Meet on disaster risk reduction starts today

NEW DELHI: Faced with threats from almost every possible natural hazard, Asia has taken the lead in setting up the global agenda for disaster risk reduction. China hosted the First Asian Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, which adopted the 'Beijing Action for Disaster Reduction in Asia'.

The second two-day Asian ministerial conference begins on Wednesday here and will be attended by over 500 delegates from across the world, including ministers, scientists and UN representatives. Disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness has been one of the core areas of concern for Times Foundation , the social arm of the Times Group , is supporting the conference.

A number of regional and international organisations have joined hands with the Union home ministry to collaborate with the conference. These include WHO, United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, United Nations Development Programme as well as World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

Times Centre for Disaster Management is a joint initiative of Times Foundation and the University of Mumbai. It aspires to be an apex academic institution, which will be responsible for capacity-building in disaster-preparedness by running both short and long term courses and research projects.

Additionally, Centre aims to create infrastructure and facilities, which would facilitate effective response to any major calamity in the future. The centre will offer certificate programmes from January 2008 and a diploma programme in disaster management from the academic year 2008-09. A similar centre is being planned in Hyderabad.

Times Foundation is also collaborating with various leading associates in the area of disaster management like Disaster Management Training Institute, National Civil Defence College, and Department of Atomic Energy of Government of India.

For more info log on to  Disaster Awareness