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The demand for trained manpower for managing disasters has been on an upswing, globally as well as in India, says Milap Dugar, Vice-Chancellor, Institute of Advanced Studies in Education (deemed university), Sardarshahar (Churu), Rajasthan. Excerpts from an interview: What is the scope and significance of disaster management in India? After the tsunami devastation, the government recognised the importance of disaster management and decided to set up a Disaster Management Authority and become part of the international warning system. The Gujarat earthquake and Mumbai floods forced the corporates to start their own disaster management cells. Since it is a new field, there is huge scarcity of disaster management experts. What purpose can these courses serve? The disaster management courses provide a blend of academic and skills-based study so that students develop technological, disaster and emergency management expertise. This equips the students for employment in a wide variety of organisations or to set up their own consultancy. The degrees are a first step to a career in disaster management. What are the desirable qualities for those aspiring to join the field? The youth having a flair for social work can get a very good opening in the field of disaster management. Those not wanting to join the traditional academic disciplines
also have this new career opportunity. And what is the placement scene in the field like? A number of NGOs, besides government and United Nations agencies, corporate and industrial set-ups have a huge demand for trained disaster management professionals. After acquiring a professional qualification, the trained persons can also set up a consultancy of their own. In short, it is a fast emerging discipline based on humanitarian values. The global demand for trained professionals in the field is on the rise. — Sunit Dhawan
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