IUST hosts 2-day workshop on community-based disaster risk management
Awantipora, Nov 3: The Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA), organised a two-day Training and Capacity Building Workshop on Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM).
The workshop focused on strengthening community-level resilience and preparedness through participatory learning, aiming to equip grassroots stakeholders with essential skills for effective disaster response. Participants included panchayat supervisors, religious teachers, ICDS supervisors, NRLM community mobilisers, panchayat secretaries, VLWs, religious leaders, NGO representatives, and members from the university’s adopted villages under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) initiative.
The event was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, who served as Chief Guest. In his address, he stressed the importance of building local capacities to reduce disaster risks and promote sustainable community preparedness. Prof. Muzafar Ahmad, former Member of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), was the Guest of Honour at the inaugural session.
Over the two days, experts from academia and humanitarian organisations conducted interactive sessions and hands-on demonstrations on various aspects of disaster risk management. Dr Itenderpal Singh Bali, National-Level Trainer with the Indian Red Cross Society, led sessions on Basic Life-Saving Skills and First Aid during disasters, underlining the need for timely interventions and household-level preparedness.
Prof. Sarfaraz Ahmad from the Department of Social Work, University of Kashmir, delivered a module on community mobilisation, highlighting the significance of social cohesion and participatory approaches in disaster mitigation.
The workshop was jointly coordinated by the Centre for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Mantaqi Centre for Science and Society (MCSS), in collaboration with the Community Connect vertical of the Dean of Outreach, IUST.
