Srinagar, Dec 26: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Dr Asgar Samoon today said Government is actively considering to establish full-fledged Department and Institute for Disaster Management in the State.
 Dr Samoon was speaking during the inauguration of a two-day seminar cum training programme on Disaster Management at Government College for Women, MA Road, Srinagar.
 The event was sponsored by Urban Risk Reduction Project, Government of India and organized by the Divisional Management, Kashmir in collaboration with Civil Defense Organization, Srinagar, Disaster Management Cell Coordinator and Programme Officer, NSS, Dr Nighat Ara.  
 “There has been a paradigm shift in disaster management from rescue, relief and rehabilitation to planning, preparedness and mitigation. The disaster management training should not be made an occasional ritual but needs to be mainstreamed,” Dr Samoon said.
 He said that the subject should be taught from primary to post-graduate level. “A full fledged Disaster Management Department and an Institute needs to be put in place for which we need a legislation. The proposal is under the active consideration of the Government. We are also considering to train Panchs and sarpanchs in disaster management. The core word for the better and organized disaster management is the coordination among the line departments,” he said.
 Other participants in the seminar while referring to some media reports about earthquake stressed for strengthening the disaster management mechanism instead of panic reaction.
 Director Information and Public Relations, Khawja Farooq Renzushah said that Jammu and Kashmir’s history is witness to apt handling and quick response of people to all kinds of disasters. “Instead of panicking, we should prepare for such disasters in a proper and organized manner. In recent past similar prediction was made in Kashgar and East Turkistan and heritage sites were vandalized in the garb of preparedness which is lamentable,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST