International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2011

Consolidated report of the activities inititated by Kerala partners of CMDRR

Partners

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

The International Day for Disaster Reduction is organized every year on October 13th to celebrate and raise awareness about what we can all do to reduce our risk to disasters from earthquakes, Tsunami, floods, hurricanes, tornados, etc The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is a day to raise awareness about how people are taking action to reduce their risk to disasters. In 2011, the spotlight is on children and young people! This year it's about CHILDREN and YOUNG PEOPLE as partners for DRR. Kerala partners of CMDRR observed the DRR day with variety of programmes. Street play organised by social work students, meeting of Task forces, exhibition on DRR in coordination with City Traffic Police are the highlights of the programmes. Partners could collaborate with Govt Departments and schools for disseminating the international theme of DRR day observation through the various programmes organised. This newsletter is an attempt to consolidate the initiatives of CMDRR partners during the international day for disaster risk reduction.

CMDRR TEAM Kerala

PRI & NGO Cooperation

DRR day at Edavanakkad Welfare Service Ernakulam initiated DRR day observation programme on 15th October 2011 at Pulikkanattu Auditorium Edavanakkadu. A total of 156 task force members and CBO members attended the meeting from Edavanakkadu and Kuzhupilly, the target areas of CMDRR project of the organisation. The public meeting started with prayer by the SHG members. Fr. Thomas Vaikathuparamabil, Director of WSE presided over the meeting. He said that now disasters became part of our lives and how much we are capable to cope up with a disaster is most significant thing. Mrs. Anandavally Chellappan, President of Edavanakkadu Panchayath inaugurated the programme. the services available at Panchayath. He wished all the success for the program. The ward members of Edavanakkadu and Kuzhupilly Panchayaths felicitated the function. Mrs. Reeby Tijo, Project CoordinatorCMDRR welcomed the dignitaries and participants. Mrs. Manomany , Task force member expressed vote of thanks. After the inaugural function Fr. Thomas Vaikathuparambil gave a message on the importance of task force and the role of SHG members in the developmental activities. Then the director invited Mr. Michael Edwin, Project Coordinator of CSSS for the session on Disaster Management.

Mr. T.G. Vijayan, President Kuzhupilly GP gave the key note address . He said that the GP has different programmes but people are not showing interest to utlise the benefit of those programmes. Ignorance of people about the schemes and programmes of GP is the reason for the declining interest of people in the programmes. Voluntary organisations like WSE can educate people through SHGs about

He explained the meaning of disaster, hazard, vulnerability and risk with suitable examples. He also explained about the need of disaster risk reduction in daily living of people. Afternoon session was more about the need of ward level task force and Village Disaster Management Committee (VDMC). The programme ended by 3.30 pm.

Involvement of youth in awareness creation

Street play of MSW students Quilon Social Service Society observed the whole week as disaster observation week. The Project Coordinator of QSSS was invited to Loyola College of Social Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram for taking a session on 'Disaster Management' to the MSW students. prone areas. Students from Trinity Lyceum School, Kollam watched the street play. After that the team visited Cheeriazheekal, the 2004 tsunami hit area, and attended the DMT meeting. The Task force

The students were invited for an exposure visit to the Tsunami hit areas of Kollam for understanding more about Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes. On 08 and 09 of October they organized special meetings of DMT at Arattupuzha and ERT at Thanni, Eravipuram. The meetings focused on the present needs of the community in terms of disaster risk reduction and reviewed the progress of the functioning of the Taskforces in the respective villages. On 13 Oct 2011, QSSS arranged an exposure visit for the MSW students from Loyola College of Social Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram. The student group presented a street play on the harmful effects of destroying natural resources in disaster
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members explained their activities for disaster risk reduction. An open discussion was also organized to clear the doubts of the students regarding community managed disaster risk reduction programmes. Then the students collected data on the change in Livelihood options of the coastal community before and after Tsunami using a questionnaire. The team presented the street play at Azheekal at 4.45 PM and returned.

Mock Drill at School

DRR Day at Cotton Hill School Trivandrum

Trivandrum Social Service Society organized the DRR day observation in association with State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and the Corporation of Trivandrum. They prepared a pamphlet for spreading the message and theme of International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction and distributed in the target areas. Organized DRR awareness programmes in 03 coastal schools as part of the day observation. Mock drill & Pledge on DRR An earth quake mock drill & Disaster Risk Reduction day pledge was organized at Cotton hill school with the support of the Corporation of Trivandrum and SDMA. The mock drill started with an earth quake alarm at 2 PM. Immediately after the alarm, the students started doing drop, hold and cover and remained the position for 2 minutes. The escape trail started after the second alarm and NCC volunteers helped the students in the trial. After reaching the ground the student leaders started head counts and search for the left outs

and convened an assembly after rescuing the last student from the block. Honorable Deputy Mayor of Trivandrum Corporation G.Happy Kumar led the pledge taking ceremony. Fr. Sabbas Ignatius, DirectorTSSS, SDMA representatives and the Additional HM of the School participated in the sessions.

Children in action
Painting competitions for school students Malankara Social Service Society organized variety of programmes as part of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR). They organized awareness programme on Disaster Management and painting competitions for children and observed the entire week as 'International Week for Disaster Risk Reduction'. The programme and events focused on the involvement of children, youth and women Taskforce members as the declared theme for this year is Children and Young people are partners in Disaster Risk Reduction. Banner, leaflet and notice showing the theme of IDDRR was prepared for information dissemination on DRR. All the programmes could ensure the participation of PRI members. DRR Day event at Muloor MSSS organized a special programme at St. Mary's Higher Secondary School, PattomTrivandrum as part of the day observation. Silent prayer for remembering the victims of previous disasters was organized in the school assembly. Painting competition on the theme natural disasters was organized for the high school students. 40 students participated in the competition. comprise of Taskforce members, CBO members, PRI members attended the programme. Day Observation at School

Smt. Omana Amma (Councilor, Vizhinjam Ward- Trivandrum Corporation) inaugurated the DRR day observation event organized at Muloor on 13th Oct 2011. Mr. Amal, Asst professor, Institute of Land and disaster Management handled the session on the need of Disaster Management and the relevance of communication in emergencies. 100 people

RTI & Social development

DRR day observation organised by ESSS Ernakulam Social Service Society observed the International day of Disaster Risk Reduction inthe operational areas of CMDRR; Elamkunnappuzha, Njarakkal and Nayarambalam Gramapanchyath. Right to Information Act and Social Development was the topic for the programmes. Procedures for filing RTI application, significance of the act in increasing the questioning capacity of people and its role in good governance was presented in the programmes. Leaders of ward level Coordination Committee participated in theprogrammes. The details are given below.
Date 13/10/2011 13/10/2011 14/10/2011 Topic RTI Act and Social Development Resource Person Adv. Sherry J Thomas Adv. Roy Chacko Adv. Sherry J Thomas No of participants 35 26 30

DRR &Social development

One-day seminar organised by KIDS Kottapuram Integrated Devlopment Society organised a seminar on Disaster Risk Reduction and its prospects in Social Development on 13th Oct 2011 at KIDS seminar hall. Rev. Dr. Johnson Panketh, Director-KIDS inaugurated the seminar. Mr. Ujesh N handled the session. Rev. Fr. Augustine Kattassery gave an introductiona about the programme. Staff members of the organization and Taskforce leaders participated in the programme.

Awareness to rural women

Awareness on DRR to SHG women Aleppey Diocesan Charitable and Social Welfare Society organized awareness programmes for Self help group members on 13th Oct 2011. Ms. Jiji Ponnan, Project Coordinator handled the sessions. Drawing competition for school children was another intervention by the organization on the day. Prozes were distributed at the end of the competition.

DRR day in Coordination with City Traffice Police

effective collaboration with Govt departments Cochin Social Service Society observed the DRR day with many programmes in association with Cochin City Disaster Management division, Cochin Traffic Police and St. Elizabeth Convent School. Painting completion on the theme Disaster and Disaster Risk reduction was organized on 15th October 2011 at St. Elizabeth Convent School, Kattiparambu. The competitions were organized at three levels, Higher Secondary/High School, Upper Primary and Lower Primary. 111 students participated in the competitions. The winners of the competitions were appreciated with cash prizes.

On 13 October 2011 a Public meeting was organized at Kochery Hall. Rev. Dr. Marian Arackal, Director-CSSS inaugurated the program. Mrs. Tinu Francis Nadackan, GoK-UNDP City Disaster Management Coordinator took a thematic session on Disaster Risk Reduction. 79 Taskforce members from Chellanam & Pattanakad Panchayaths participated. An exhibition was also arranged with the support of City Traffic Police, Kochi.

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Edited and Compiled by: DEEPAK.OJ, State Programme Coordinator, KSSF

KERALA SOCIAL SERVICE FORUM Adichira, Thellakom Post, Kottayam Kerala, India 686 016, Ph: +91-481-2594802-03, Fax: +91-481-2591795 www.kssf.org, kssforum@yahoo.com
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