Course Report Online Training Programme on “Child Centric Disaster Risk Reduction" 19th– 21stAugust, 2020; 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM National Institute of Disaster Management Government of India In collaboration with Asansol Girls’ College Paschim Bardhaman, West Bengal Online Training Programme on “Child Centric Disaster Risk Reduction" Being hosted by Asansol Girls’ College, Asansol, Paschim Bardhhaman, West Bengal in collaboration with National Institute of Disaster Management, Government of India w.e.f. 19th–21thAugust, 2020 from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM 1. Background Children are the human resources and assets of a nation. A nation’s health is gauged through the health of its children. It is therefore essential that they are allowed to grow in an environment, which is suitable to meet their social, emotional and educational needs. Children have to be given utmost priority in our country’s development agenda since they are the ones who will bring about a change in the society. They are the greatest gift of humanity and represent a beautiful creation of God. Children of today are the nation builders of tomorrow. Malnutrition remains a major threat to the survival, growth and development of Indian children. A Lancet study published last year showed that as of 2017 the prevalence of low birth weight, child stunting, child wasting, child underweight, child anemia, child overweight and exclusive breastfeeding are 21.4%, 39.3%, 15.7%, 32.7%, 59.7%, 11.4%, and 53.3% respectively. The paper concluded with a significant remark that 'India needs higher rates of improvement’ to achieve its National Nutrition Mission: 2022 targets. COVID-19 pandemic has jeopardized the situation. The challenge ahead for India is to ensure that national nutrition policies and social transformation are aimed at reducing inequalities and the disproportionate impact of malnutrition among the poorest and most vulnerable groups in society. Making child health and nutrition a priority during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic is essential. COVID-19 hasposed a great challenge for child health and nutrition. With social distancing, training during new normal situations 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, Asansol Girls’ College, Asansol, West Bengal in collaboration with National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India is conducting an Online Training Programme on "Child Centric Disaster Risk Reduction" for Eastern States from 19thto 21stAugust, 2020. 2. Objectives At the end of this course, participants were able to: Understand and provide an overview of sectoral impacts of disaster on children. Understand the process of CCDRR and its steps including mainstreaming approaches. Provide an overview of CCDRR with an emphasis on Life Cycle Approaches and Risk Informed Programming. Strategies to involve children in DRR activities. Build knowledge on school safety. Basic information on COVID-19 and emerging issues related to Children’s well-being. Disrupted access to food and nutrition and promoting healthy lifestyle and diet during home learning. Adverse impact of closures, social distancing and lockdowns on children’s education and how to address them. 3. Course Module This Course has two modules and contents of the course would touch upon the following aspects, to achieve the objectives: Module -1: Children and Disaster Basic Concepts of Disaster Risk Management Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Profile of India Disaster Impact on Children: Sectoral Overview Protecting Child Rights in Disaster Disaster Impact on Children: Sectoral Overview Impact of COVID-19 on children. Module -2: Understanding Child Centric Disaster Risk Reduction Introduction to CCDRR Mental Health of Children in Emergencies Life Cycle Approach Risk Informed Programming Protecting Children In Emergency Child Participation in DRR School Safety 4. Demography of Participants A total 347 participants mostly faculty and students from different streams of subject. These participants were belonging from different parts of West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Punjab, Bihar and Karnataka who registered for three days online training programme, out of 386 registered participants 230 participants attended three days online training programme. State wise distribution of participants as follows: Sl. No. State No. of Participants 1. West Bengal 370 2. Karnataka 5 3. Assam 6 4. Bihar 1 5. Odissa 2 6. Punjab 2 Gender wise distribution of participants as follows: Male: 46 Female: 340 4. Programme Events Inaugurating the programme on 19th August 2020, Shri Moloy Ghatak, Minister in charge Labour & Law and Judicial, Govt. of West Bengal said that Covid-19 has created great challenges in society and we have to frame concrete policies to safeguard our children. Dr. Sandip Kumar Ghatak Vice-Principal of Asansol Girls’ College has said that children and their families are experiencing handicapped after closer of childcare centre, schools and limited access to health care in responses to the Covid-19. Major General Manoj Kumar Bindal, Executive Director, NIDM appraised that this training programme will help the participants to enhance their knowledge, skills and perspectives towards child centric disaster risk reduction. Dr. Santosh Kumar Professor & HOD, GIDDRR&CCDRR, said that this programme will help the teachers, students and parents to prepare for risk informed planning, sectoral readiness and preparedness for emergencies so as children are not deprived of basic amenities. He emphasized the need of collective endeavour at all levels for giving a tough fight to the pandemic. During the training, participants were trained with dos’ & don’ts on Covid-19, 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 and importance of ensuring proper psychological health of children, especially during disaster by speaker including Dr.Kumar Raka Programme Officer, NIDM: Dr.Balu I Programme Associate, NIDM: Shri Ranjan Kumar, Programme Associate, NIDM and Miss Namrata Sharma, Counseling Psychologist, YWCA, New Delhi with their vast information and understanding in the field. The experts in the field also discussed the need for providing a safe physical and psychological environment and solution related to the various types of hazards, danger and risk to children at home, school and other public/private place were discussed. Day-1 After inauguration of the programme, Dr. Kumar Raka took sessions on Do’s and Don’ts on Covid-19 and Basic concepts of Disaster Risk Management. He explained the concepts like risk, mitigation, preparedness, prevention and vulnerability with life examples. The participants actively participated in the session. This was followed by a Q & A session; where in queries of participants were handling by Dr. Kumar Raka. The participants gave an excellent feedback about the contents of the programme and the way of explaining and interaction. 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 Megha Bagdas. Followed by the recapping session, Shri Ranjan Kumar, Programme Associate, NIDM took session on Introduction to CCDRR and Commitments to Child Rights. During his session, he discussed about the CCDRR and elaborately discuss on child, methods for protecting child rights during pandemic. After Ranjan Kumar lecture, Ms. Namrata Sharma, Counseling Psychologist from YWCA, New Delhi took session on Mental Health of Children in the time of Disaster. She apprised the participants about the effects of disaster on mental as well as physical health of children and the stress level borne by the children at the timeof a disaster. The session was very well received by the participants who raised several queries related to children and their life affected by disasters. Day-3 The last day of the programme also began with recapping of proceedings of second day and queries raised by participants were handled by Dr.Pankaj Kumar and Dr. Kumar Raka. This session first lecture delivered by Dr.Kumar Raka ,Programme Officer, NIDM on school safety with special focus on Covid-19, he discussed safety majors adopted by school authority.Thereafter, session on Disaster Impact and Life Cycle of Children was taken by Dr. Balu, Programme Associate. He discussed about the disaster impact on child health, education, mental health, social life etc. The three days’ online training programme culminated with summary report by Dr.Pankaj Kumar and Dr.Kumar Raka, concluding remarks given by Prof.Santosh Kumar, NIDM and vote of thanks given by Megha Bagdas to both the institutions,the speakers and all the participants who shared their knowledge and experiences during programme. 5. Learning Outcome The generic learning outcomes of this programme encompass a series of capacities that will allow the participants to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the role of various stakeholders in child centric disaster situations, including both a broad command of the field and a deeper knowledge of