Delhi Launches Disaster-ready Schools Campaign With NDMA
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NDMA and the Delhi Government launched the “Disaster-Ready Schools Campaign” today at Springdales School, Delhi. The event was attended by the Lieutenant Governor Shri Vinai Saxena, Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta, Education Minister Shri Ashish Sood, senior officials from NDMA and the Delhi Government, and hundreds of students.
In the first phase, 2,082 schools have been brought under the programme. Nearly 1.65 million (16.5 lakh) students and 60,000 teachers will receive structured training in disaster preparedness.
The initiative covers mock drills, awareness programmes, School Disaster Management Plans (SDMP), hazard identification and mapping, evacuation signage installation, and the formation of School Disaster Management Committees (SDMC). A live earthquake drill was also conducted, demonstrating coordinated evacuation and safe assembly by students and staff. It is among the largest school-based disaster preparedness efforts undertaken in India.
Education Minister Shri Ashish Sood called the moment “historic,” saying Delhi is positioning itself to become the country’s “Disaster-Ready Capital.” He noted that Delhi, situated in Seismic Zone IV, faces the real risk of strong earthquakes—reminding the audience of the February 2025 event when a magnitude 4 quake at a depth of only 5 km rattled the city. He added that rising heatwaves, fire incidents, industrial hazards and crowd-related risks are now part of the expanded preparedness framework.
Sood stressed the need to address digital-age threats too. Bomb hoax calls and panic-triggering digital disruptions, he said, demand clear protocols for teachers, Aapda Mitras and school staff. Strengthening preparedness labs and intensive training is essential, especially in densely populated neighbourhoods where schools remain highly vulnerable.
He highlighted that India’s disaster management approach has shifted significantly under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi—from reactive relief to proactive preparedness and resilience. He referred to the PM’s 10-Point Agenda for Disaster Risk Reduction, which emphasises local capacity-building. Initiatives such as Aapda Mitra and Yuva Aapda Mitra reflect this philosophy.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the campaign will expand to all Government, NDMC, MCD and recognised private schools. In six educational districts—New Delhi, Central, North-1, North-East-1, North-East-2, West-A and West-B—students, principals, DDMA teams, fire services, civil defence and Aapda Mitra volunteers are working rapidly to roll out the programme. Delhi aims to turn this initiative into a national model for urban India.
Sood said schools must become the first centres for building a culture of safety. Every institution must maintain a digitised, regularly updated Disaster Management Plan. The goal, he said, is simple: students must not panic; they must understand the situation and respond correctly. Teachers must see themselves as safety mentors, cultivating strong evacuation habits through routine drills.
Addressing students, he added, “You are the future disaster warriors, lifesavers and safety ambassadors. Preparedness is not optional—it is a responsibility. We must build not only a developed and smart Delhi, but a safe Delhi and a safe India.”
