National Environmental Campaign and Programme on Eve of World Environment Day 4 June 2014

Environment and disasters are closely linked. Environmental changes particularly climate change, land-use changes and natural resource degradation is known to change the level of natural hazards and human vulnerability to disasters. With the recent reports of Inter-governmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC), activities of International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has led to global awakening on integrating environment and disaster management which is well recognised within the Hyogo Framework of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction (HFA 2005-15). National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) is apex academic institute of Government of India on issues related to disaster management. NIDM has been organizing campaigns for promoting awareness among all sections of society and Government for disaster prevention and effective emergency response. Looking to the need of the time, NIDM started national level campaigns on role of environmental awareness and conservation in reducing disaster risks and vulnerability of land and people. In year 2012, national level competitions of students for slogan and poem writing was organised. Besides cash awards to winners, selected slogans and poems were also published in form of a book as an educational material which were distributed in several exhibitions and forum like Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction during 2012 in Geneva and International Trade Fair in New Delhi in year 2013.

This year, a national campaing was organised comprising essay completion for students (in Hindi and English) on “Safeguarding Environment for Disaster Reduction”. More than 1500 entries were received from across the country representing more than 80 schools. Winners of the essay completion were given cash prizes today by Dr. B Bhattacharya, Member of National Disaster Management Authority, in the programme organized on the eve of World Environment Day at SCOPE Auditorium. First prize in Intermediate category of English essay was bagged by Piyush Kharbanda, where in Hindi Shreya Shailaan of Amity International School Delhi was selected for the prize, each of Rs. Ten Thousand. In the high school category Shubrojyoti Mookherjee of Delhi Public School Mathura received first prize in English and Priyanka Mahesh Chand of Guru Nanak Girls Senior Secondary School Delhi in Hindi. Total 32 students were given cash prizes covering first, second, third and five consolation prizes in each category. More than 250 students, teachers and parents participated in the function besides academicians, policy makers, researchers, from International and United Nations Agencies, NGOs, educational Institutions, Ministries and Civil society groups participated in the programme.

Member of National Disaster Management Dr. B Bhattacharjee Presided over the function and Chief Executive Officer of National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) of Govt. of India Dr. J S Samra was the Guest of Honour. Dr. Bhattacharjee in his presidential speech stressed on awareness of society and particularly of students towards building a safer and sustainable habitat for our new and coming generations to live in. He regarded environment as the substrate for all benefits we draw for our living and economic development but also having potential to generate hazard events like flooding, drought, landslides, forest fire, diseases and earthquakes. He appreciated NIDM’s such awareness campaigns and suggested collaborative efforts involving other national and state level institutions, media agencies and local societies. Dr. Samra stressed on the need to promote dryland agriculture, locally and socially acceptable and ecologically suitable water management approaches with due respect to traditional wisdom and local innovations. He called for research and awareness on diversification in agriculture and rural livelihoods for greater resilience against disaster risks.

Prof. C K Varshneya, Emeritus Professor from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, was the keynote speaker on this occasion who spoke on the international theme of the world environmental awareness campaign of this year on “Small Islands and Climate Change” context of disaster risk reduction.

A book on “Bundelkhand Drought” prepared by NIDM based on the research carried out by NIDM faculty Dr. Anil Gupta and Sreeja S Nair covering all the 13 districts of Bundelkhand across Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and with the support of Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR). The books comprises field data and knowledge based on hazard and vulnerability analysis employing remote sensing tools and mitigation analysis. An educational flyer on “DOs and DONT’s” on common disasters was also released besides CDs on NIDM’s profile and earthquake safety for households

The national campaign was conceived and organised by Dr. Anil Gupta, Head of the Policy Planning Division of NIDM, Prof V K Sharma of Indian Institute of Public Administration, under the guidance of Dr. T. Chatterjee, Director Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) (former Secretary of Ministry of Environment of Govt. of India), and Dr. Satendra, Executive Director of NIDM (Indian Forest Service Officer). Dr. Satendra during his welcome address emphasized on understanding the relationship between environment, livelihood and sustainable development for reducing vulnerability against natural hazards. It is noteworthy that some of the visually challenged students were among the winners of the essay completion. One of the visually challenged student “Pandav” from Andh Vidyalaya Narella, New Delhi also delivered a speech on this occasion.

Prof. V K Sharma stressed on the role of integrated planning and involvement of communities in promoting environmental protection for disaster risk reduction. Prof. Sharma emphasized on students participation in such awareness activities. Dr. Anita Jain Bhatnagar, Joint Secretary of National Disaster Management Authority screened a film made by her on “One earth, one life” on responsible care of environment and discussed on how every citizen can contribute to environmental safeguards.

Programmed ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. Anil Gupta, Head of Policy Planning Division of National Institute of Disaster Management.