Natural disasters, especially floods, are increasingly affecting vulnerable communities around the world, and children are often the most impacted. In India, recurrent flooding in states like Assam, Bihar, Odisha, and Kerala has had devastating effects on educational continuity and early childhood care. Schools and Anganwadis—integral to child development and learning—are frequently damaged or disrupted. This underscores the urgent need to adopt child-centric Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies and build resilient educational and care infrastructure in flood-prone zones.
1. Why Child-Centric DRR Matters
Children are not just passive victims of disasters—they are active stakeholders whose rights to safety, education, and well-being must be protected. Child-centric DRR:
Recognizes the unique vulnerabilities of children.
Focuses on minimizing disruption to learning and care.
Ensures children’s voices are included in planning and preparedness.
Enhances psychological and social resilience through supportive environments.
2. Understanding the Risk: Flood Impacts on Schools and Anganwadis
Floods affect educational institutions in several ways:
Structural damage: Buildings collapse or become unusable due to waterlogging.
Learning loss: Closure of facilities causes prolonged interruption of education.
Health risks: Unsanitary conditions lead to disease outbreaks among children.
Psycho-social trauma: Exposure to disaster causes long-term mental health issues in children.
Anganwadis, which serve children aged 0–6 years, are even more vulnerable due to their location in community buildings and limited funding for resilient infrastructure.
3. Principles for Building Resilient Schools and Anganwadis
a. Location and Site Planning
Avoid constructing in low-lying or floodplain areas.
Use GIS-based hazard mapping to identify safe zones.
Raise plinth levels and construct on stilts or elevated platforms in high-risk areas.
b. Climate-Resilient Infrastructure
Use flood-resistant materials and designs that allow for quick drying and easy cleaning.
Ensure robust drainage systems to prevent water stagnation.
Install rainwater harvesting and water purification units to ensure safe drinking water post-disaster.
c. Multipurpose Use and Community Integration
Design schools and Anganwadis as community disaster shelters.
Include safe storage spaces for learning materials and emergency kits.
Ensure inclusive design for children with disabilities.
d. Green and Safe Spaces
Create safe outdoor play areas with flood-tolerant landscaping.
Include kitchen gardens and child-friendly environments to support nutrition and well-being.
4. Institutional and Capacity Strengthening
a. School and Anganwadi Disaster Management Plans (DMPs)
Prepare child-friendly DMPs that involve children in evacuation drills and safety education.
Form School Safety Committees and link them with local DRR bodies.
b. Training and Sensitization
Train Anganwadi workers and teachers in first aid, child protection, and psychological first aid.
Conduct regular mock drills and safety education activities for children.
c. Interdepartmental Coordination
Ensure collaboration between education, women and child development, disaster management, and public works departments.
Leverage schemes like the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) or District Mineral Funds for resilient infrastructure.
5. Technology and Innovation in Resilience Building
Use digital early warning systems to alert institutions in advance of floods.
Implement e-learning solutions and mobile education units for continued access during displacement.
Deploy solar-powered lights and communication tools in remote areas.
6. Case Studies and Best Practices
a. Bihar’s Flood-Resistant Schools
In flood-prone districts of Bihar, UNICEF and local authorities piloted raised school buildings with floating furniture and elevated storage. This helped ensure continuity of learning even during monsoon floods.
b. Kerala’s Multi-Hazard Resilient Anganwadis
Post-2018 floods, Kerala redesigned Anganwadis with elevated foundations, emergency kits, and community awareness components.
c. Assam’s Child-Friendly DRR Initiatives
NGOs partnered with local governments to train children in flood preparedness, build child-centric evacuation plans, and provide psychosocial care post-disaster.
7. Policy and Financing Support
Incorporate DRR in National Education Policy and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) guidelines.
Allocate dedicated budget lines for school and Anganwadi resilience in disaster-prone districts.
Tap into CSR funds, state disaster mitigation funds, and international climate financing.
8. Moving Forward: Strategic Recommendations
Mainstream DRR in education and childcare planning at all levels.
Promote community-led infrastructure design for better acceptance and sustainability.
Ensure every new Anganwadi and school in flood zones is built with resilience as a core component.
Empower children as DRR ambassadors through age-appropriate education and participation.
Build evidence and data systems for monitoring school safety and child well-being during disasters.
Resilient schools and Anganwadis are not just about bricks and mortar—they are about protecting futures. By embedding child-centric DRR in the planning, design, and operation of these institutions, we can ensure that every flood or disaster becomes a moment of learning, not loss. Investing in such resilience is not only a humanitarian imperative but also a foundational step toward sustainable development and child rights protection.
