Disabled-friendly disaster warning system on anvil
Currently, the state has no mechanism for alerting people with diverse disabilities and the floods that hit the state last year were an eye-opener.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a unique initiative, the State Disaster Management Authority is planning to introduce a disability inclusive early warning system to help the 8-lakh disabled population in the state.
Currently, the state has no mechanism for alerting people with diverse disabilities and the floods that hit the state last year were an eye-opener.
According to officials, preliminary discussions are underway to design the early warning system which is suitable for the diversity of disabilities.
A stakeholder meeting would be held soon with the Indian Meteorological Department, media and NGOs working for the welfare of the disabled to chalk out an effective plan in this regard. “It’s a new field and we would be the first one to attempt this in the country,” said an official. “We presented our proposed disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction programme in Boston. The Boston Fire Service has the best disaster risk reduction programme for disabled globally. It’s a distant dream but surely a possible one.”
He said there used to be broadcast in sign language, but now none of the channels have this. “At least the weather forecast should be broadcast in sign language,” he said. There are alerting devices for the disabled, including vibrating alarms, which could be introduced.
The disaster management authorities are currently giving training for disabled population in every district. The authorities have trained around 3000 disabled people in the state. “We are planning to rope in more NGOs working in the field for training the entire disabled population, which is not an easy task,” the official added.