Kohima, August 2 (DIPR): A one-week (August 2 to 6, 2010) training programme on Climate Change and Disasters got underway today, at the Disaster Management Cell, Administrative Training Institute, Kohima.
Director ATI, V. Shashank Shekhar (IAS) who graced the inaugural function, exhorted the participants to learn what they can, through the ongoing workshop and asked them to put it into practice in order to improve disaster risk reduction. Stating that use of fans and air conditioners especially in Kohima amply proves that our state is also undergoing climate changes. Director ATI opined large-scale deforestation as one factor of climate change in the context of Nagaland in recent times. In this regard, he stressed on the need for planting as many trees as possible to cool the atmosphere. He suggested to the administrative officers to organize tree-planting programmes during the planting season. “If an individual plant 5 trees that will make a lot of difference,” he expressed and further said, “It is not only planting but taking care of the plant till it is matured.”
Emphasising on the importance of water which nature has provided abundantly, he stressed on the need for recharging the ground water level. “Let us take care of Mother Nature which is providing us all that we need,” he maintained. He further pointed out the need for establishing scientific technologies, which are friendly to nature, in the fight against disasters risks.
One of the resource persons from National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) Dr. Rajesh Kumar Mall said that the training programme would focus on enhancement of knowledge and skills of the participants to understand and respond to various core issues in climate change and disaster management and also to strengthen their capabilities in the field of natural disaster prevention. The course will also cover possible threats from climate change and its impact on climate-sensitive sectors and natural resources and related processes in the short and long term.
The weeklong training programme will also focus on mitigation and adaptation strategies at various levels. Shekher Chaturvedi from NIDM will also be one of the resource person during the training programme, while Associate Professor, Disaster Management Cell ATI, Er.N.Moa Longkumer will be the course coordinator.
Participants from district administration, officers from various departments within the state and lecturers from different colleges in Nagaland are attending the programme. The programme is being organized by Disaster Management Cell, ATI, Kohima in collaboration with National Institute of Disaster Management, New Delhi.
