The Child Centric Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (CCDRR) at the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) has joined forces with Bal Raksha Bharat. The partnership aims to create a safer environment for children, aligning with the Prime Minister’s 10-point Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) agenda. The focus includes Child Protection in Emergency, Education in Emergency, and Health and Nutrition in Emergency training.
This collaboration, announced on December 13, 2023, is committed to creating a safer and more resilient environment for children, aligning with the objectives outlined in the Prime Minister’s 10-point Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) agenda. The partnership extends to the CCDRR Centre in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, aiming to empower youth and children to effectively manage disasters and emergencies. It also seeks to establish a trained volunteer base of youths as first responders. Additionally, the partnership will provide human resource support to the CCDRR Centre, contributing to the integration of Child-Centric agendas into national and state policies. This collective effort ultimately aims to enhance disaster resilience and child well-being.
Prof. Santosh Kumar, Sr. Advisor and Head of CCDRR at the National Institute of Disaster Management, shared insights into the partnership, stating, “The outcomes NIDM and Bal Raksha Bharat are looking to achieve include creating a cadre of volunteers who are readily deployable, aware, and prepared, especially in Child Protection in Disasters and Emergencies.” Sudarshan Suchi, Chief Executive Officer of Bal Raksha Bharat, emphasized the organization’s focus on addressing children’s unique needs during crises, stating, “From School Safety audits to youth-based feedback mechanisms to ensuring Zero Day Loss and Zero Death for children in disasters and emergencies, we will work with the NIDM to integrate our capacity-building modules into the government’s training programs.”
The collaboration is expected to facilitate knowledge dissemination and enhance the capacity of individuals and organizations involved in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. Research and publications resulting from this partnership will contribute valuable insights into children’s vulnerability and resilience in the face of disasters and climate change, guiding evidence-based policies and practices.
Bal Raksha Bharat is actively engaged in 40 projects across the country, focusing on holistic child welfare. In the last year alone, the organization has positively impacted the lives of 13,85,900 children. Since 2020, approximately 2.4 million children have benefited from their thematic programs, with around 1.5 million children reached through humanitarian response efforts.