Gentlemen, I was a speaker at the conference 18 months ago in Seattle. The US military is now very actively working internationally in humanitarian and disaster response situations, and could be invaluable in our efforts. I have tried to get some high level interest in DoD, unsuccessfully. (I'm a retired Rear Admiral.) However, the new Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs should be more receptive. Any thoughts about again trying to engage them?

Bill McDaniel

PROJECT CONCEPT

Equipping and empowering women is a significant and very vital dimension of Disasters Risks Reduction, adaptation to threats of Climate change and eradicating poverty. Women in disasters are most vulnerable and there is an inherent discrimination against them in developing country like India and other South Asian countries. There is very little effort to provide them opportunity to enhance their skills, build knowledge and capacity to protect from the impacts of disasters

Providing equal opportunities to women to prepare will be ergonomic to save lives and their livelihood and contribute towards poverty reduction. Disasters push women in to downward spiral of destitution and further vulnerability from which they struggle to recover .

SARITSA FOUNDATION has been endeavoring to improve, analyze plan and implement practices which mitigated the suffering of women socially ,economically and psychologically. SARITSA FOUNDATION translates the works of researchers , policy planers and experts in to action by reaching to women, especially the poor at their ‘Door step” with the team of experts to equip them to be alert and prepared to face disasters.

SARITSA FONDATION has been identifying problems of women belonging to many categories and have initiated the process to empower them by enhancing their capacity. These include following categories :-

Poor and fisher women of Tamilnadu and Pondicherry (most affected by devastating Tsunami) .

• Women from flood prone wards of Mumbai
• Sex workers in Mumbai
• School Teachers
• Tribal and Labour women in rural areas of Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir,
• Female Nurses of the hospital.
• Disabled women

PROJECT OBJECTIVES
• The project aims to identify vulnerabilities of the poor and most disadvantaged women, to equip and empower them with necessary knowledge and capacity to develop skills ,confidence and courage to cope with disasters like flood, Earthquake ,Tsunami, Cyclone and contribution towards adaptation to Climate change, environmental degradation and terrorism .
• Sensitize developing determination to make use of local resources and conventional experience and knowledge.

• To make Successful impacts as role model for capacity building process which will inspire other women.

• Encourage effective documentation and dissemination for better use and publication .

Location – India – Mega city of Mumbai , Delhi, Calcutta and Chennai.
Number of women – 4000 (1000women at each mega city )
Duration 2 for years (2008 /2009/ 2010)

The final achievement shall be a sample model to be followed for more needy women and its weakness will be made known. These good practices shall be shared with communities, policy makers like NDMA (National Disaster management Authority of India) and organizations which are facilitating risk reduction from disasters.

It will be pleasure to work jointly as partners with PHREE - Way and other groups engaged in the process to strengthen women.

SARITSA FOUNDATION’s COMMITMENT AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

SARITSA FOUNDATION had launched a campaign to prepare and protect children, women, disabled, the poor and ordinary citizens by reaching to their “Door Steps” with a dedicated and competent team of experts to build their capacity by use of local resources and enhancing knowledge and imparting training to reduce risks from disasters. SARITSA FOUNDTION reaches to the communities in villages, towns, mega cities, districts and states.

SARITSA FOUNDATION has prepared and build confidence amongst 1,47,000 people including about 7000 disabled people in States of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana, Delhi, Tamilnadu, Pondicherry and Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir since its birth on 05 June 2000 (briefs attached) .

It has conducted about 980 workshops including 700 workshops for school students and college youth, 200 workshops for communities (about 120 workshops were for women and 80 workshops for disabled in 10 states of India). It has a unique distinction to provide equal opportunities to disabled to empower for disasters.

Also, You shall be happy to know that, in a process of innovative method, a team of 8 Trainers and Motivators led by two young women traveled on Motorcycles to Leh Ladakh, the 2nd highest Motor able road in Jammu and Kashmir state of India covering 6000 kms on challenging mountainous road and snow covered track to reach to 7000 school children from 2 October to 22 October 2007.

This project had aimed to spread awareness and to prepare school children to reduce risks from disasters and to adapt to climate change by interacting with them and explaining Do’s and Don’ts to them in the areas of remotest rural India.

General N.C Vij, Vice Chairman NDMA had flagged of the campaign on 5 October from Delhi and it was encouraged by Smt Sheila Dixit, Chief Minister of Delhi, Shri Prof. N Vinodchandra Menon Honorable Member NDMA and Shri Shashidhar Reddy, Honorable Member NDMA (a CD is sent for your kind perusal). It was one of the very good practice for the school children.

The team of experts of SARITSA FOUNDATION is equipped and competent to build knowledge and share experience any where for the communities for the natural and manmade disasters like Floods, Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Cyclones, Fires,Terrorism and Bomb Blasts, Chemical, Biological and Nuclear hazards, Climate Change and protection of environment from degradation.

INTRODUCTION

Person with disabilities are more vulnerable to disasters due to their lack of mobility, poor healthy and most of them live in poverty. Disabled like blind, deaf, paralyzed people , physically challenged and mentally retarded and slow learner children may not be able to escape and free from danger .

Persons with disability are doubly vulnerable to disasters both on account of impact and poverty, yet they are often ignored or excluded at all levels of disasters preparedness.

According to World Health Organization (WHO) there are 600 million person with disability world wide between 7 and 10 percent of the global population - 80 percent of whom live in developing countries like India and others. There are 60 million disabled in India and their number is increasing due to growth of population and frequency of disasters. Disasters are major contributors to disabilities.

PATH FINDING
To make a small beginning to take care of above mentioned concerns, SARITSA FOUNDATION has chartered an innovative practice to provide an opportunity to the persons with disabilities since its birth on 05 June 2000 (about 8 years back). SARITSA FOUNDATION has a distinction to put the Disaster Risks Reduction practice and preparedness on the map of India for the disabled. Disasters do not discriminate. SARITSA FOUNDATION has prepared and build capacity amongst 7000 disabled by organizing 80 workshops and preparedness modules in disaster prone states of India . The categories of persons with disabilities include :-




• Visually impaired
• Physically challenged
• Mentally retarded and slow learners
• Deaf and dumb


OBJECTIVES

1. To develop rapport with disabled to change their mindset of helplessness and powerlessness by reaching to them at their ‘Door Steps”.
2. To build capacity by inputs of information, interaction, participation and motivation.
3. Impart practical training, conduct rehearsals and mock drills to develop skills and confidence.
4. Make provision for Braille books, Pictorial handbooks and sign language facilitators.
5. Develop individual safety culture to make them believe, I can prepare, I will prepare and I will protect myself.
6. sensitize administrators and families to cooperate

WHERE AND HOW THE PROJECT IS BEING IMPLEMENTED?

Preparedness Process projects were commenced during the year 2003, and the process continues. About 1000 disabled people were provided opportunity for preparedness annually. It is planed to build capacity amongst 2000 disabled during the year 2008 / 2009 (The list of some of the institutions / organization is sent as an attachment).

LESSONS LEARNED
• Disabled people are least aware about their role in preparedness for disasters.

• Disabled persons were very appreciative for the opportunity provided to them for getting prepared and trained to face disasters. They had never imagined that they can also prepare themselves for disasters.

• Physically, visually and mentally impaired and deaf and dumb people needed different techniques and standards for disaster risks measures and practices. These are more challenging than preparing ordinary people.

• Disability level analyses is important to select mode of preparedness and practical training.

• There was a requirement for more intensive practical training and rehearsals with each participant.

• They liked buddy (pair)system to prepare and face disasters.

• Visually impaired were found more attentive and receptive to the training. The methodology adopted for them was interactive and directional by the faculty being static at a point which has to be followed in all situations .

• Physically challenged could learn to respond within the limits of their mobility.

• Disabled have to be made part of disaster Risk Reduction initiatives. Policy planners and civil organizations community and families have to encourage for this process.

• Population census to be made area wise, and records be fed to rescue agencies and local administration to facilitate coordination of evacuation.

• Evacuation, relief and recovery process requires prior plan and participation by disabled and their families.

• First Aid has to be made part of knowledge building

• Sign language faculties should be made aware about the process


MEASURABLE IMPACTS

The participants had achieved a satisfactory level of awareness and developed skills and confidence to respond to disasters. The photographs given below speak about the same (Also as an attachment) .

• Visually Impaired
• Physically challenged
• Mentally retarded / slow learners
• Deaf and Dumb


TO LOOK FORWARD

There is a vital need to provide equal opportunities to the people with different disabilities. A new beginning made by SARITSA FOUNDATION (SARITSA CHARITY TRUST) has to be supported to make them part of main stream DRR process which will strengthen disabled equally.

REQUEST

I have a humble request and partnership to build capacity amongst 2000 disabled during year 2008/2009. Look forward for the cooperation of like minded partners and donors.


Mrs Smita Kadam Colonel NM Verma
National Secretary & Trustee Chairman

SARITSA FOUNDATION (SARITSA CHARITY TRUST)

‘School Safety’- Review of the Campaign launched in June 2000 to December 2007 Sharing Experiences and Good Practices.

By Colonel NM Verma


THE CONCEPT

SARITSA (Security Awareness and Readiness by Information, Training and Social Awakening) is a registered National Civil Society Organization. . Its mission is National Security there by sensitizing people to the need of preparedness and capacity building for reducing risks and vulnerabilities from the natural and man-made disasters including threats of climate change.

SARITSA FOUNDATION (SARITSA CHARITY TRUST) made a humble beginning by launching a nationwide campaign on its birth on 05 June 2000 to Reach to people , Talk to people and Prepare people to minimize vulnerabilities from disasters by reaching at their Door steps with the teams of experts at villages, towns, mega cities, districts and states.

The safety of school children and to prepare and build knowledge was the first priority of SARITSA FOUNDATIONS’ mission. The alarming reason for this priority has been that children are most vulnerable to all kinds of disasters and their lives are pulled apart due to disasters and they face severe psychological ailments through out their life. Also, there is a most important reason signifying a futuristic spark in the minds of youth to make them alert and confident future citizens to minimize risks from disasters. School children are the heart and mind of community partnership and preparedness for Disasters Risk Reduction.


THE PATH FIND FOR THE CAMPAIGN

The campaign has been conceptualized by SARITSA FOUNDATION (SARITSA CHARITY TRUST) in June 2000 and which is a pioneering initiative taken during the year June 2000 in India. It has aimed to raise level of awareness and develop culture of preparedness amongst, community especially students, teachers, women, disabled and most vulnerable people to minimize risks from disasters.

SARITSA FOUNDATION made a beginning to set new benchmark by the campaign. The first priority which was distinctively identified was providing opportunity to school children, teachers and staff in village, towns, districts and states by reaching to their ‘Door Steps’ with the team of experts and build their knowledge and impart practical training to mitigate risks from disasters.

During the years of 2000-2001, school administrations were totally indifferent to school safety. It needed a very committed approach by SARITSA FOUNDATION to convince the school administrations to make a beginning in their schools to impart knowledge and training to school children and the teachers and their existed no support from people in governance. However, under the leadership and guidance of UN- ISDR in present scenario , the international community and other like minded civil society organizations have joined the movement after adoption of Hyogo Frame work for action on 15 January 2005, which was adopted by 168 Governments at the world conference at Kobe, Japan.

It has been highlighted by the ‘Hyogo Framework of Action’ (HFA) that “Disasters can be substantially reduced if people are well informed and motivated towards a culture of disaster prevention and resilience, which in turn requires the collection, compilation and dissemination of relevant knowledge and information on hazards, vulnerabilities and capacities”. (Para 3 -18) SARITSA FOUNDATION is committed to such a mission since its inception on 05 June 2000 and complimenting the ethos of ‘Hyogo Framework of Action’ by helping communities prepare in reducing risks from disasters.


OBJECTIVES OF THE CAMPAIGN

In view of the vital need to scale up the skills, knowledge, innovative practices and enhancing school children and teachers local capacities to respond to disasters in time, SARITSA FOUNDATION launched the campaign in June 2000. The campaign review covers the period up to 31 December 2007. The objectives identified have been :-

• To assess level of awareness of students and teachers.
• To impart awareness and preparedness knowledge by interactive methodology by organizing the students in smaller groups.
• To connect participants with vulnerability proneness of their schools and regions and explain their role and responsibility
• Explain dos and don’ts of disasters for phases of disasters
• To display risk and vulnerability maps and exhibition charts for do’s and don’ts of related disasters.
• To organizing group activities for practical training mock drills and rehearsals
• To practice responses of participants to stimulated situations.
• To practice First Aid
• To practice evacuation drills
• To inspire parents participations
• To prepare and ear -mark school rescue teams
• To encourage school administration for school safety audit
• To issue Pictorial handbooks in national languages and regional languages
• To guide school administration for preparing school safety plans


PRIORITIZATION OF SCHOOLS FOR PREPAREDNESS DURING THE CAMPAIGN

• Municipal Corporation of schools with students of the poor
• Schools for vulnerable rural areas / tribal areas
• Schools / institutes for disabled children with vision impartment, physically changed, mentally challenge, deaf and dumb and slow learners including care takers and sign language faculties
• Schools / institues for street children, orphaned children and children with criminal background.
• Government aided and non added schools
• Schools administered by Minority Community Trust / organization administration


IDENTIFICATION OF DISASTERS FOR SCHOOL SAFETY PREPAREDNESS
The following disasters were identified:-
• Earthquake
• Flood
• Cyclone
• Tsunami
• Draught
• Fire
• Terrorism
• Environmental Degradation and Climate Change threats
• Chemical, Biological and Nuclear hazards


THE STATES WHERE THE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN EFFECTED

The campaign was conducted for the schools of 10 most disaster prone states of India. The names are as under:-
• Gujarat-Workshop organized since year 2001 – 190 schools,

• Maharashtra- Workshop organized since year 2001 – 390 schools
• Delhi-Workshop organized since year 2001 – 1 school
• Rajasthan - Workshop organized since year 2001 – 83 schools
• Haryana- Workshop organized since year 2001 – 12 schools
• Chattisgarh- Workshop organized since year 2001 – 37schools

• Pondicherry – Workshop organized since year 2001 – 7 schools

• Tamilnadu Workshop organized since year 2001 – 50 schools
• Punjab - Workshop organized since year 2001 – 9 schools

• Himachal Pradesh-” Workshop organized since year 2001 – 8 schools
• Jammu and Kashmir- Workshop organized since year 2001 – 12 schools

Total Number of schools up to 31December 2007- 799 schools


LESSONS LEARNED
• Preliminary assessment revealed that children and staff had no exposures to school safety and no awareness about their roles.
• Children with different regional languages in the states were found enthusiastic for their safety and took keen interest to develop skills.
• School children were very appreciative for the opportunity provided to them for getting prepared and trained to face disasters. They had never imagined that they can also prepare themselves for disasters.
• Children were found highly attentive when faculties connected them with the proneness of disasters with their schools and regions
• Local resources and innovative tolls for rescue and evacuation were made use effectively.
• There is a requirement remains to be taken care for more intensive practical training and rehearsals periodically. School authority guided accordingly.
• The children and teachers keen interest in referring to photo exhibitions , Charts and Maps
• The games involving groups for given simulated situations to respond in disasters were found very effective.
• Physically challenged could learn to respond within the limits of their mobility.

• Parents where ever participated were found an inspiration for the students . The parents also desired that such an education and training is important for school children. They also desired the necessary structure and changed may be effected and New schools should be constructed following the laid down norms for the school safety.

• Evacuation, relief and recovery process explained and practice by the children was found effective.

• First Aid has to be made part of knowledge building

• School Rescue teams and task force organization was appreciated .

• The Pictorial handbooks in national languages and regional languages were found good source of knowledge building.

• “The Braille books” in many regional languages, the first initiative of its own kind in the country is a good support for preparedness for visually interest.


APPEAL

Towards the mission of guiding the young generation of school children to develop skills and confidence to protect from frequent disasters, SARITSA FOUNDATION (SARITSA CHARITY TRUST) has planned to equip and empower 10,000 school children and teachers in 10 states of India by Reaching to their ‘Door Steps” with the team of experts – “A Mobile University”. We humbly solicit support of 15 US $ for each participants to impart this vital education and training. The total donation needed is US$ 15 X 10,000 student participants = 150,000US$

ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY

SARITSA FOUNDATION has ensured full accountability and transparency in its campaign and follows ethical values . It has got a FCRA account.

SARITSA FOUNDATION (SARITSA CHARITY TRUST)
National Headquarters- Flat No.3 , Pankaj Co operative Housing Society, Sitaram Keer Marg, near Lokmanya Vidya Mandir, Mahim (W) – Mumbai 400016 Tel :- 022-24366370, 24370138 Mobile:- 9323157377 Email :- Saritsa@vsnl.net, & saritsafoundation.in@gmail.com www.SARITSA, FOUNDATION.in Registered under Greater Mumbai Public Trust Act 1950, Certificate No. E-18771 ( Mumbai) dt. 03 July2000 income Tax exemption u/s 80 G of Income Tax Act, Order No, DTP(E) MC/80-G/629/2005