Himachal Pradesh revamps school disaster management curriculum

The state government has decided to update the curriculum of disaster management courses taught in schools of the state. To implement this, the government has appointed the Director-cum-Special Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management as the chairman of the committee, and the Joint Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management as its member secretary.
The committee will include the Secretary of the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education Dharamshala, Director of Higher Education, Director of Primary Education, Principal of ASCERT Solan, and the State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha as its members. This committee will submit its report to the government within six months regarding the new curriculum.
The committee will immediately convene a meeting to prepare the curriculum taught in schools so that disaster risk reduction measures can be enhanced in the state, and its implementation can be carried out promptly.
Additionally, the Revenue Department’s Disaster Management Cell at the secretariat will provide full assistance to this committee.
The formation of the committee was notified by the state government through an announcement by the Director and Special Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management DC Rana.
The disaster management course curriculum in Himachal Pradesh schools is not effectively preparing students for dealing with disasters, as it lacks sufficient knowledge and skills. The Disaster Management Cell of the Revenue Department has acknowledged this fact. Therefore, a decision has been made to modify the curriculum to make it more effective.
Himachal Pradesh is sensitive to disasters, with heavy rainfall during the monsoon and significant snowfall during winters leading to disasters.
Last year, the state faced devastation due to heavy rainfall. In addition, Himachal is also highly sensitive to earthquakes from a seismic perspective.