Shimla: Students to get lessons in disaster management

Shimla, January 28

The government has formed a seven-member committee to prepare disaster management content for the inclusion in school curriculum. The committee includes Director, Disaster Management, as chairman; Secretary, Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education; Director, Higher Education; Director, Elementary Education; Principal, SCERT, Solan; State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha; and Joint Director, Revenue. Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue, Onkar Chand Sharma, has asked the committee to submit its report within six months.

As per the notification issued today, the current disaster management syllabi taught in schools was found inadequate to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills for effective disaster preparedness and response.

“More disaster management content should be included in the teaching syllabus for each class, ensuring that schoolchildren are well-informed about basic disaster management principles. To facilitate this initiative, a committee tasked with suggesting an enriched disaster management syllabus for schools needs to be constituted,” said ACS Onkar Chand Sharma.

The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) is looking at morning assemblies and bag-free days to raise disaster management awareness among students and enhance the activities related to disaster management. During the morning assemblies, the SDMA has suggested the incorporation of activities like short talks, skits, or presentations do’s & don’ts on season specific hazards by students, teachers, or invited experts. On bag-free days, the SDMA has suggested that schoolchildren be given hands-on practice related to disaster management on the bag-free day.

“The proposed initiatives align with the objectives of HPSDMA to promote lifesaving skills at an early stage, fostering a culture of preparedness and resilience among the youth. This initiative not only imparts essential skills to the students but also establishes a foundation for a more safety conscious and informed community,” said the Additional Chief Secretary.