Children’s Awareness & Education Initiatives in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

Introduction

The Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) plays a crucial role in promoting resilience and preparedness among all segments of society, including children. Recognizing the importance of early education in building a disaster-resilient community, BSDMA has prioritized child-focused disaster risk reduction (DRR) initiatives. These efforts are aimed at making children aware of the risks, preparedness measures, and safety protocols related to natural and man-made disasters in an engaging and interactive manner.

Key Initiatives for Children's Awareness

1. Disaster Education through Gamification – Collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

BSDMA, in collaboration with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), is spearheading the development of video games aimed at educating children about various disasters such as floods, earthquakes, fires, and cyclones. These games are designed with the objective of:

• Creating an engaging platform for children to learn about disaster management.
• Providing interactive and scenario-based simulations that encourage decision-making under crisis conditions.
• Introducing basic safety drills and preparedness steps in an intuitive and child-friendly format.

Development Highlights:

• Age-appropriate game content focused on children aged 8 to 16.
• Bilingual interface (Hindi and English) to maximize accessibility.
• Real-life scenarios inspired by Bihar’s vulnerability profile.
• Integration with the school disaster management curriculum in phases.

These games are currently under various stages of design, development, and testing with support from educational institutions and child psychologists to ensure effective learning outcomes.

2. Online Educational Games – Partnership with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai

To expand the reach of DRR awareness, BSDMA has also partnered with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai for the development and dissemination of online educational games tailored for children.

Key Features of Online DRR Games:

• Web-based accessibility for use on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
• Curriculum-aligned content for school students.
• Use of storytelling and role-play techniques to reinforce disaster safety messages.
• Quizzes and interactive modules to assess knowledge retention.

These online games are hosted on dedicated BSDMA and school education platforms, allowing schools across Bihar to integrate them into co-curricular activities. The games are also promoted through community centers and digital literacy programs in rural areas to ensure inclusive access.

Other Child-Centric DRR Programs

BSDMA complements its digital outreach with a variety of field and school-level initiatives, including:

• School Safety Audits: Evaluation of safety standards in government and private schools with recommendations for improvement.
• Mock Drills and Safety Clubs: Regular drills and the formation of Disaster Safety Clubs to build a culture of preparedness.
• Capacity Building Workshops: Training sessions for teachers and students on first aid, evacuation, and disaster communication.
• IEC Materials: Comics, posters, booklets, and animated videos distributed in schools and anganwadi centers.

Conclusion

BSDMA’s child-centric approach to disaster awareness underscores the belief that children are not just passive victims in disaster scenarios but can be proactive agents of change in building resilient communities. Through its strategic collaborations with TCS and TISS, and by embracing technology, gamification, and inclusive education, BSDMA is setting an example for other states in integrating child-focused DRR into mainstream disaster management planning.

 Please find below link for BSDMA Children’s game  App 

Click to Download

Please find below link for Children’s game online (Courtesy : TISS – Mumbai )

Play and learn to stop disasters

https://www.fema.gov/about/organization/region-8/disaster-mind-game

https://feelsafe.savethechildren.it/en/stories/stop-disasters

https://www.climatecentre.org/priority_areas/innovation/climate-games/