International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
SRINAGAR: On the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), RedR India organized a National Webinar to mark the launch of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) Clubs across colleges and universities in India. Over 100 educational institutions participated, including faculty coordinators and student representatives, formally inaugurating the DRR and CCA Clubs network.
The webinar was inaugurated by *Shri Krishna S. Vatsa, Hon’ble Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)* as the Chief Guest.
Prof Vinod Menon, President, RedR India and Founder Member, NDMA and Manish Mohandas, Programme Officer Resilience, UNDP India, graced the event as Guests of Honour.
The welcome address was delivered by Puthumai A. Nazarene, Executive Director, RedR India and the session was moderated by Er. Aamir Ali, Member, RedR India and former Director Disaster Management. The vote of thanks was presented by Meghana Vaidya, Director (Ops), RedR India.
In his inaugural address, Krishna Vatsa emphasized the importance of investing in resilience, noting that every rupee spent on preparedness and mitigation saves multiple times in recovery and reconstruction. He assured that NDMA will support the program of establishing DRR Clubs by involving the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs).
Prof Vinod Menon highlighted the role of youth engagement in building a disaster resilient India and encouraged academic institutions to integrate disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation into campus initiatives. Puthumai Nazarene described the DRR and CCA Clubs as “living laboratories,” where students can translate theory into practice through activities such as risk mapping, safety audits, and community outreach, calling the launch not just the beginning of clubs, but a movement for resilience spreading from campuses into communities. Manish Mohandas from UNDP highlighted the synergy between RedR India’s initiative and global climate resilience frameworks, reaffirming UNDP’s continued collaboration in youth-led preparedness and innovation.
The DRR and CCA Clubs aim to nurture youth champions of resilience in colleges and universities. Each club will provide a platform for student-led action on risk mapping, campus safety audits, climate adaptation awareness campaigns, mock drills, emergency preparedness exercises, and innovation projects addressing local resilience challenges. They will work closely with faculty coordinators and receive technical guidance, capacity-building support, and networking opportunities from RedR India’s pool of experts. Er. Aamir Ali remarked that these clubs are sowing the seeds of a safer, more prepared and climate-resilient India.
RedR India, is a leading humanitarian and disaster management organization that continues to advance its mission of building “a safer, more resilient world” through training, technical support, and partnerships with government bodies, academic institutions, and international agencies.