Patna (ABN) Disaster preparedness and response cannot be effective unless it is inclusive. With this message, the Government of Bihar's Disaster Management Department, in collaboration with the United Nations and UNICEF in India, organized a two-day capacity-building workshop on disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction in Patna. The objective of the workshop was to strengthen the rights, protection, and participation of persons with disabilities in all disaster management processes in the state. Technical assistance for the workshop was provided by UNDP and Handicap International (Humanity and Inclusion).
The workshop was attended by Assistant Disaster Management Officers, disaster risk reduction experts, and representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities. In the inaugural session, Rajiv Kumar, Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist, UNICEF, welcomed the participants and outlined the objectives and expected outcomes of the workshop.
In his keynote address, Nadim ul Ghaffar Siddiqui, Joint Secretary, Disaster Management Department, Government of Bihar, said that disasters do not discriminate against anyone, and therefore, our response systems should also be non-discriminatory and fully inclusive. Recognizing the state's efforts in disaster management, he identified the gaps in protection and inclusion of persons with disabilities. He said that the state of Bihar is working towards aligning its disaster-related plans with the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction, and that inclusive response mechanisms should be an essential part of good governance.
Mohammad Waris Khan, Secretary, Bihar State Disaster Management Authority, said in his inaugural address that prioritizing persons with disabilities, especially in the face of increasing and unpredictable disasters due to climate change, is not just a policy but a moral obligation. He appreciated the collaboration of the United Nations, UNICEF, and UNDP and said that such workshops should be held regularly to ensure that the concept of disability inclusion is consistently incorporated into the state's policies and disaster management framework.
During the workshop, a special session was also held based on the lived experiences of persons with disabilities, which discussed practical issues such as evacuation during disasters, access to early warning systems, and availability of safe shelters. The session was moderated by Mr. Kumar Shevendra, expert on disaster risk reduction and climate resilience at Humanity and Inclusion. Representing the disability community, Ms. Radha shared her experiences of flood rescue, stating that women with disabilities are more vulnerable in disaster response and relief operations. She emphasized the need for inclusive and gender-sensitive disaster response policies.
Over the two-day workshop, participants discussed in detail the basic concepts of disability, models of inclusion, identification of vulnerable groups, rights-based approaches, inclusive communication, early warning systems, evacuation and shelter management, rescue techniques, and regional best practices. A local tabletop exercise also provided participants with an opportunity to operationalize comprehensive preparedness and response measures. The workshop concluded with a consensus action plan to further strengthen disability inclusion in the state's disaster management policies and plans.
