The Initiative
AIDMI initiated a national campaign to promote school safety after more than 900 schoolchildren were crushed to death in the 2001 Gujarat earthquake. The campaign aims to reduce hazard-induced losses, especially in poor and vulnerable schools by increasing awareness, developing school-specific disaster preparedness plans, promoting structural and non-structural safety measures and insuring schoolchildren, teachers and administrators against accidents of any kind. The campaign has so far covered 350 schools, 18,000 schoolchildren and teachers and administrators from Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. The campaign has enjoyed the support of several government departments, I/NGOs, universities, research institutes as well as corporate sector. The success of the campaign in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu motivated AIDMI to expand its campaign to Bihar and Rajasthan.

Schools, the foundation of a nation with the Universalisation of Elementary Education programme included as an amendment in the Indian constitution, are often indiscriminately built on hazard-prone locations without following safety guidelines. This has resulted in unnecessary deaths, injuries and losses in schools. Moreover, AIDMI's work completes the work of UNICEF through its Education Strategy. Like AIDMI, UNICEF is also focusing on the most excluded and vulnerable children, especially girls. the Global Monitoring Report reveals that 72 million children worldwide were out of school in 2005, 57% of them being girls.

Fire demonstrations during our trainings on school safety have proved a great success.

The campaign has made a significant impact in the following key areas:
• Strengthening schools' ability to resist hazards, i.e. safety of schools
• Promoting a culture of safety by raising disaster awareness among
schoolchildren, teachers and administrators, i.e. safety through schools

Outcome
350 schools, 18,000 school children, teachers and administrators have so far benefited from AIDMI's school safety campaign. The details are as follows:

• Risk Transfer: Accident insurance was provided to 17,134 students and 443 staff members from 34 schools in Bihar, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
• Awareness Materials: 33 laminated awareness displays on school safety and disaster first aid were developed in local languages (English, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil and Gujarati) and handed over to schools in Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Gujarat.
• Fire Safety: Fire safety demonstration, mock drills and plans have been developed by a number of schools and been implemented in the above-mentioned areas.
• Training of Trainers on Scientific Awareness on School Safety: 24 trainings covering 675 schoolteachers in Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu were conducted. Additionally, mock drills involving 799 schoolchildren were conducted.

Inclusiveness
The campaign has made a remarkable difference at the targeted schools that are situated in vulnerable and hazard-prone areas. Students, teachers and administrators are familiar with physical processes that govern hazards, dos and don'ts during disasters and disaster preparedness plans, among much else. They have been insured against accidents of any kind. The insurance is not limited to school hours but is as well as having been equipped with fire extinguishers. The most encouraging indication is that the trainees are spreading the knowledge among their families, friends, colleagues and neighbours, which is a significant contribution to HFA's priority number 3, to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels. Besides, mitigation measures like repairing of school buildings and improvement in facilities have contributed to a better and safer atmosphere.

Spreading and use of knowledge through a participatory approach, use of local languages, active participation of schools and the support from concerned government departments are some of the key factors contributing to the success of the campaign.

Lessons Learned
Through AIDMI's experience, some requirements were identified in order to sustain the impact of the campaign, such as the set up of a specific mechanism in schools for this aim. Given India's great diversity, adjusting the campaign's material to the local context including the local language was prioritised.

We have encountered cultural obstacles in our disaster insurance program, for example, when the family of a student who died from bee stings refused to have post mortem work done, and were therefore unable to get any financial benefit from the insurance company. The grassroots nature of the campaign allows us to be flexible and immediately make adjustments to overcome such obstacles.

It is found that most communities we work with in disaster-affected regions have always approached disaster situations from a relief perspective, and have little understanding of preparedness measures. In general they have been very quick to see the value in shifting emphases from relief to preparedness and mitigation.

Additionally, the campaign is another project that highlights the need of active participation in order to ensure a better impact to vulnerable schools. This way, by promoting local capacity, reducing disaster risk is significantly enhanced.

Risk Transfer Initiatives

Including Offspring

Including Small Businesses

 

Risk Reduction

Knowledge Management

Disaster Response

Policy Advocacy