"We are supporting the efforts of the government.... For example, we are supporting the implementation of the National School Safety Programme which is conducted by National Disaster Management Authority across the country," chief of emergency section of UNICEF-INDIA Marguerita Tileva said here.
"We are working alongside them to develop the guidelines for school safety which would be incorporated in the curriculum and will be promoted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. So this is a joint effort between us and the Government of India to improve school safety," Tileva said.
She said that the guidelines are expected to be completed in September next year. "Technical specialists from our side are working with technical specialists of HRD and NDMA to review curricula and suggest specific topics and training modules that can be incorporated," Tileva said.
She said this on the sidelines of a function here to observe the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction where the inaugural address was delivered by Lise Grand, the UN Resident Coordinator in India.
"Women have been silently and effectively on the frontline of reducing disaster and climate risks. Clearly, we must invest in women and make them part of decision-making as their role in development is crucial in adapting to climate change and building community resilience to disaster," Grand said in her speech earlier.
The event brought together 13 UN agencies working on disaster risk reduction in India. A photo exhibition was organised on women's and girls' participation in disaster risk reduction efforts in India.
