SHILLONG, DEC 7: In trying to reach out to the people and make them understand on the importance of having adequate knowledge on effective means of communication during any disaster, a one day workshop on Communication and Coordination on Disaster Management was organized by the East Khasi Hills District Disaster Management Authority in collaboration with GVK EMRI – Meghalaya was held on Friday.
Addressing the one-day workshop CEO of the District Disaster Management Authority, East Khasi Hills D. M. Wallang said that inadequate emergency can adversely affect response and recovery effort.
While stressing on the need to bridge the communication gap M.R. Synrem, IAS, Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India said that communication needs to be properly streamline for prompt and effective action to take place to be able to save lives. Citing the example of the number 108, a toll free number where people dial the three digit number to not only avail the service for medical emergencies but to also inform about vehicle related accident or any fire related cases; as the information will then be passed on to the concern authority for immediate action. A single number like 108 is very helpful as people can call to inform about the incident as there will be a response on the other end upon which the concern department will be informed. Some of the 108 Emergency Service Ambulance are installed with GPS tracking system, a project still in its initial and experimental stage to overcome hurdles like the terrain – through the tracking device the ambulance location can be located and dispatch to the required location for immediate emergency care.
Talking about the natural calamities such Cyclone, earthquake and landslide Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills S. Goyal while addressing the gathering said that at the initial stages any disaster is very crucial as lives can be save, damage or outbreak of any deceases can be contain if the response is prompt. Taking the landslide incident at Tura as a case study, Goyal said that the terrain was a major hurdle for any form of help to reach the affected people along with the delay of transmission of information to the concern agencies lead to the lost of three lives.
Other resource person who spoke on the day long workshop is Mr. Kuldeep Saxena from GVK EMRI – Assam, the DSP of MPRO Mr. H. J. Singh, Major S. P. Pandey from 101 Area and Deputy Commandant of NDRF Mr. R. M. Passah.
Also present during the program was Ms. Patricia Mukhim, Editor of The Shillong Times, Mr. George Santosh Marshall representing BSNL, Dr. N. P. Laloo, Sr. Orthopedic Surgeon of Civil Hospital, Shillong. There were also representative from the Police Department and from the North East Space Application Center.
Meanwhile, At the end of the workshop it was decided to form a committee to make a road map for the drafting of a report regarding a single response number and a strategic communication framework.(SP News)
