Rashtriya Sewa Bharti holds disaster management workshop at JNU

A two-day national-level training workshop titled “Building a Disaster-Ready Society” commenced on Saturday at the Convention Centre of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

The event, attended by 417 participants, was jointly organised by Rashtriya Sewa Bharti and the Special Centre for Disaster Research at JNU. The initiative aims to foster public awareness, self-reliance, and leadership in disaster management.

The event was inaugurated by Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, Member of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), who lit the ceremonial lamp and delivered the opening address. “Every citizen must remain alert and prepared during times of disaster and organisations like Rashtriya Sewa Bharti are making an invaluable contribution to the nation in this direction,” he said.

Sanjeev Jindal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (Disaster Management), was the Chief Guest. Stressing the need for grassroots-level preparedness, he remarked, “Community-based disaster management is the need of the hour, and training camps such as these are a major step in that direction.” He emphasised the importance of using early warning tools and recommended government applications such as Sachet and Damini for real-time alerts on lightning, rainfall, and cyclones.

Ramesh Agarwal, president of Sewa Bharti Delhi, presided over the programme and highlighted the scope and reach of Rashtriya Sewa Bharti, which coordinates over 800 service organisations and operates 44,121 service projects nationwide. He underscored the organisation's significant role in both routine social work and emergency disaster relief efforts.

A special issue titled ‘Rashtriya Sewa Sadhana, Disaster Management’ was also released at the event, featuring diverse perspectives and innovations in the field.

The workshop features 80 trainees from across India and covers a wide range of training modules, including, social dimensions of disasters and local vulnerabilities, stress and trauma management, crowd safety and emergency protocols during riots or stampedes, formation of response teams and leadership training, Practical drills and rapid-response tactics.

Sudhir Kumar, All India Organising Secretary of Rashtriya Sewa Bharti said, “Disaster management has been a part of Indian consciousness since ancient times. Chanakya, in the Arthashastra, classified disasters into eight types and elaborated on the responsibilities and preparedness of both the administration and the people for each type.”