The 13th edition of the Annual Mass Awareness Campaign on Disaster Risk Reduction - SAMARTH, organized by the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), became the platform for a significant launch. During SAMARTH 2023, Honourable Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, unveiled the Schools Safety application, developed by NIC Himachal Pradesh, aiming to bolster disaster preparedness in educational institutions.
The event witnessed the presence of key dignitaries including Shri Jagat Singh Negi, Hon’ble State Revenue Minister, Shri Sanjay Awasthi, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Shri O.C. Sharma, Principal Secretary (Revenue), Shri Ajay Singh Chahal, DDG & SIO Himachal Pradesh, Shri D.C. Rana, Director SDMA & Special Secretary (Revenue), Shri Sandeep Sood, Scientist-F & Group Head, and Shri Sanjay Kumar, Scientist-E, who graced the occasion with their presence.
The Schools Safety application, available as both a web and mobile platform, aims to streamline the process of preparing the Disaster Management Plan (DMP) for schools across the state. Designed to simplify the annual DMP creation, the mobile app provides a standard template for effortless and automatic plan preparation. Nodal officers from each school log in to the app, adding necessary information to generate and submit the plan. The app allows Block, District, and State administrators to monitor plan preparation progress seamlessly.
As part of the initiative, selected pilot schools were provided with the mobile application for the preparation of their Annual School Disaster Management Plan for the ongoing academic year. In recognition of exceptional performance, the Honourable Chief Minister awarded top-performing schools with cash prizes ranging from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1.25 lakhs.
The Schools Safety Management Information System (SSMIS) is complemented by a web application and mobile app, available on Android and iOS. Schools utilize their UDISE code as a User ID to access these platforms. The software enables schools to develop their DMPs while allowing State, District, and Block-level authorities to monitor disaster preparedness across various schools under their jurisdiction.
This technological intervention stands as a significant step towards ensuring safety measures and disaster readiness in schools across Himachal Pradesh, allowing for effective monitoring and evaluation of preparedness levels by higher authorities.
