News & Announcement
Training Programme on VDMP held at Rurban Complex, Soreng
Soreng, February 16 (IPR): The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Soreng, organised a training programme-cum-inaugural session on the Village Disaster Management Plan (VDMP) at the Rurban Complex, Soreng, today.
The training aimed to highlight the importance of VDMP while promoting awareness of disaster preparedness and community-based response.
The programme began with a brief inaugural session, a welcome address and an introductory note on the significance of village disaster management by DPO (DDMA) Ms Rajani Pega.
The gathering was addressed by the Chairperson DDMA-cum-DC Soreng, Mr Dhiraj Subedi. In his address, he welcomed the participants and emphasised the importance of structured training for preparing effective village disaster management plans through a bottom-up approach. He highlighted the Government’s commitment towards disaster preparedness and stated that such trainings are conducted to empower and strengthen the capacity of District Management Supervisors (DMS) and District Management Assistants (DMA), who he described as the backbone of DDMA.
He further elaborated on four major roles and responsibilities of DMS and DMA for effective disaster management that included Preparedness, where he stressed the importance of developing a strong Disaster Management Plan at the village level through hazard mapping, vulnerability assessment and creation of a proper database with resource and risk mapping to understand local challenges. Under Capacity Building, he emphasised strengthening both officials and the community by conducting mock drills, demonstrations and awareness programmes while coordinating with SHGs, NGOs, schools and GPUs to promote disaster safety and preparedness at all levels. Speaking on Response, he highlighted the need to maintain real-time data and proper log books, act as focal points during emergencies and assist in rescue, relief and coordination efforts efficiently. Under Relief and Rehabilitation, he explained the importance of timely damage assessment, prompt distribution of ex-gratia assistance and ensuring quick and organised recovery measures to restore normalcy after disasters.
Concluding his address, he urged all participants to actively engage and make the session meaningful and productive.
Earlier, BDO (Soreng) Mr Paru Hang Subba, delivered a brief address focusing on earthquake awareness and highlighted the significance of such training programmes in strengthening disaster preparedness at the grassroots level. He emphasised the crucial role of District Disaster Management personnel posted in GPUs in ensuring timely and effective coordination, accurate information flow and prompt reporting. He stated that proper verification and communication are essential during emergencies to avoid delays and confusion. Urging all participants to remain attentive and proactive, he called for collective effort, coordination and commitment to ensure an efficient and organised response in the event of any disaster.
Resource Person-cum-DPO (DDMA) Ms Rajani Pega conducted an in-depth session on the Village Disaster Management Plan (VDMP). She began by explaining the importance of maintaining a basic emergency safety kit and highlighted the need for constant awareness and preparedness, noting that disasters often occur without warning. She then sensitised participants on different types of disasters, their impacts and the importance of community readiness.
Referring to the disaster management practices of Japan, she further emphasised learning from global best practices, particularly strong preparedness, public awareness and resilient systems. She also touched upon the key international institutional frameworks, such as the Hyogo Framework, which focused on building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters through risk reduction, preparedness and capacity building and the Sendai Framework, which prioritises understanding disaster risk, strengthening disaster governance, investing in risk reduction and enhancing preparedness for effective response and recovery.
Additionally, she highlighted the hierarchical structure of the Disaster Management Authority at the national, state and district levels, explaining their coordinated roles in effective disaster governance. She then elaborated on the significance of the Village Disaster Management Plan (VDMP) and walked participants through the detailed framework of the templates to be filled with accurate and real-time data. Explaining each section step-by-step, she emphasised the importance of maintaining a comprehensive disaster database including critical details of the area, resources and vulnerabilities so that during emergencies the VDMP serves as a practical tool for quicker, organised and effective response and management.
In her concluding remarks, she urged participants to fill the VDMP with accurate field-based information for effective use during emergencies and briefly highlighted the Items and Norms, explaining the guidelines for fair and timely distribution of relief and ex-gratia assistance.
A brief technical session was also conducted as part of the programme, which included a detailed follow-up on the SACHET mobile application. The session highlighted the benefits of installing the app, such as receiving real-time alerts and early warnings on disasters, weather updates and important safety notifications issued by authorities. Participants were guided on how to download the application, its key features and its practical use for timely information and preparedness.
Additionally, a hands-on demonstration-cum-awareness session on earthquake preparedness was conducted by District Disaster Management Coordinator (DDMC) Mr Kishore Pradhan and Ms Mar Tshering Lepcha. The demonstration included practical safety techniques such as the “Duck, Cover and Hold” position and basic methods to safely assist and evacuate injured persons during disasters, enhancing participants' practical knowledge and response skills.
Also present at the event were Panchayat Members, ADC (Dev) Mr Gaayas Pega, DPO (Zilla) Mr Kumar Subba, Panchayat Inspectors, Officials of BAC (Soreng) and DDMA staff.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by DDMS Mr Rinchen Bhutia.
It is to be noted that the training programme will also be conducted across the remaining five BACs under the district-wide initiative, scheduled from February 17 to 22 at Chumbung, Baiguney, Daramdin, Kaluk and Mangalbaria respectively, to further strengthen grassroots disaster preparedness across the district.
The training aimed to highlight the importance of VDMP while promoting awareness of disaster preparedness and community-based response.
The programme began with a brief inaugural session, a welcome address and an introductory note on the significance of village disaster management by DPO (DDMA) Ms Rajani Pega.
The gathering was addressed by the Chairperson DDMA-cum-DC Soreng, Mr Dhiraj Subedi. In his address, he welcomed the participants and emphasised the importance of structured training for preparing effective village disaster management plans through a bottom-up approach. He highlighted the Government’s commitment towards disaster preparedness and stated that such trainings are conducted to empower and strengthen the capacity of District Management Supervisors (DMS) and District Management Assistants (DMA), who he described as the backbone of DDMA.
He further elaborated on four major roles and responsibilities of DMS and DMA for effective disaster management that included Preparedness, where he stressed the importance of developing a strong Disaster Management Plan at the village level through hazard mapping, vulnerability assessment and creation of a proper database with resource and risk mapping to understand local challenges. Under Capacity Building, he emphasised strengthening both officials and the community by conducting mock drills, demonstrations and awareness programmes while coordinating with SHGs, NGOs, schools and GPUs to promote disaster safety and preparedness at all levels. Speaking on Response, he highlighted the need to maintain real-time data and proper log books, act as focal points during emergencies and assist in rescue, relief and coordination efforts efficiently. Under Relief and Rehabilitation, he explained the importance of timely damage assessment, prompt distribution of ex-gratia assistance and ensuring quick and organised recovery measures to restore normalcy after disasters.
Concluding his address, he urged all participants to actively engage and make the session meaningful and productive.
Earlier, BDO (Soreng) Mr Paru Hang Subba, delivered a brief address focusing on earthquake awareness and highlighted the significance of such training programmes in strengthening disaster preparedness at the grassroots level. He emphasised the crucial role of District Disaster Management personnel posted in GPUs in ensuring timely and effective coordination, accurate information flow and prompt reporting. He stated that proper verification and communication are essential during emergencies to avoid delays and confusion. Urging all participants to remain attentive and proactive, he called for collective effort, coordination and commitment to ensure an efficient and organised response in the event of any disaster.
Resource Person-cum-DPO (DDMA) Ms Rajani Pega conducted an in-depth session on the Village Disaster Management Plan (VDMP). She began by explaining the importance of maintaining a basic emergency safety kit and highlighted the need for constant awareness and preparedness, noting that disasters often occur without warning. She then sensitised participants on different types of disasters, their impacts and the importance of community readiness.
Referring to the disaster management practices of Japan, she further emphasised learning from global best practices, particularly strong preparedness, public awareness and resilient systems. She also touched upon the key international institutional frameworks, such as the Hyogo Framework, which focused on building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters through risk reduction, preparedness and capacity building and the Sendai Framework, which prioritises understanding disaster risk, strengthening disaster governance, investing in risk reduction and enhancing preparedness for effective response and recovery.
Additionally, she highlighted the hierarchical structure of the Disaster Management Authority at the national, state and district levels, explaining their coordinated roles in effective disaster governance. She then elaborated on the significance of the Village Disaster Management Plan (VDMP) and walked participants through the detailed framework of the templates to be filled with accurate and real-time data. Explaining each section step-by-step, she emphasised the importance of maintaining a comprehensive disaster database including critical details of the area, resources and vulnerabilities so that during emergencies the VDMP serves as a practical tool for quicker, organised and effective response and management.
In her concluding remarks, she urged participants to fill the VDMP with accurate field-based information for effective use during emergencies and briefly highlighted the Items and Norms, explaining the guidelines for fair and timely distribution of relief and ex-gratia assistance.
A brief technical session was also conducted as part of the programme, which included a detailed follow-up on the SACHET mobile application. The session highlighted the benefits of installing the app, such as receiving real-time alerts and early warnings on disasters, weather updates and important safety notifications issued by authorities. Participants were guided on how to download the application, its key features and its practical use for timely information and preparedness.
Additionally, a hands-on demonstration-cum-awareness session on earthquake preparedness was conducted by District Disaster Management Coordinator (DDMC) Mr Kishore Pradhan and Ms Mar Tshering Lepcha. The demonstration included practical safety techniques such as the “Duck, Cover and Hold” position and basic methods to safely assist and evacuate injured persons during disasters, enhancing participants' practical knowledge and response skills.
Also present at the event were Panchayat Members, ADC (Dev) Mr Gaayas Pega, DPO (Zilla) Mr Kumar Subba, Panchayat Inspectors, Officials of BAC (Soreng) and DDMA staff.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by DDMS Mr Rinchen Bhutia.
It is to be noted that the training programme will also be conducted across the remaining five BACs under the district-wide initiative, scheduled from February 17 to 22 at Chumbung, Baiguney, Daramdin, Kaluk and Mangalbaria respectively, to further strengthen grassroots disaster preparedness across the district.
