Malin mudslide tragedy now a part of school curriculum

Once year since, the Malin tragedy is now part of the syllabus to ensure schoolchildren develop a better understanding of natural calamities.

Once year since, the Malin tragedy is now part of the syllabus to ensure schoolchildren develop a better understanding of natural calamities.

National-Disaster-Response-Force-NDRF-personnel-move-a-recovered-body-using-the-bucket-of-an-excavator-at-the-scene-of-the-landslide-at-Malin-AFP-Photo

On July 30, last year, torrential rain triggered a landslide early in the morning at Malin village in Pune district. A chunk of the hillside gave way, sending mud, rocks and trees cascading down on the village, killing 151 people. The tragedy prompted massive rescue operations for eight days, with j awans of National Disaster Response Force ( NDRF) working day and night.

This academic year, Maharashtra State Council of Education Research and Training (MSCERT) has introduced a new chapter in the Class 5 syllabus on the incident.

The chapter, titled Malin village: an incident, has been incorporated in the Marathi language textbook published by Balbharati.

Offering a background into the tragedy through newspaper clippings, the two-page chapter explains the concept of disaster management, to make children aware about natural disasters, causes and mitigation efforts.

“In the process of reviewing the syllabus, the committee comprising experts introduced this chapter,” said Balbharati director C Borkar. The students have been asked to gather information about similar incidents of natural calamities, he added.

The last part of the chapter has a series of questions, which attempts to test students’ knowledge about calamities

Meanwhile, the government has earmarked an eight-acre plot for the rehabilitation of the survivors. Situated in Amde village, which is close to Malin, the government plans to build houses for 82 families on 1.5 acres.

A building school and primary health centre will also be built on the plot.