Kozhikode
Having faced many disasters in the last half a decade, Kerala has learned a lesson or two on ways to survive them and even set some models for the world to follow. However, Venu Rajamony, Officer on Special Duty on external cooperation for the Government of Kerala, former Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands and author of a book on lessons to be learned from the Dutch in the event of floods, feels that the State need to equip the citizens to be the first line of defence against any disaster.
Mr. Rajamony was speaking at a seminar on 'Kerala models of survival' organised as part of the first anniversary celebrations of the second term of the LDF government, in Kozhikode on Saturday. He appreciated the State government for the open mind to accept lessons from experiences, whether it be first hand or second hand. He said that the newly formed local disaster management units need to be strengthened and properly trained to deal with the emergency situations.
