UNICEF with the support of NSS Jharkhand, NUSRL & center for child rights today organised an online training session for the NSS volunteers of private colleges & universities of Jharkhand.

Approx 300 NSS volunteers of 7 universities (Jharkhand Rai University, SarlaBirla University, Birsa Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Central University of Jharkhand, Netaji Subhas University, Jamshedpur; Arka Jain University, Jamshedpur & NIT Jamshedpur) participated in the training session.

Dr K Shyamla, associate professor, NUSRL & chairperson, center for child rights gave the introductory remark. She briefed participants about the need & importance of organizing the session on disaster risk reduction. She thanked UNICEF & NSS Jharkhand for the collaboration with NUSRL & center for child rights to train the NSS volunteers on this issue. 

She said, “We are facing so much rain, floods & lightning strikes these days and the reason behind this is climate change. We all know climate change is man-made and only through creating awareness about environment conservation we save lives and make this earth livable.”

Ms Astha Alang, communication, advocacy & partnership officer, UNICEF stressed on creating awareness on disaster and how to handle it. She said, “Knowing how to get protection from lightning, thunderstorm & flood is very important to save lives. 

Many people lose their lives, because they don’t know how to respond during the crisis.  After getting the training session on this issue today, NSS volunteers will visit in their locality & society & will brief people how to get safety & safe lives during the disaster. I hope this initiative taken by UNICEF, NSS Jharkhand, NUSRL & Centre for Child Rights will create awareness about the disaster risk and how to face the situation during the critical time.”

Col. Sanjay Srivastava, Chairman, Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council & Inspector NiteshKumar, National Disaster Response Force, 9th Battalion, Patna provided the training to the volunteers as resource person.

Providing training to the volunteers on how to save lives during the lightning strikes, Col. Sanjay Srivastava said,  “global warming, deforestation, pollution, environmental degradation & depletion of water bodies is the main cause of increasing lightning strike incidents these days. Jharkhand loses many lives every year because of a lack of awareness on how to save lives during the lightning.”

He advises downloading the “Damini App” to get timely information about lightning strikes. Similarly he suggested not take shelter under a tree and keep away from pond, river and hilly areas during the lightning. He also suggested not touching metals during the lightning and installing a lightning arrester to get protection & safety. He further said that concrete houses and cars are safe to take shelter during the lightning strike.

Inspector Nitesh Kumar, National Disaster Response Force, 9th Battalion, Patna; provided the training on how to protect during the flood crisis. He gave many tips to the volunteers through which they would not only save their own life but help others too during the crisis situation. He urged volunteers to create awareness about the training they received today, so that the life risks could be reduced during the crisis.

Prof (Dr) Kamini Kumar, VC, Ranchi University sent out his message for this occasion. She appreciates the initiative taken by UNICEF, NSS Jharkhand & Centre for Child Rights to train the NSS volunteers on the issue of disaster risk reduction. She said, “to save lives from disasters, it is necessary to save the environment too. The training being provided here today will definitely provide an overview on how to conserve nature and reduce the risks of disaster, which takes many lives every year. Ranchi University has decided to start the course on disaster management to create awareness on this issue and this will start very soon.”

Dr Brajesh Kumar, State Nodal Officer, NSS Jharkhand thanked the UNICEF, NUSRL & Centre for Child Rights for organizing such a tremendous training for the NSS volunteers. He assured that NSS volunteers will take out this knowledge and understanding which they learnt here today to the society and train people how to face the challenges during the disaster and save themselves and others too.