Reducing risk in schools

ActionAid’s ‘disaster risk reduction’ programme in 20 government schools in Assam has been underway for just six months, but in the current floods already they are seeing results.

“Over 40 volunteers were trained in first aid, rescue and evacuation. They have been involved in a number of rescues,” reports Manik Shah Mazumder, ActionAid’s disaster risk reduction (DRR) coordinator in Assam .

One of the techniques student volunteers have been trained in is to construct ‘lifejackets’ using bottles and jerry cans and to make rafts out of tarpaulin and bamboo.

Young children have also put their disaster training to use. “Two key things children are following are to avoid fast flowing sections of rivers and to take an adult with them when going to the river to wash,” says Manik.

From the schools were ActionAid is working, two children were lost this year in the floods – one when a boat capsized and the other while bathing.

“Through the DRR programme we are making sure other children can learn from such tragedies,” he adds.

Another change is in the confidence of parent-teachers associations.

“Schools above water can provide emergency shelter during floods but this change in use means children are unable to return to classes for a month,” says Manik.

This year in three schools that are usually used as shelters, children were able to return to school just one week after the worst of the floods, instead of the usual month.

“This is because the School Management Committees (parents, teachers etc) worked successfully with flood affected communities to find alternative shelters so that children could return to their normal routine,” he adds.

In Assam, ActionAid’s disaster risk reduction programme is running in 20 schools. Sixteen of these have been inundated during the 2007 monsoon floods.

Though flood waters have receded and government has declared the schools open, children have been unable to return to school - mud has accumulated in classrooms and desks and benches are in need of repair.

“Funds are needed for the clear up operation,” says Mrinal Gohain head of ActionAid’s regional office in Assam.

The DRR programme covers a range of potential emergencies. As well as floods, Assam is prone to conflict and earthquakes. Two of world’s largest recorded quakes, both over 8 on the Richter scale, took place here in 1897 and 1950.

Updated: 17/08/07

Photo credit: ActionAid