Innovation Challenge for Disaster Risk Reduction - IDDR 2017
In order to strengthen the preparedness efforts, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) chose a fervent way to meet the global target. ASDMA in collaboration with UNICEF, Assam organized an exhibition on “Innovation challenges for Disaster Risk Reduction” and also a workshop on “Safer Homes & Livelihood”.
Through this workshop exhibition organized on the occasion of IDDR day 2017, ASDMA tried to explore 360 degree mitigation solutions. In order to ensure safety of lives and livelihood and thereby reduce displacement- localised technological innovations in communication, community early warning systems, hazard resilient designs / materials etc. were displayed in the exhibition by the participants from different parts of the State and also outside the State. These innovative solutions were locally developed cost-effective solutions that had the potential to empower the communities and the local government for coping with disasters. The students from various institutions, incubation centres, start-up enterprises and local community-based organizations exhibited their ideas for DRR.
Also to meet the global target of reducing the people affected by disasters and reducing the number of people displaced, ASDMA organized a workshop on “Safer Homes & Livelihood” aligned to the global theme of “Home Safe Home”. The Chief Secretary to the Govt. of Assam inaugurated the exhibition and also appreciated the efforts of the Authority for conducting the workshop. Other distinguished guests who were present in the exhibition cum workshop were DGP cum Director, Fire & Emergency Services, Chief Executive Officer (ASDMA), Chief of Field Office, UNICEF(Assam). The exhibition was also graced by students from various schools in Guwahati. Also participants from Govt. line departments, NGO members, Real Estate Associations, Engineering College students etc. attended the workshop.
The workshop participants also graced the exhibition. It was an interactive and knowledge sharing workshop that focussed on the disaster resilient housing patterns and also livelihood strategies for coping with disasters across the State boundaries. The technical sessions were on- Safer and Disaster Resilient Home for Economic Sustainability” by Jayanta Pathak, Professor, Assam Engineering College, Guwahati, India and Abdelghani Meslem,Senior Research Engineer, NORSAR, Kjeller, Norway, «Usages of Bamboo Technology for Disaster Resilient Housing” by Kamesh Salam, Founder, South Asia Bamboo Foundation, “A Real-Time Earthquake Loss Estimation System for Guwahati City and the Road Ahead” by Dominik H. Lang, Head of Department, NORSAR, Kjeller, Norway and «DRR Aspects on Safer Built Environment” by Prof. Chandan Mahanta, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT, Guwahati.