Twenty seven students of the first batch of Post Graduate Diploma Course in Disaster Preparedness and Rehabilitation affiliated to Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIU) were awarded with certificates on 17 July 2008 at Disaster Management Centre, National Headquarters, Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), New Delhi.

Mr. Naresh Dayal, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India was the Chief Guest for the occasion. He stated that '"Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) working at the grassroots level in the country under National Rural Health Mission have strengthened government's capacity in disaster management, as they are our first respondents in times of crisis. ASHAs need to link with Red Cross community level workers for a more organized disaster response in rural India." He further congratulated IRCS for initiating the course in disaster management and stressed the need to focus more on disaster preparedness and mitigation'. He envisaged bigger cooperation with Red Cross for the trauma care program on national highways, which is finally being launched by the Government.

Prof. K.K. Aggarwal, Vice Chancellor, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University also presided over the function. While addressing the students he said that 'You cannot avoid disasters. Therefore you must mitigate the disasters'. He further said that this course fulfills the standards of quality of the University and Red Cross DMC is well equipped for it. He congratulated the students and said that the country looks to them upon with high expectations.

Prof. (Dr) S.P. Agarwal, Secretary General, IRCS and Course Director stated, 'It is our endeavour to empower the nation with Disaster Management professionals who are motivated, have drive and initiative and are equipped with theoretical and practical tools to apply balm on victims of any calamity." He also said that while the course started with 30 students in 2006, the seats were increased to 35 the next year on overwhelming response and "now we propose to take 40 students". He added that admissions to the third batch are open and he called upon all those who are interested in disaster preparedness and response to join the course.

Col. (Dr.) Kunal Chatterjee from Ministry of Defence has topped the list of 27 candidates, followed by Dr. Rakesh Kumar Goyal from Central Government Health Scheme at second position and Amit Sharma from International Federation at third position. Dr. Chatterjee has been promoted after doing the course and is now an Associate Professor at AFMC, Pune. He stated "The course had given me an insight into disaster management and the faculty played a major role in it. The art and science of disaster preparedness and rehabilitation was distinctly imparted to us."

The aim of the course is to provide part time postgraduate diploma in the principles, procedures and practices of Disaster Preparedness & Rehabilitation cycle within an integral context to aim at reduction and mitigation actions to reduce disaster risk as well as improve the delivery of post disaster assistance to promote effective recovery and rehabilitation. The programme is spread over one year comprising of 3 terms. First and second term schedules include theory, practical and demonstration. In the third term, the participants are assigned dissertation on case studies & field visits on any aspect of disasters. The course offers an opportunity for indepth study of social, political, environmental and engineering aspects of disaster preparedness.

The Course has a distinguished faculty boasting of people and organizations such as DGHS. Government of India, Director General from Indian Meteorological Department, Professors from All India Institute of Medical Science, Indian Institute of Technology and experts from World Health Organization, National Institute of Disaster Management, National Disaster Management Authority, Delhi Fire Service among others. Guest faculty from International Federation, International Committee of the Red Cross and others from within and outside the country are invited to deliver special lectures.