New Delhi: The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) has launched a faculty development programme to train higher education teachers in disaster management and emergency response as part of efforts to integrate disaster risk reduction into higher education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

According to an official statement, the programme is designed to strengthen the capacity of academicians to effectively implement the Skill Enhancement Course (SEC) on Disaster Risk Reduction introduced under the NEP.

The five-day training programme, being held from July 27 to 31 at the Meghalaya Administrative Training Institute (MATI) in Shillong, has been organised by the NIDM under the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the India Universities and Institutions Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (IUINDRR-NIDM), the Meghalaya State Disaster Management Authority (MSDMA) and MATI.

Participants are being trained in disaster management planning, hazard risk assessment, incident response, crowd management and emergency response techniques.

The programme also includes practical sessions on first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), search and rescue operations, fire safety, the use of fire extinguishers and other emergency response measures. The hands-on training is being conducted by experts from the Indian Red Cross Society, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire Services and other specialised agencies.

According to the statement, the initiative aims to promote a culture of disaster resilience by equipping educators with the knowledge and skills to teach disaster preparedness and life-saving techniques to students.

The curriculum also covers Hazard Risk Vulnerability and Capacity (HRVC) analysis, the Incident Response System (IRS), psychosocial care during disasters, protection of vulnerable groups, digital initiatives for disaster risk reduction, emerging technologies, disaster-specific response strategies and community engagement.