, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi – 110001 Online Training Programme on “Child Centric Disaster Risk Reduction” For South-Western States (Part IV) hosted by Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in collaboration with National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India w.e.f. 3rd to 5th November, 2020 (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM) Background India is vulnerable to a variety of natural and man-made disasters that hinder the country’s growth. Every disaster has different levels of risk (high/medium/low), which depends upon area specific proneness and/or also on the various physical, social, economic and institutional parameters. The largely unplanned expansion of cities to accommodate rapid population growth, combined with inappropriate land-use planning and building standards, contribute to the vulnerability of majority of population. In order to mitigate and prepare for disasters, its management requires coordinated efforts from the existing administrative set up, and all other stakeholders. The activities involved in management of disasters would depend on the nature and type of disaster. If the disaster management efforts are planned and the stakeholders are trained, there will be no scope for ad- hoc measures and disaster management would be smooth and effective. The paradigm shift has changed the focus of all the stakeholders today towards disaster risk reduction, which include mitigation, preparedness and prevention efforts. This implies that efforts are being made towards preparation of plan, which is also mandatory requirement as per the Disaster Management Act 2005. Hence, there is a need of mainstreaming the Disaster Risk Reduction into development. About the Programme Disasters threaten the lives, constitutional rights and needs of the children worldwide. In past two decades India have faced devastating disasters such as Latur Earthquake (1993), Odisha Super Cyclone (1999), Bhuj Earthquake (2001), Indian Tsunami (2004), Jammu & Kashmir Earthquake (2005), Bihar Floods (2008), Uttarakhand Floods (2013), Cyclone Phailin (2013), Chennai Flood (2015), Kerala Flood (2018) and Cyclone Fani (2019). Droughts are slow onset disasters, adversely affecting children and women alike. Karnataka (16 districts) and Andhra Pradesh (4 districts) experienced at least 10 droughts between 2001-2015. During these emergencies, children are especially vulnerable to diseases, malnutrition, violence and trafficking. Measles, diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, malaria and malnutrition are the major killers of children during humanitarian crises. In future, vulnerability of children is expected to increase as the intensity and frequency of natural disasters rises. Children are not the face of a pandemic, but they risk being among its biggest victims. Evidence tells that a range of health and protection risks arise from a global pandemic, school closures and attempted distancing measures. Children and their families are experiencing closure of childcare and limited or no access to healthcare and other essential services in response to the pandemic. The data is already showing the negative effects of COVID-19, and the unprecedented measures to contain it, on maternal and child health. COVID-19 has put a huge challenge in training and capacity building. With social distancing, training during new normal situation would have different strategies that are truly effective for larger capacity building vision and agenda for effective COVID-19 response. Training at the time of pandemic is widely considered to be a powerful instrument for building the capacities of functionaries by enhancing and upgrading their knowledge, skills and competencies on a regular and periodic basis. Keeping in view the increasing vulnerability of children to disasters, Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab in collaboration with National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has hosted/conducted an Online Training Programme on “Child Centric Disaster Risk Reduction” for South-Western States (Part IV – State of Punjab, Gujarat, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar, Dadra Nagar Haveli & Daman Diu and Puducherry) from 3rd to 5th November, 2020. This 3-days’ Online Training Programme on Child Centric Disaster Risk Reduction was intended for middle level officials of various Departments, Civil Society Practitioners and Students to help build their knowledge, skills and perspectives towards child centric disaster risk reduction. This helped the officials understand and prepare for risk informed planning, sectoral readiness and preparedness for emergencies so as children are not deprived of basic amenities. Demography of Participants A total of 533 officials from various departments namely Department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Fisheries, Housing and Urban Development, Industrial and Tourism Development, Police, Home Affairs, Water Supply and Sanitation, Rural Development, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Defence Services Welfare, Local Government, Education, Revenue, Health & Family Welfare, Municipal Corporation, Social Security, Women & Child Development, Finance, and various districts of State of Punjab, Gujarat, Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar, Dadra Nagar Haveli & Daman Diu and Puducherry registered for this online training programme, who are engaged in management of disasters and 420 participants attended the programme. State-wise Distribution of 533 Participants Punjab Gujarat Lakshadweep Andaman & Nicobar Dadra Nagar & Daman Diu Puducherry Gender-wise Distribution of Participants Male Female 41% 59% Programme Events Day 1 The webinar was unfolded by Col. Dalbir Singh, General Manager Training, MGSIPA with his kind words to the respected speakers and participants. The event was graced by Shri Vipul Ujwal, Director and Special Secretary, Government of Punjab, Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development with his stimulating and thought-provoking inaugural address to the participants. He emphasized on the point that children being the vulnerable section of the society need to be taken care of and protected from worse effects of disasters. During the training, participants were acquainted with basic aspects of Disaster Risk Reduction and its importance in relation to children, the importance in relation to children, the importance of safeguarding child rights during disasters, importance of ensuring proper psychological health of children, especially during disaster and do's & don'ts on Covid-19 by speakers including Dr. Kumar Raka, Programme Officer, NIDM; Shri Ranjan Kumar, Programme Associate, NIDM and Miss Namrata Sharma, Counseling Psychologist, YWCA, New Delhi with their vast knowledge and years of experience in the field. The first presentation of the programme was delivered on the topic Do’s and Don’ts on COVID-19 by Dr. Kumar Raka, Programme Officer, Child Centric Disaster Risk Reduction Centre, NIDM. He shared the right way of following important precautions to stay at par from getting infected with corona virus. (ii) He shared with us all a very common mistake made by most of us that is made while wearing and removing a facemask. He urged us all to make use of hand sanitizers while wearing and removing the mask and not to touch anywhere except the strings of the mask. He taught us eight steps to be followed while washing hands with soap and water. He made emphasis on the home quarantine tips and made the participants learn Covid-19 through Alphabetical order, A-Zee, which one especially children can easily memorize for what to follow and what not to follow in the current pandemic situation. Thereafter, Dr. Kumar Raka took a session on Basic Concepts of Disaster Risk Management, wherein he firstly discussed the basic terminologies related to disaster. Through various pictorial views of “a falling rock from a hill”, he helped all the participants perceive the very basics of disaster and disaster management cycle. He discussed the Golden Rule in Risk Management which comprises of four components: Hazard, Vulnerability, Capacity & Exposure. Also, the terminology, Prevention and Mitigation, Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction which often confused all the participants because of a thin border line between them respectively was very nicely illustrated by him by relating them to the current pandemic situation. Both the sessions went very interactive with the queries raised by the participants which were handled by Dr. Kumar Raka. Day 2 The second day of the programme began with recapping of proceedings of first day and the queries raised by participants were handled by Dr. Kumar Raka. The first session of second day was taken by Ms. Namrata Sharma, Counseling Psychologist on “Mental Health of Children in the Time of Disaster”. She briefed on the 3 phases of Childhood; Infancy, Early and Middle Childhood and brought to the knowledge of all the participants what a child can go through after a triggering event and how important is mental health of a child likewise physical health. She also illustrated about the various types of Stress in which