IPPNW-Students India

IDPD Organizes Seminar on Disaster Management

The Tamil Nadu Chapter of IDPD organized a Seminar on Disaster Management in view of the inadequacy of the relief services for the victims of the Tsunami that struck South East Asia on 26th December, 2004.

The Seminar took place January 22nd 2005 at Chennai. Many distinguished personalities attended the Seminar and a lot of ideas were generated towards strengthening of the quality of relief services for the victims of a natural calamity.

Dr. R. Senthil MP, IDPD State President Tamil Nadu presided over the seminar. Dr. T. Mohan welcomed the gathering. Dr. G. R. Ravindranath, IDPD-General Secretary, Tamil Nadu introduced the dignitaries. Dr. P. Murthy, Dr. K. Munniappan, Dr. A. Seppan, Dr. A.R. Shanthi, Dr. P. Ramanathan and Dr .N. Mohanambal, RMO of Regional Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Egmore, Chennai proposed various resolutions.

Mr. Shanmugasundaram, Chennai Doordarshan - Executive Producer, S.Govindarajan,Director, Safety Group, Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, P.C.S.Rao, Meteorologist from Chennai Meteorological Centre, Sri Raman Organizer, Movement against Nuclear Weapons participated and presented papers in the seminar.

Dr. Arun Mitra, IDPD General Secretary delivered the concluding address, Dr. K. Lakshminarayanan, IDPD Treasurer, Tamil Nadu delivered the vote of thanks.

Dr. R. Senthil in his Presidential address stressed the need of having scientific world outlook and of using new technologies to prevent and manage disasters. He stressed the need of educating school and college students about Disaster Management.

P.C.S. Rao presented a paper about the origin, types and consequences of Earthquakes. He spoke about the precautions we have to take during Earthquakes and he pointed out that actually the Earthquake are not killing us, the poor constructions we made are killing us. So, buildings should be built with modern technologies to withstand earth quakes and other natural disasters.

Dr. Shanmuga Sundaram, Executive producer, Chennai Doordarshan in his speech said that our country is very weak in Disaster Management. We could have prevented enormous death, human sufferings and property loss. If we have had the facilities to detect Tsunami at the earliest. He stressed the need of establishing Tsunami information centers.

Mr. S. Govindarajan, Director, Security Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam in his speech clarified the doubts about the safety of Kalpakkam Atomic power plant. He said Kalpakkam plant was not affected and there was no leakage or radiation.

Mr. Sri Raman, Organizer, Movement against Nuclear Weapons, raised doubts about safety of Kalpakkam Nuclear Reactor. He insisted and independent committee should be formed and independent investigations should be made about the radiation level in that area.

Dr. Arun Mitra, General Secretary, IDPD in his speech accused United States Government for not informing the Tsunami affected countries about the Tsunami occurrence in spite of it knowing the Tsunami earlier through its naval base based in Degocaurshia Island. He further said that our country is spending crores and crores of rupees on making Nuclear Weapons, but our Government is not spending adequate money for Disaster Prevention and Management. If we spent just 125 Crores for Tsunami information centers we could have prevented enormous deaths and devastations. He appreciated the Tamil Nadu - IDPD’s , Tsunami Relief Works.

The following resolutions have been passed in the seminar.

1. This seminar pays homage to the thousands and thousands of people who have been killed by the terrible Tsunami waves on 26.12.2004.
2. Every year thousands of people were killed in India due to various disasters including natural disasters like earth quake, flood, drought etc., so, we urge the Central and State Governments to concentrate, and pay more attention to the disaster prevention and management. We request the Government to setup a high level expert committee to give valuable suggestions, recommendations to improve our skills and capabilities in the filed of disaster management. Relief Code should be framed and implemented, which is already in implementation in Maharastra and Orrisa. It is necessary to bring coordinated work between various departments like defense, police, fire service, medical services during the disaster times. For that Central and State Government should take necessary adequate steps.
3. We request the state government to establish Peoples’ committees comprising of Panchayat Leaders, Ward Members, Councilors, All Party Leaders and leaders of all sections of the society for fare distribution of Relief Materials. There should not be any discrimination in the name of caste, religion and haves and have-nots. Government must ensure that the relief materials are reaching properly to the Dalits.
4. We request the State Government to start Government Medical Colleges at Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur and Cuddalore. More funds should be allocated to the Coastal region Hospitals. The facilities in these hospitals should be increased Primary Health Centers should be made with full facilities to function as 24 hours health care centers. Adequate doctors, nurses, para medical staffs and other employees should be posted immediately, and all vacancies should be filled at once. Helipads should be established in all Medical College Hospitals and Air Ambulance system should be started immediately. That will be more helpful during the time of Disasters to save the precious lives of victims.
5. We request the Central Government to start a National Institute of Mental Health and Research Centre in the Tsunami affected region in Tamil Nadu immediately.
6. We request the State Government to pay Rs.1000/- monthly for the Fishermen families for at least 6 months and Kerosene, Rice, Sugar and basic food stuffs should be given free of cost for 6 months.
7. Residential houses should be built immediately for the Tsunami victims and basic health facilities should be provided immediately. Recreation facilities Playing facilities should be established and Computer centers should be started in various places in the coastal region for the Tsunami affected students and youth. Schools and Child Care Centers should be established for eradicating Child labor in that region. Government should pay more attention to the orphaned children and special care should be given for their brought-up.

An Independent expert committee should be form to study about the Safety aspects of the Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant and Independent Enquiry should be made to find out any radiation or leakage from the Plant to clear the genuine doubts of the people.

Later that day, in a press conference, IDPD also resolved to conduct Medical Camps for one more year for the Tsunami Victims.