Excelsior Correspondent
KARGIL, July 13: A Children’s Education Programme on “Disasters and Hazards Risks and Risk Reduction (Safety and Preparation)” was organized on a grand scale for the first time in Kargil by the Institute of Energy Research and Training (IERT), University of Jammu and the Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction (IRDR), University College London (UCL). The Programme was inaugurated by Kacho Ahmed Ali Khan, Chairman/Chief Executive Councilor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil (LAHDC). Other dignitaries, present on the occasion, included Prof G M Bhat of JU, Prof Peter Sammonds, University College London (IRDR-UCL), Prof Bindra Ban Thusu, University College London (UCL), Prof Sundeep Pandita of JU and Prof Renu Nanda of JU,
The programme was attended by around 150 boys and girls from different schools of Kargil district. A teaching kit containing a booklet, notepad, T-shirt and additional stationary items was also given to the students. The lectures were delivered to the students on the theme of Natural Disasters, Climate Change, Earthquakes and Resilience by the felicitators and by the visiting professors from University College Landon as well as JU.
During the workshop, the students were given different assignment to tackle the Natural Disaster Risk Management. They were also given opportunities to draw poster painting competition on Natural Disaster Risk & its Management and they painted posters on the given themes.
Kacho Ahmed Ali Khan, CEC LAHDC, addressing the students, expressed hope that such important and fruitful workshop for young generation would infuse awareness among young mind of the country to tackle with natural disaster.
Earlier, Prof G M Bhat highlighted the objectives of the workshop and said that these are part of a series of such children based programmes being initiatived by University College London and University of Jammu in the Turtuk village and Kargil district.
Peter Sammonds, University College London (IRDR-UCL), Prof Bindra Ban Thusu, advised the student to take part in such workshop in future too, so that they can aware and teach their parents, friends and neighbours too about natural disaster/risk management.