Nagpur – The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a notification to launch the Model Course Curriculum on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Management at UG & PG level. The Model Curriculum at Undergraduate and Post Graduate level has been developed by NIDM in guidance of Major General Manojkumar Bindal, Prof. Santosh Kumar, Shekhar Chaturvedi, Dr. Preeti Soni and in consultation with experts from across the country and academia.
The proposed model curriculum of Foundation Course on Disaster Risk Reduction; Certificate Programme on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and PG Diploma on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management has included elements of disaster related issues and followed by NEP 2020 to build the knowledge, skills and capacity of the young generation to achieve National objective of 10 point agenda 6 of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
UGC requested all the Higher Education Institutions and their affiliated colleges/institutions to initiate courses on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management at Undergraduate and Post Graduate level to fulfil the promise of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India to make nation more safer and resilient to disasters by the Year 2030.
According to the survey in 2019, the highest number of students are enrolled in undergraduate courses across the country. Out of the total enrolment of 3,73,99,388 students, a vast majority of 2,98,29,075 students are enrolled in UG programs. This is just more than the total strength of Indian Armed Forces active personnel, which is about 1.4 million, it is the world’s second-largest military force and has the world’s largest volunteer army. Therefore, there is a need to prepare/trained students as a task force, not only as an intellectual but also as a professional in the field of disaster management.
Hence, IUINDRR-NIDM, which is an initiative under the Agenda 6 of 10 point of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, took a step towards formulation of course/paper curriculum that has included elements of disaster risk reduction to build the knowledge, skills and to build capacity of the maximum young population in India.
The UGC has also sent a detailed syllabus for both UG and PG, which has to incorporate into the courses, to all universities and their affiliated colleges.
Foundation Course: Disaster Risk Reduction Management will be a compulsory subject in the fourth semester. There will be three credit and 100 marks paper in which 60 percent marks will be external and 40 percent marks will be internal. There will also be field work of 20 marks. Whereas this entire course will take 45 hours of lectures.
The structure of the curriculum is 60 percent in the form of compulsory module and rest as per regional issues related to disaster in the respective regions of India.
The curriculum will be offered in the IV” semester under foundation course as per UGC guidelines and will be integrated in every stream of the undergraduate programme. The curriculum supporting study/reference material for academicians to build their capacity on the issue. Contemporary issues, like pandemic, human induced hazards, stress management, psycho social care, financial resilience and disaster, remote sensing and GIS, new technology for early warning signs, DM plan and practical knowledge through field exposure/community visits is the part of the assessment criteria.
Certificate Program: The Certificate Programme in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management has been designed to develop the skills required for career in disaster management. The certificate programme is designed in such a way so that after the completion of first year of undergraduate degree, students will get certificate on DRRM (if exit) and after two years will get degree in specialized field related to Disaster Management. The student may choose to exit after one year with certificate programme and may rejoin the second year of the UG degree in any specialized field related to Disaster Management within the next specified periods by the UGC.
Management of disaster risk reduction will be the subject of study. Along with bookish knowledge, skill development will also be done in this. The eligibility for admission in this program will be 12th pass with 55% marks. Trained professionals will be prepared in this. The program will be of 38 credits based on two semesters.
PG Diploma Programs: In this too, after completing the first year of studies, students will get a PG certificate and after two years students will get a PG diploma. In this, graduates with 45% marks in any stream will be able to take admission. This two semester program will be of 45 credits in total.
Naveen Agrawal, Registrar of DRB Sindhu Mahavidyalaya, Nagpur played an important role in developing curriculum for UG level
It may be mentioned that, a seven member working group at the national level was constituted by the National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India with the objective of “Development and Standardization of Curriculum on Disaster Risk Reduction Program for Undergraduate Level”. NIDM, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had given important responsibility by nominating Shri Naveen Maheshkumar Agrawal, Registrar, Dada Ramchand Bakhru Sindhu Mahavidyalaya, Nagpur from West India Region as a member of the said seven member working group.
