The Hindu : Front Page : Minister for training children in tackling disasters

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 11, 2006
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Minister for training children in tackling disasters

Staff Reporter

Advocates including disaster preparedness in school curriculum

— Photo: R. Ragu

CATCHING THEM YOUNG: Veteran Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande (left) and Social Welfare Minister G. Poongothai interact with children on Sunday at a function celebrating community participation in tsunami-rehabilitation initiatives.

CHENNAI: Minister for Social Welfare G. Poongothai on Sunday said children should be trained in disaster preparedness by making it part of school curriculum.

In her address to a group of women and children from tsunami-affected regions, she stressed the importance of ensuring child rights in the event of calamities and said it was as imperative as starting rescue, relief and rehabilitation. More often there was "lack of sensitivity to the basic needs of children," she said at a function organised by Association for Sarva Seva Farms about child participation in community rebuilding initiatives in tsunami-affected areas.

Veteran Gandhian and Rajya Sabha MP Nirmala Deshpande commended the organisations for taking the initiative in helping children.

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