SRINAGAR, NOVEMBER 16: A four-day conference “State Level Consultation on Child-Centered Emergency Preparedness for Response” concluded here today.
The conference was organized by Jammu and Kashmir State Disaster Management Authority (JKSDMA) in collaboration with Divisional Disaster Management Authority Kashmir and UNICEF. The focus of the conference was mainly on the topics including vulnerabilities of women, children and specially-abled groups.
The conference witnessed the participation of various officials from the administration of various districts and the resource persons from UNICEF.
Speaking at the valedictory function Secretary Disaster Management Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRRR), PHE and I&FC Farooq Ahmed Shah, who was the Chief Guest on the occasion, said that JKSDMA department holds the great significance in J&K, keeping in view various disasters faced by the State.
Stressing on the unification and collective action between administration, NGOs and other stakeholders to implement child safety measures, Shah said that the department will continue the process of conducting workshops and conferences to create awareness among the masses about disaster management.
On the occasion, he explained the vision of DMRRR and the importance of conducting such conferences to groom officials. He said natural disasters cannot be stopped, but there is a need to learn and understand how to manage the disasters. Organizing such conferences and workshops, Shah said, is an important step towards learning about the disaster management.
Appreciating the enthusiasm of the participants and disaster management professionals, Shah urged the participants to take advantage of such opportunities. The Secretary also appreciated the support of UNICEF and said that similar conference would be conducted in Jammu also.
Giving the detail about the conference, Director JKSDMA, Aamir Ali informed that the plans that will be prepared as an outcome of the conference will be followed up by the Disaster Management professionals with the line departments to institutionalize child centered disaster risk reduction in their regular programmes.
He added that these plans will help and guide in future policy action and practices. To ensure the hard labour put in by the participants of the conference is utilized in a proper manner, it was suggested that some of the participants should be made a part of the State Level Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), for its sustainability.
Later, the mementoes and certificates were also distributed among the participants.
Besides others, the valedictory function was attended by Lars Bernd, Country Chief UNICEF, Sarabjit Singh, Emergency Specialist UNICEF, Danish Aziz, Education Specialist UNICEF, Xavier Thomas, UNICEF, Dr Muzaffar Ahmed, former Member NDMA and Advisor UNICEF and Deputy CEO SDMA, Officers from Divisional Commissioner Kashmir office, Additional Deputy Commissioners, Disaster Management Professionals and other Senior Officers from Education Department, Social Welfare, ICDS, ICPS, PHE, I&FC, R&B, SDRF, J&K Police, Fire & Emergency Services, Health & Medical Education Department, NGOs and other sectors.
