Premonsoon Preparedness meeting at Darjeeling with the WB State IAG (11May2016)

NGOs represented : Anugyalaya, World Vision, FOSEP, DLR Prerna, SaveTheHills, CASA, MARG and EWSCT reps were present during the meeting at Anugyalaya DSSS office in Darjeeling. The West Bengal State IAG was represented by the Coordinator, Mr D Chakravorty.
Decisions :-
a. A decision was taken to resuscitate the Darjeeling IAG. Anugyalaya member Mr Arpan E Rai would be responsible for all contacting members and handling all correspondence for the time being. STH would taken on a consultative role.
b. Member of Darjeeling IAG would to the extent possible give their inputs for updating the WB State Disaster Management Plan 2017.
c. NDRF would undertake training of local volunteers at the block level in Darjeeling district, starting Jun2016. NGOs were requested to organize volunteers.
d. Darjeeling IAG with funding from WB State Disaster Management Dept would organize a National Level Seminar on 'Landslides and Earthquakes' in Oct2016. GTA would be requested to participate.
e. School safety programmes and mock drills would also commence in Darjeeling district in the near future.


Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

STH Activities (Working with Communities) :- CBDRM work in Tirpai, Kalimpong

I live in Tirpai, Kalimpong and after our first meeting on 31Jan2016 at my home, the core committee met in mid-Feb2016 following which we continued the CBDRM work at the Maitri Sangh Community Hall in Tirpai bazaar on 28Feb2016.
The WB Fire Dept responded enthusiastically with a lecture on 'Fire Awareness and Safety' which included a fire demo after which we showed a map of Tirpai with the vulnerable and safe zones.
We have drawn up a list of volunteers who will receive training in the future.

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Darjeeling district.

My thanks to the WB Fire Dept, Kalimpong Station and Maitri Sangh (Tirpai, Kalimpong) for making the program a success.