St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, has launched a Disaster Risk Reduction Management course in collaboration with the India Japan Laboratory at Keio University. The course, part of the university's research centre named after the renowned scientist and Jesuit Father Eugine Lafont, aims to raise awareness and impart essential knowledge on disaster management.
Vice Chancellor of St Xavier's University Felix Raj explained how Lafont had predicted a disaster through experiments he conducted in the laboratory of St Xavier's College in 1867 and had thus saved the lives of thousands. "It is an appropriate course as far as awareness generation and preparation are concerned, keeping in mind that knowledge alone would help prevent or minimize disasters.".
It will benefit both students and scholars, social workers, and officials of the Department of Disaster Management and Civil Defence of the State. It will be graced by internationally acclaimed experts from India and Japan such as Dr. Rajiv Shaw, Director Keio University's India Japan Laboratory, at whose inaugural session he addressed the transfer of Japanese expertise in disaster mitigation, resilience, and the latest technological tools.
In consideration of the signed Memorandum of Understanding between Keio University's India Japan Laboratory and St. Xavier's University, this is, indeed, the next step of fortifying Indian education in Disaster Management.
