Kutch launches braille module of civil defence training for differently abled

Inspired by the basic tenets of the Disability-inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DiDDR), the training seminar conducted in Bhuj saw more than 150 physically challenged students and employees of the Navchetan Andhjan Mandal of Kutch receive basic civil defence training by Pandya and volunteers of Civil Defence Office at Bhuj. “DiDDR ensures that individuals with disabilities are actively involved in and benefit from disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts. It recognises that persons with disabilities are often disproportionately affected by disasters and may face unique challenges in accessing information, evacuation, and support,” Pandya says.

DC Patel said that these braille training modules will be helpful in imparting the basic civil defence training to similar individuals across the state and the country. (Express Photo)

Considering diverse communication needs and physical barriers of people with disabilities, upon a joint initiative by the Civil Defence Office of Kutch and Navchetan Andhjan Mandal, training modules pertaining to basic information on civil defence organisation, community health and first-aid, fire safety, 108 emergency ambulance service and Abhayam Mahila helpline were converted into braille by the Duxbury Braille Translator (DBT). These braille modules were then printed in braille and given to the visually impaired students during the training seminar. The same were also incorporated in Orbit, a 3-in-1 unique device that serves as a self-contained book reader, a note-taker and as a braille display by connecting to a computer or smartphone via USB or Bluetooth.

“Training modules were also converted into accessible EPUB files, which can in turn be converted into audio, braille, soft braille and large print. The braille module and EPUB publications will serve as an important training tool for other civil defence offices across the state and the country. In addition, arrangements were made for simultaneous instructions in sign language for hearing-impaired students,” Pandya added.

District Collector Patel lauded the initiative and stressed on the fact that it is both a moral imperative and a pragmatic necessity that we extend the ambit of civil defence training to encompass differently abled compatriots. He further said that these braille training modules will be helpful in imparting the basic civil defence training to similar individuals across the state and the country.

Pandya said, “The entire training session included four training modules. First module covered an overview of the civil defence establishment in the country. Second module on community health and first aid covered basic first aid skills to respond to emergencies before professional help arrives and included topics such as wound care, burn treatment, fracture immobilisation, choking response, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), managing bleeding, shock or fainting, etc. Third module on fire safety included basics of fire prevention, detection, containment and evacuation. The last module dealt with practical demonstration on the basic and advanced life support systems equipped by the 108 ambulance service…”

The website of the Directorate of Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards states, “Historically, the Civil Defence Policy of the Government of India, till the declaration of Emergency in 1962, was confined to making the States and Union Territories conscious of the need of civil protection measures and to ask them to keep ready civil protection paper plans for major cities and towns under the then Emergency Relief Organization (ERO) Scheme. The Chinese aggression in 1962 and the Indo- Pak conflict in 1965 led to a considerable re-thinking about the policy and scope of Civil Defence… The Civil Defence Act, 1968, provides for affording protection to any person, property, place or thing in India or any part of the territory thereof against any hostile attack, whether from air, land, sea or other places, or for depriving any such attack of the whole or part of its effects, whether such measures are taken before, during, at or after the time of such attack. It also authorized the raising of the Civil Defence Corps and for making Rules and Regulations for Civil Defence.”