Importance of Building Resilience in Children

14/06/24

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An overview of disaster relief and resilience in the Indian context must keep in mind two things. First, India’s geographic position makes it vulnerable to disasters; and disaster resilience, for a country with the scale and diversity of India, is far more complex than in other nations. This is where disaster relief organisations, which form the heart of India’s strategy to cope with natural calamities, come into play, bringing to the fore their specialised knowledge, resources, and personnel focused exclusively on disaster response.

Their involvement has helped mature and dimensionalise disaster management, from focusing on urgent needs such as food, shelter, and medical care, to a larger understanding of the unique vulnerabilities at play. In particular, they are now cognisant of the various needs of the youngest and most vulnerable – our children. They are operating with an understanding that childrens resilience program is a priority of some significance and must be given its due importance.

By and large, the resilience and prevention program framework prioritised emergency relief, which entails the distribution of food, water, clothing, and medical supplies to affected populations, following the establishment of temporary housing solutions for those displaced by disasters. This is followed by medical assistance to treat injuries and prevent outbreaks of diseases, and then rebuilding infrastructure such as homes, schools, and healthcare facilities. Once these were addressed, the long-term aspects, such as providing financial aid and resources to help affected individuals and communities regain economic stability, were looked into.

What has now been given emphasis has been the addition of addressing the specific needs of children in the way India thinks about resilience and prevention program efforts. While adults can fend for themselves, children are uniquely vulnerable to disasters, by how dependent they are on adults and society for day-to-day decisions. Everything from age-appropriate medical care, nutrition, and safe spaces that protect them from further harm to psychological support aspects such as dealing with trauma must be factored into a comprehensive child resilience program. They also need educational continuity, i.e. maintaining access to schooling, which is crucial for children’s development and sense of normalcy.

These are diverse aspects of the disaster resilience workstream with diverging timelines and require a variety of professionals, working collaboratively and continuously. For example, while some children may immediately need nutritional supplementation, others may need psychological counselling, even as all the children must be placed in secure sheltered spaces to safeguard them. In parallel, evacuation efforts may be necessary to move them to safer regions, even as steady medical monitoring is implemented to ensure child health and medical safety. A regular cadence of distribution of food packets, safe drinking water, blankets, and temporary tents must be urgently implemented, along with setting up community kitchens in stable and organised environments.

Bal Raksha Bharat is an organisation dedicated to protecting children in India through a variety of childrens resilience program implementation. Their primary focus is on building resilience among marginalised children, families, and communities, with a particular emphasis on women and girls. Their efforts span several key areas, addressing various challenges faced by vulnerable populations in India. One of the priorities for Bal Raksha Bharat is climate change adaptation and disaster resilience. India faces numerous climate-related and disaster risks, including earthquakes, floods, cyclones, and landslides. To address these risks, it engages with communities, children, and families to raise awareness about climate and disaster hazards, develop resilience skills, and roll out child resilience program work. They also implement nature-based solutions, such as conserving local biodiversity and forests. Collaboration with urban and rural local governance bodies ensures that climate adaptation plans are child-centred and gender-inclusive.

Bal Raksha Bharat has also signed an MoU with the National Institute of Disaster Management. They collaborate with the Child Centric Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (CCDRR) and the National Institute of Disaster Management (Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India) to create a safer and more resilient environment for children in disaster-driven situations. In addition to these efforts, it provides livelihood interventions for families most exposed to climate and disaster risks. They promote green alternate energy, early warning systems, and entrepreneurship opportunities as part of their green livelihoods and technology initiatives.

Bal Raksha Bharat’s comprehensive approach encompasses education, livelihoods, governance, and healthcare, all aimed at enhancing child resilience and well-being in the face of various challenges. Their work is crucial in building a more resilient future for vulnerable children and communities across India.

Pulkit Arora

Manager-Brand & Communication

“With over 12 years of dedicated experience in the social development sector, I am passionate about championing child rights and community empowerment through innovative communication strategies. As a Digital Marketing Manager for digital Campaigns and Communication with Bal Raksha Bharat (Save the Children), I have honed my expertise in orchestrating impactful campaigns online and fostering partnerships with key stakeholders to drive positive change."