Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 6: Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Verma inaugurated three-day State level Consultation on Child Centered Preparedness for Response Planning, here today.
The workshop has been organized by J&K State Disaster Management Authority in collaboration with Divisional Disaster Management Authority, Jammu, National Disaster Management Authority and with the support of UNICEF.
Emergency Specialist UNICEF, Sarabjit Singh, Director Disaster Management, Aamir Ali, Additional Commissioner Jammu, Anuradha Rani, Director Social Welfare Department, Jammu Dr Bharat Bhushan, Former Member NDMA Dr Muzaffar Ahmed, all Additional Deputy Commissioners of Jammu Division besides Xavier Thomas from UNICEF, Disaster management Professionals and representatives of line departments were present.
In his inaugural address, the Div Com said that a step-by-step process of Emergency Preparedness Planning will be chalked out for response plan and participants will prepare their social sector specific plans, which will incorporate surge, capacity building, coordination, inventorisation and prepositioning of resources. He underlined the need to document in plans the current sectoral response practices, gaps and bottlenecks in response, for better and effective coordination and implementation.
Emphasizing on prospective approach, he asked line departments to take effective steps to mainstream child-centered disaster risk consideration in their development planning to ensure continuity of services during disasters and also put in place preparedness and response plans, outlining various activities, capacity development needs and coordination mechanism. He urged for development of protocols for education, health, nutrition, especially for children in the age group of 0-6 years. He asked that manuals be prepared for composite small township concept in border areas, where all facilities and services could be provided under a single roof. He urged participants to share their ideas and experiences.
In his address, Emergency Specialist UNICEF Sarbjit Singh Sahota urged for putting in place a humanitarian architecture channelizing resources from multiple sources in the event of a disaster. He assured that UNICEF is ready for a long term commitment and will support the State Government for ensure disaster resilience.
Director Disaster Management Aamir Ali said that disasters impact all the sections of society but the vulnerable sections including women and children are more likely to get impacted. He said that during the workshop the social sector line-departments will be assisted to outline their strategy and plans to respond to identified humanitarian emergencies affecting children and women.
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