Report On Outreach Initiative and Inclusive Disaster Preparedness Program

Date of Report: July 24, 2026

Prepared By: Kosygin Leishangthem, Coordinator, Disaster Management Cell

Venue: Government Ideal Blind School, Takyelpat, Manipur (Under Social Welfare Department)

1. Introduction and Objectives

The Disaster Management Cell of Manipur Technical University (MTU) conducted an outreach initiative at the Government Ideal Blind School to promote inclusive disaster awareness and preparedness. The primary objective was to assess the specific vulnerabilities of visually impaired students during emergencies, provide accessible safety resources, and lay the groundwork for a specialized Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) framework.

2. Key Activities Conducted

Resource Distribution

The MTU team distributed specialized educational materials to ensure the students have independent access to life-saving information.

Braille Guidelines: Distributed copies of “Do’s and Don’ts for Common Disasters” printed entirely in Braille.
Sourcing: These materials were collected from the library of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), Rohini.
Institutional Capacity Building: To further champion accessibility on the MTU campus, the Cell subsequently donated two copies of these Braille manuals to the MTU central library.

Interactive Needs Assessment

A direct interactive session was held with the students to gauge their existing knowledge of disaster preparedness. This dialogue provided the MTU team with critical insights into the unique spatial and sensory challenges visually impaired individuals face during rapid-onset emergencies like earthquakes or fires.

3. Strategic Outcomes and Action Plan

Based on the insights gathered during the interaction, the Disaster Management Cell and MTU faculty have committed to a sustained collaboration with the teachers at the Ideal Blind School.

The following strategic initiatives were formalized:

Initiative	Description	Partnership
DRR Pedagogy Manual	Development of a training manual focused on experiential, non-visual learning and multisensory instruction.	MTU Faculty & Ideal Blind School Teachers
Skill Building	Integration of spatial orientation training for effective disaster mitigation and emergency evacuation.	Disaster Management Cell
Future Training Program	Organizing a comprehensive, dedicated disaster awareness and practical preparedness camp for the students.	MTU & School Administrative Staff

4. Acknowledgments

The Disaster Management Cell extends its sincere gratitude to Smt. Huirem Mangibala, Headmistress of the Government Ideal Blind School, Takyelpat, for her invaluable support, facilitation, and commitment to fostering a safer and more inclusive learning environment for her students.