Maharashtra government to start disaster management programme for schools

MUMBAI: Taking cue from the Centre's National School Safety Programme, Maharashtra government has decided to roll out a disaster management programme in schools this year, under which teachers and students will be trained to deal with catastrophes like earthquakes and floods.

An official from the state's disaster management cell said that on a pilot basis, 200 schools in Pune and an equal number in Satara district have already received training on tackling natural calamities.

"We are aiming to train teachers and students of 100 schools in each district in the state from the academic year starting June. We will cover the entire state in the next 3-4 years," Suhas Diwase, director of the state's disaster management cell, told PTI.

He said that under the programme, teachers and students will be informed about the causes and effects of natural disasters, the dos and don'ts, mock drills will be conducted and the children will be made to prepare a disaster management plan.

"There will be an exhaustive training material and as part of their homework, students will be asked to identify and mitigate risks in case of an emergency. This way, along with teachers, parents will also be sensitised," he said.

Diwase said that district collectors will only be required to monitor the implementation of the programme in schools as the material required has already been dispatched to them for the next academic year.

He said that the government is also planning to introduce disaster management lessons in school textbooks as well.

"We will work on our idea this year. From next year, we will start implementing it," he said.