The Department of Geography under the School of Tribal Resource Management (STRM), in collaboration with the Centre for the Study of Indigenous Peoples across the Globe and Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), KISS-DU, successfully organized an expert lecture on “Building Disaster Resilient Communities: The 21st Century Paradigm Shift in Disaster Management” on 28th March 2026 at 11:00 AM at the Training and Placement Cell. The event was conducted as part of the celebration of Earth Hour 2026.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Snigdharani Panda, Director IQAC who in her deliberation spoke about the relevance of the topic and also focused on the Sustainable Development Goals with special reference to goals 7, 11, 12, 13 and 15. Mr. Subhendu Kumar Mohanty, Additional Director, Students’ Affairs, KISS-DU also addressed the gathering. The guest speaker, Professor Gopal Krishna Panda, Emeritus Professor, KISS-DU, was formally introduced by Dr. Monalisha Mishra, Head, Department of Geography, and was felicitated thereafter.
In his insightful lecture, Professor Panda elaborated on key concepts of disaster management including disaster, vulnerability, risk, and resilience. He emphasized the need for building disaster-resilient communities through integrated planning and highlighted the paradigm shift from reactive to proactive disaster management approaches. He also discussed the universal model of disaster management and stressed the importance of community participation and sustainable practices.
The session was highly interactive, followed by a question-and-answer session where students and faculties are actively engaged with the speaker. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Arpana Premi Lina Oraon, Dean STRM, followed by a group photo session.
The event was successfully coordinated by research scholars Mr. Laxman Dora and Mr. Santosh Kandamaka. The lecture proved to be highly informative and beneficial for students and faculty members, enhancing their understanding of contemporary disaster management strategies.
