Disaster preparedness lessons in Odisha schools soon

Bhubaneswar, Oct 29 (IANS) The Odisha government on Sunday said it will implement School Safety Policy designed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to include lessons on disaster preparedness in school textbooks.

"School Safety Policy of 2016 as designed by the NDMA will be implemented by School and Mass Education department soon," said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the occasion of Odisha Disaster Preparedness Day and National Day for Disaster Reduction here.

The day is observed on October 29 every year to recall the devastation in the aftermath of the Super Cyclone of 1999 and strengthen the state's resolve to prepare for any disaster that may take place in future.

Patnaik said the government had also planned to integrate youth power for disaster management.

He said Odisha, which faces the fury of cyclones often, had become a role model to the world in disaster preparedness and risk management.

"My government has ensured adequate planning, preparedness and continuous capacity building to minimise human casualty during any disaster. I really appreciate that we have chosen 'Early warning to save lives' as this year's theme," said the Chief Minister.

Odisha State Disaster Management Authority Managing Director Pradipta Mohapatra said under the School Safety Policy 2016, lessons on disaster preparedness will be included in school textbooks.

In order to generate public awareness and to expedite preparedness for protecting human beings and animals, provision for last mile connectivity, with the facility of early warning towers, has been taken up at 122 locations along the coast to disseminate cyclone and tsunami warnings.

A total of 243 shelter connectivity covering 390 km, 12 saline embankments covering 58 km and five godowns are also under construction, Patnaik added.

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