SHILLONG, July 11: A two-day national workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction, organised by the Department of Geology, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, got under way on Friday at the Social Science Cluster Classroom, NEHU.
According to a statement, the workshop aims to bring together geoscientists, researchers, disaster management professionals, practitioners and students to engage in meaningful discussions on key issues related to disaster risk, resilience, early warning systems, community preparedness and policy frameworks.
The workshop was attended by over 80 delegates, including scientists from the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), university faculty members, students, invited experts, officials from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and representatives from the Directorate of Mineral Resources, Department of Mining & Geology, Government of Meghalaya.
In his address during the inaugural programme, Dean, School of Human and Environmental Sciences, by Prof. Devesh Walia, stressed the critical need to integrate disaster risk management with sustainable development strategies.
Prof. Walia highlighted how countries such as the United States and Japan have successfully reduced disaster risks through proactive planning and data-driven decision-making, whereas India continues to face challenges due to limited awareness, inadequate preparedness, and reactive approaches.
Highlighting that disasters are not caused by development itself but by unsustainable practices, he urged for evidence-based planning, especially in vulnerable regions such as the Northeast.
On the other hand, CEO, International Institute of Security and Safety Management (IISSM), Prof. Santosh Kumar, emphasised the evolving definition of sustainability within the context of disaster management.
Raising concerns about the limitations of current early warning systems, he underscored the urgent need for institutions to enhance their preparedness and response capabilities.
He then spoke on the importance of making wise development choices and building infrastructure that prioritizes long-term safety.
Prof. Kumar also raised concerns about the effectiveness of current early warning systems and stressed the need for institutions to be better prepared. He encouraged the integration of technology such as artificial intelligence into disaster management and outlined four key areas of focus: community participation, financial resilience, technology and innovation through education, and private sector engagement.
Meanwhile, Adviser to Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Dr. Jagvir Singh, who was the guest of honour, spoke about the importance of developing a deeper understanding of the dynamic processes shaping the country’s diverse landscapes.
Dr. Singh pointed out that while scientific models are essential tools, they often fall short of fully capturing the unpredictable nature of natural phenomena, thereby highlighting the need for continuous learning and adaptive research in the field of earth sciences.
He also shared key initiatives undertaken by MoES, such as Mission Mausam, and spoke about the Ministry’s efforts to promote youth engagement through platforms like the Indian National Earth Science Olympiad.
On the other hand, Director of the National Centre for Seismology, Dr. OP Mishra, who was also the guest of honour, accentuated the need for interdisciplinary collaboration—spanning science, technology, humanities and economics to achieve effective disaster risk reduction.
Focusing on earthquakes as primary hazards that often trigger multiple secondary disasters, Dr. Mishra highlighted that it is not the earthquakes themselves but rather poorly designed and vulnerable infrastructure that results in high casualties.
He strongly advocated for strengthening community resilience and adopting proactive mitigation strategies to minimize risk and enhance preparedness.
Prof. B. Mishra, Vice-Chancellor (In-Charge), NEHU, Shillong, in his remarks, said that impacts of disasters extend far beyond the immediate loss of life and property, often leaving long-lasting social, economic and environmental consequences.
He underlined the urgent need to shift from reactive responses to proactive strategies, advocating for the integration of disaster risk reduction into the broader framework of sustainable development.
Prof. Mishra also cautioned against the consequences of unchecked exploitation of natural resources, and called for collaborative learning, innovation and responsible stewardship to build a more resilient and sustainable future.
Following the inauguration, the workshop proceeded with technical sessions that featured insightful lectures by eminent speakers from academic and disaster management institutions.