The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) and Sri Aurobindo Society organized a 5-day workshop for officials from 13 Government departments at Sri Aurobindo Society. This programme was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Minister for Home, Mr.Namassivayam on 8 November 2021. During his address to the gathering, the Home Minister spoke about the role and importance of the frontline workers during disaster management. He appreciated all the members who attended the training and requested NIDM to keep conducting such training regularly.
Dr. Ajinder Walia Kaur from NIDM was the resource person from New Delhi. The sessions were handled by her, Mr. Karpoora Senthoorapandian, and Ms. Bilquees Dar of NIDM from Pondicherry and Jammu respectively. The external resource persons were Dr. Nalini from Pondicherry University, Shri. Sesudas from Inspire Career Development Centre, and Shri. Pradeep Prem from Sri Aurobindo Society.
Some of the objectives of the 5-day training were
- Reflect upon the need for psychosocial care in disaster-related work
- Understand the role psychosocial caregivers need to play
- Develop an understanding of how people react in stressful situations
- Develop an understanding of holistic caregiving
- Learn the techniques of providing psychosocial care in Disaster Management
- Internalize techniques of psychosocial caregiving
- Identify the more vulnerable group in Disasters
- Understand the specific vulnerability of children in disasters
- Internalize techniques of psychosocial caregiving while working with children
- Understand the specific vulnerability of children in disasters
- Develop an understanding of the needs of women in disasters
- Working with women in disaster
- Understand the importance of self-care
- Learn the strategies to handle burnout
- Discover techniques of relieving stress and self-motivation
The participants were awarded certificates by the Shri. Aswani Kumar, Chief Secretary of the Government of Puducherry.
Around 40 officers from various departments including Police Department, Public Works Department, Port, Fire Department, Health Department, Education Department to mention a few attended this training.
Most of the participants wished to have such training on a recurrent basis so that they can handle the situations at ease when the need comes.
The overall coordination for the programme was done by Shri. Pradeep Prem and his team from Sri Aurobindo Society.
