The familiar “A for Apple” has just been replaced with “A for Alert” in government schools across Palghar, thanks to an innovative and deeply personal campaign by a district official. Vivekanand Kadam, chief of the District Disaster Management Cell, is funding and leading a volunteer-driven initiative that introduces a Disaster Management Alphabet Chart under the Disaster Management Early Education Campaign in zilla parishad schools. The goal: to make safety and preparedness part of early learning. 

The idea was born from a personal moment last summer. “Sometime last year, my 16-month-old son suddenly started crying despite the fan and cooler running fine,” Kadam recalled. “I realised how real and immediate climate change has become. I’ve lived half my life, but my child’s life has just begun. I wanted to teach him about climate change and what to do in an emergency.”