बिहार राज्य आपदा प्रबंधन प्राधिकरण
بہار ریاست آپدا مینجمنٹ اتھارٹی
Bihar State Disaster Management Authority
Government of Bihar
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 Children’s game online (Courtesy : TISS – Mumbai )
Play and learn to stop disasters
Back
