National Institute of Disaster Management on Wednesday awarded 25 thousand rupees each along with certificates to 15 selected schools from across the country which have developed their own safety plans to create awareness among students and teachers about school safety during disasters.

The awards were presented at a function held in New Delhi to observe Disaster Reduction day, which aims at creating awareness about disasters and their management.

Speaking on the occasion, Director General of National Disaster Relief Force Dr. PM Nair emphasized capacity building and empowering school children to be mentally and physically prepared and alert to reduce risk to life in the eventuality of a calamity.

Citing examples of the worst kind of past disasters in the country, Mr Nair stressed structural and non-structural interventions to reduce vulnerability of schools.

On the occasion, a book titled Safeguard Environment for Disaster Risk Reduction was also released.

The book is a compilation of poems and slogans written by school students on disaster management and environmental conservation.

AIR correspondent reports, Disaster reduction day, observed on the second Wednesday of October, is in line with the annual International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction to encourage people and governments to participate in building resilient communities and nations.