International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction: RedR India launches DRR, CCA Clubs in educational institutions
Srinagar, Oct 13: On the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), RedR India organised a National Webinar to mark the launch of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) Clubs across colleges and universities in India.
A statement of RedR India issued here said that over 100 educational institutions participated, including faculty coordinators and student representatives, formally inaugurating the DRR and CCA Clubs network.
The webinar was inaugurated by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) member, Krishna S Vatsa, as the chief guest.
President, RedR India and Founder Member, NDMA, Prof Vinod Menon, and Programme Officer Resilience, UNDP India, Manish Mohandas, were the guests of honour.
Executive Director, RedR India, Puthumai A. Nazarene, delivered the welcome address, and the session was moderated by RedR India member and former Director of Disaster Management, Aamir Ali.
Director (Ops), RedR India, Meghana Vaidya, presented the vote of thanks.
In his inaugural address, Krishna Vatsa emphasised the importance of investing in resilience, noting that every rupee spent on preparedness and mitigation saves multiple times in recovery and reconstruction. He assured that NDMA would support the programme of establishing DRR Clubs by involving the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs).
Prof Vinod Menon highlighted the role of youth engagement in building a disaster-resilient India and encouraged academic institutions to integrate disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation into campus initiatives.
Puthumai Nazarene described the DRR and CCA Clubs as “living laboratories,” where students can translate theory into practice through activities such as risk mapping, safety audits, and community outreach, calling the launch not just the beginning of clubs, but a movement for resilience spreading from campuses into communities.
Manish Mohandas from UNDP highlighted the synergy between RedR India’s initiative and global climate resilience frameworks, reaffirming UNDP’s continued collaboration in youth-led preparedness and innovation.
The DRR and CCA Clubs aim to nurture youth champions of resilience in colleges and universities.
Each club would provide a platform for student-led action on risk mapping, campus safety audits, climate adaptation awareness campaigns, mock drills, emergency preparedness exercises, and innovation projects addressing local resilience challenges.
They would work closely with faculty coordinators and receive technical guidance, capacity-building support, and networking opportunities from RedR India’s pool of experts.
Aamir Ali said that these clubs were sowing the seeds of a safer, more prepared, and climate-resilient India.
