The Revenue and Disaster Management Department and State Disaster Management Authority would organise a week-long exhibition and two-day international work shop on disaster management here from March 4.
National and international speakers will present papers and address invited delegates at the workshop on tsunami modelling, dam safety, landslides coastal protection, community-based disaster preparedness, governance and disaster response and disaster risk reduction.
About 50 organisations including armed forces, private organisations, international NGOs, State government departments and agencies, educational and scientific organisations, Central government agencies, and public sector undertakings will be participating in the exhibition.
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Revenue Minister Thiruvanachoor Radhakrishnan told the media on Friday that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy would inaugurate the exhibition at Nisagandhi auditorium on March 4. Geraldine J. Fraser-Moleketi, Practice Director, Democratic Governance Group, UNDP, would deliver the keynote address.
A 100-member team of National Disaster Response Force and Fire and Rescue Services would stage a mock drill. The workshop would adopt a declaration on the concluding day listing out the changes needed to concept and legislation on disaster management. Open forum discussions on various topics of relevance to disaster risk reduction would be held during the fair with participation of the people from different walks of life.
Political leaders were also being invited for participation in the programmes. The Minister said that cultural evenings would be organised on all days of the fair. The stall of the State Disaster Management Authority would be in the shape of a dome, depicting the interior of the earth.
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There would be a video wall intended to generate awareness among public on various types of disasters, causes of disasters Kerala is prone to and dos and don’ts during disasters. Army would display disaster management vehicles such as recovery van and ambulances.
Books on disaster response and management had been prepared for distribution to children during the fair. There would also be a fun area for kids with arrangements for kite-making, face painting and preparation of short skits on disasters besides traffic training area for children. On the spot quiz programmes and magic shows would also be held for children.
Food and refreshment stalls will be run by the KTDC, Food Crafts Institute, Milma, Nadukara Agro Products (Jive), Sea Food Products and private restaurants, he said. A video gallery will present continuous screening of videos on disasters and footages from visual media. Photographs and news clippings from the print media, Information and Public Relations Department and Fire and Rescue Services will also be on the show.