Sri Vijaya Puram, Apr 17: The Directorate of Disaster Management (DDM), A&N Administration, in coordination with the Directorate of Education, has commenced a two-day “Training of Teachers Programme” on School Safety and Disaster Preparedness in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The programme was inaugurated on 16.04.2026 and is being attended by 412 teachers from various schools across the Islands.
The training programme is being conducted in eight batches starting from April 16, 2026, at the Training Hall of Aapda Prabandhan Bhawan, Link Road, Goalghar, Sri Vijaya Puram. The primary aim of the programme is to build a resilient school ecosystem by equipping teachers with the knowledge and skills required to effectively prepare for, respond to, and manage disaster situations within school premises.
The inaugural session of the first batch was held on 16.04.2026. Mr. Janik Ram, Assistant Director (Admn.), DDM, welcomed the Chief Guest, Director (Disaster Management), along with the Nodal Officers (Health) and other officials of the Disaster Management Department.
Addressing the participants, Mrs. Priyanka Kumari, Director (Disaster Management), emphasized the critical role of teachers as first responders during emergencies in schools. She highlighted that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are highly vulnerable to natural hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis, and stressed that preparedness at the school level is essential to minimize risks.
She further stated that “teachers are the backbone of community awareness, and their training in disaster preparedness will have a cascading effect in building a culture of safety among students and the larger community.” She urged all participants to actively engage in the training sessions and apply the knowledge in their respective schools by developing practical and effective School Disaster Management Plans.
The two-day training programme covered key components such as Basics of Disaster Management, School Safety, Search and Rescue (SAR), Medical First Response (MFR), and Fire Safety. The sessions included both theoretical inputs and hands-on practical training conducted by experts from the Disaster Management, Education, Health, NDRF, and Fire Services departments.
The training programme concluded with a valedictory session on 17.04.2026. During the session, Training Certificates and IEC materials on “Do’s & Don’ts” were distributed to all participating teachers in the presence of Mrs. Archana Singh, Deputy Director (Planning) and Mr. S Kuppusway, JE of Education Department, A&N Administration and senior officers of DDM. The Deputy Director (Planning) urged all participants to regularly conduct school safety and disaster preparedness activities in their respective schools to promote disaster awareness across the Islands.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Sudev Kumar, Statistical Officer, DDM, who expressed gratitude to the dignitaries and participants.
