C.M. Paul
Darjeeling – A diocesan social service society in North Bengal orgainsed a 3-day disaster management training in Darjeeling.
The Darjeeling Diocesan Social Service Society (DDSSS) Anugyalaya held the training programme on Child Centred Disaster Risk Reduction at Central Heritage Hotel, Robertson Road, Darjeeling from June 1 – 3.
It was funded by UNICEF in collaboration with the Disaster Management Department of West Bengal and State IAG and implemented by DDSSS Anugyalaya.
President of Anugyalaya DDSSS Bishop Stephen Lepcha of Darjeeling inaugurated the programme.
Rtd. Wing Commander Praful Rao of Save the Hills was also present at the Inaugural Function.
Among the resource persons were Md. Abdul Gani, Professor – Natural Disaster Management, Administrative Training Institute & Ex-Officio Joint Secretary, Government of West Bengal, along with Mr. Simanchal Pattnaik – DRR Officer, UNICEF, Mr. Andrews N Devrajan from World Vision, Mr. Aloke Ghosh – State Convenor for State IAG, Mr. Tej Kumar Thapa – Child Protection Officer of Anugyalaya DDSSS and Mr. Arpan Emmanuel Rai – Executive Director of Anugyalaya DDSSS.
A total of 16 Government Officials from Kalimpong and Darjeeling Districts along with members of Civil Society Organizations like DLR Prerna, Edith Wilkins Street Children Trust, CINI, Hill Social Welfare Society, FOSEP, MARG, Mary Ward Social Service Society – Siliguri, ATREE, WWF, Save the Hills, Friends for Trees – Mirik, EUWS Mirik, Kriti Organization – Mirik, Hope Family House – Kalimpong, Child Line Kurseong, Hayden Hall, along with other organizations participated in the training.
Civil Societies of the area along with the Block Disaster Management Officers under the District Disaster Management Office have formulated action plan to take the learning of the training to communities in all the Blocks of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.