New Delhi: President Pratibha Patil on Friday
stressed on the need for a micro level disaster management
plan and said the culture of disaster-responsive public
behaviour should be inculcated among people.
"Disaster-responsive public behaviour is something that
must be inculcated among the people. It should be included as
a mandatory subject in school curricula and public awareness
campaigns undertaken, including through regular mock drills,"
the President said.
She was addressing the an international seminar on 'Global
Environment and Disaster Management: Law and Society' here.
Patil lauded the calm displayed by people of Japan after
devastation caused by earthquake and tsunami, which struck its
North-Eastern coastal region earlier this year.
Stressing on the need of micro level disaster management
plan, the President said, "There should be disaster management
plans for each locality."
"In rural areas, Panchayati Raj institutions could be
involved and, as a time bound exercise, for every high
potential disaster prone village, everyone should be trained
for the various steps to be taken," she said.
Patil also said the services of philanthropic
organisations and NGOs can be utilised and corporate leaders
can also extend their support by strengthening disaster
preparedness efforts in regions where their companies operate,
as part of Corporate Social Responsibility.
The President said the role of law in the post-disaster
phase cannot be any less than other aspects.
"In this phase, the legal system can ensure that there is
transparency and accountability of all activities, including
compensation amounts to be given to the affected, legal
assistance and dispute redressing mechanism," she said.
PTI
First Published: Friday, July 22, 2011, 23:28