Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 5 (ANI): The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) of Himachal Pradesh and Bal Raksha Bharat also known as Save the Children officially joined forces to enhance child-centric disaster management strategies in the state. The collaboration was formalized through a non-financial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Friday, as stated in an official release.

According to the release, the partnership aims to ensure the safety, protection and well-being of children during disasters and emergencies in the state.

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The MoU, effective until July 6, 2029, with provision for extension basis, Bal Raksha Bharat's (BRB) satisfactory performance and willingness to extend the same.

The agreement was signed by DC Rana (IAS), Director cum Special Secretary Revenue, Government of Himachal Pradesh, on behalf of SDMA, and Santanu Chakraborty, Director of Programme Support at BRB.

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The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Onkar Chand Sharma, IAS Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh, and other notable officials including Krishan Chand, Training and Capacity Building Specialist, DMC - HPSDMA, and Naveen Shukla, Assistant Manager-Project from BRB.

The collaboration seeks to address the severe threats that disasters pose to children's lives, rights, and developmental needs. The past decades have seen India grappling with numerous devastating disasters, underscoring the need for proactive measures to safeguard children and support their development. This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), and the Honorable Prime Minister's 10-point agenda for DRR.

This collaboration aims to create a safer, more secure environment for children, thereby ensuring they thrive and learn in both developmental and emergency scenarios, the release said.

Under this MoU, BRB will provide technical assistance to SDMA in various critical areas including Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE), Education in Emergencies (EiE), School Safety, Health and Nutrition in Emergencies (H&NiE), and Psychological Support in Emergencies. The partnership will also focus on enhancing the capacity of officials, especially in EiE and CPiE, and aims to establish a volunteer cadre by integrating Anganwadi workers, teachers, and ASHA workers into a comprehensive volunteer-based system for ensuring "Zero Day Loss" and "Zero Death" for children during disasters.

This would also create mutual opportunities to develop resources jointly in the form of training modules, communication materials, guidelines and publications. There would be opportunities to develop and strengthen community-based child-centric disaster risk reduction planning and execution in selected locations, the release read.

This partnership represents a significant step toward ensuring that children in Himachal Pradesh are safeguarded and supported during disasters and emergencies. By combining the expertise and resources of SDMA and Bal Raksha Bharat, this MoU promises for a resilient and child-centric disaster management framework in the state.

Bal Raksha Bharat, an NGO founded on Indian values, has been working since 2004 to improve the lives of vulnerable children across 15 states and 3 Union Territories. With a mission to support children's holistic development and contribute to a "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India), BRB has impacted over 13 million vulnerable children through various partnerships and collaborations. (ANI)

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