School, colleges to now teach disaster management in India

Colleges will now include lessons on disaster management for students. Based on recommendations by the Government of India’s National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a circular directing all universities to incorporate disaster management into undergraduate courses. Students will also be awarded two credit points upon completing the disaster management course.

With natural disasters, plane crashes, fire incidents, and other serious emergencies on the rise in the country, the aim is to ensure that students and youth learn how to respond, what steps to take, and how to act during such situations, thereby helping build a resilient society. 

Acting on NIDM’s recommendations, the UGC has instructed all universities to introduce disaster management into undergraduate courses. Universities have been given the flexibility to offer it as a value-added skill course, an elective course, or a mandatory course, depending on their capacity and resources.

Students undertaking the skill enhancement course in disaster management will receive two credit points. The UGC has also instructed all universities to start Disaster Risk Reduction Clubs in colleges. These clubs will provide training for emergency response, including fire safety drills, mock drills, crowd management, emergency communication, first aid, and CPR.

Additionally, students will be trained on preparedness for earthquakes or other disasters, local-level planning, and risk assessment. They will also be guided in forming emergency response teams.