Shillong, July 11: A two-day National Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction kicked off at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong on July 11 and 12. Organised by the Department of Geology, the workshop is being held at the Social Science Cluster Classroom, NEHU, and aims to engage experts, researchers, professionals, and students in addressing key issues around disaster preparedness and resilience.
The workshop has drawn over 80 delegates, including scientists from the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), faculty members, students, disaster response professionals from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and officials from the Meghalaya Directorate of Mineral Resources and Department of Mining & Geology.
A key highlight on July 12 will be a Mock Earthquake Drill conducted by the 1st Battalion NDRF, Guwahati, simulating an emergency to assess institutional and community response. Alongside, an online quiz on Disaster Risk Reduction will engage students and raise public awareness on the importance of preparedness.
The inaugural session began with a welcome address by Prof. Devesh Walia, Dean of the School of Human and Environmental Sciences and the convener of the workshop. Prof. Walia emphasized the importance of integrating disaster risk reduction with sustainable development, especially in vulnerable regions like Northeast India. He stressed the need for youth involvement and evidence-based planning, warning that disasters are often the result of unsustainable practices.
Prof. Santosh Kumar, CEO of the International Institute of Security and Safety Management (IISSM), was the Chief Guest. In his address, he called for better early warning systems, smarter infrastructure, and greater use of technology and AI in disaster management. He outlined four pillars of effective risk reduction: community participation, financial resilience, technological innovation, and private sector engagement.
Guest of Honour Dr. Jagvir Singh, Scientist G and Adviser at MoES, highlighted India’s complex natural landscape and the need for adaptive research. He spoke of initiatives like Mission Mausam and the Earth Science Olympiad, which promote scientific engagement among youth.
Dr. O.P. Mishra, Director of the National Centre for Seismology, stressed the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Focusing on earthquakes, he explained that it’s not the quake itself but weak infrastructure that causes heavy casualties. He urged for stronger community resilience and proactive planning.
Prof. B. Mishra, Vice-Chancellor (In-Charge) of NEHU, underscored the long-term impact of disasters—beyond loss of life—on the economy, environment, and society. He called for a shift from reactive responses to proactive, sustainable strategies and warned against over-exploitation of natural resources.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Marcel Lyngdoh, Research Scholar, Department of Geology.
Following the inauguration, the workshop moved into technical sessions featuring presentations from leading experts:
- Dr. S.K. Jha (NEHU): Indian Knowledge Systems for Safer and Resilient India
- Dr. Laldinpuia (Mizoram University): Slope Stability and Landslide Mitigation
- Prof. Santosh Kumar (IISSM): Disaster Response and Recovery for Viksit Bharat @2047
- Prof. Devesh Walia: Earthquake Risk Reduction in Northeast India
- Mr. Samsun Nabi (Sphere Edge Enterprise): Nature-based Solutions for Slope Stabilization
The workshop continues to serve as a platform for collaborative learning, innovative thinking, and policy dialogue on building a disaster-resilient Northeast.
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