Avinashilingam Institute Hosts Women Leadership In Disaster Management

The Women’s Studies Centre and the Department of Civil Engineering of Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women jointly organized a one-day workshop on “Women Leadership & Safety in Disaster Management” on October 28, bringing together experts, faculty, and students to strengthen leadership and awareness in disaster preparedness.
Presiding over the event, Dr. V. Bharathi Harishankar, Vice Chancellor, emphasized that safety must be understood holistically — encompassing both structural and human dimensions. She noted that ensuring human safety is essential for creating resilient communities capable of responding effectively to crises. The chief guest, Dr. I. Balu, Sociologist, National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), conducted an engaging and practical demonstration session focusing on enhancing women’s capacity to manage disasters such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, and thunderstorms. Through his interactive approach, participants gained valuable hands-on experience in emergency response and community-based disaster risk reduction. The event also featured the launch of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Club and the release of a book titled “Child-Centric Disaster Risk Reduction in the Indian Context”, published in collaboration with NIDM, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. The publication, jointly released by the dignitaries, marked a significant milestone in promoting research and awareness on child-centric disaster management and leadership. Earlier, Dr. V. Premala Priyadharshini, Director, Women’s Studies Centre, welcomed the gathering, while Dr. R. Nithya, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Civil Engineering, proposed the vote of thanks.