India, Kashmir: UNDP ropes in clerics to spread awareness
Srinagar, Divisional administration Tuesday roped in local religious leaders to sensitize them about their role in disseminating the message of disaster preparedness in the society.
Officials of the Disaster Management Project, which is run by United Nations Development Program, said that an initiative had been taken to reach out to local population through religious leaders.
Divisional Kashmir Masud Samoon said that this program was initiated earlier. “The UNDP officials appreciated our initiative and decided to follow the same pattern in other countries,” Samoon said. “The purpose of these programs is to mobilize public opinion through opinion leaders to make the society aware of how we can cope with any kind of natural or manmade disaster.”
Samoon said that the government was initiating steps to bring in laws which could prove advantageous and enhance preparedness level against disasters. Head of government’s Disaster Management cell, Amir Ali said the government would also impart training to the labour force to enhance their technical skills and improve the buildings structurally.
Dr G M Dar deliberated on the vulnerability of the region and how simple procedures could be adopted to safeguard life and property besides managing crises. Dar said certain structural changes must be initiated at religious places to secure life in case of any disaster. He also asked the religious fraternity to use their reach to talk on these issues during their interaction with common people.
The religious leaders assured that they will lend all possible help to the administration “as safeguarding life is a religious act”.
However the religious leaders said the government should also act responsibly to eradicate corrupt practices which can lead to more destruction during disasters. The religious leaders said that the government should restrict construction in flood-prone areas and other vulnerable areas.
Quoting an example, Syed Riyaz Ahmad said that government had constructed its buildings in Rambi Ara Nalla in Shopian, which had invited attention of common people to go for construction in this flood basin. Moulana Noorudin expressed reservations on the rampant unorganized construction while the government maintained inaction. Riyazul Haq Noorabadi said the combined preparedness from the government and people was necessary for fighting any disaster. Granthi Harbans Lal Singh said they will extend all possible support and aware masses about the disasters.
Additional Commissioner Farooq Ahmad Renzu, SSP Srinagar Afadul Mujtaba, Dr Hamidullah Zargar, Dr G J Nehvi, Javaid Ahmad and others who participated in the program.