Thiruvananthapuram: The US consulate has launched a programme to impart training to the revenue officials in the state to bridge the communication gap during international disasters like cyclones and tsunamis.
The programme titled ‘English for disaster management’ has been initiated by the Institute of Land and Disaster Management (ILDM) under the revenue department.
It will initially cover officials at the level of deputy collectors, tahsildars and village officers.
According to revenue department sources, the focus would be on international terminologies in disaster management, which are widely used. Unless the officials are familiar with such terminologies, swift communication during disaster management would be impossible.
“It is an effort to prepare the disaster management mechanism of the state to face any international disasters. The training programme could be extended to other agencies like police also,” said a revenue department official.
The US consulate has been conducting this course in various parts of the country and offered it in Kerala also.
To begin with, about 20 officials would be trained by an expert from the consulate.
After a one-week session at ILDM in May, there will be an online session also.
The field officers in the revenue department were not exposed to international training in disaster management of this type.Even communication between officials of different states during disasters was difficult due to language problems.
It would be helpful to prescribe any common language like Hindi or English for disaster management communication, officials said.
