Chandigarh April 13, 2020

  University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS) Panjab University has taken the pioneering step in responding to the constraints imposed by the Corona Lockdown and conducted a one day online workshop on the
theme “ Disaster and its Management: Some Socio-Economic, Environmental, Political and Health Issues’.

  The online workshop had 80 participants with 70 papers presented by speakers from UILS,  and other universities across India.

 The genesis of the idea was given by the Vice Chancellor of Panjab University Prof (Dr) Raj Kumar and was immediately put into action by the workshop organizers Prof (Dr) Rattan Singh, Director UILS and Ms Anu Chatrath, Dean, UILS.

Prof Raj Kumar ,VC in the inaugural ,while lauding the efforts of UILS team ,directed the attention of the participants towards the increasing need to harness and utilise the boon of technology and communication devices to serve social and educational needs, calling technology a ‘ray of hope in the darkness. He lauded the continuation of the usual academic pursuits with vigour by UILS faculty. He also remarked that UILS has always taken the lead in establishing benchmarks of excellence and expressed delight that after the success of the online webinar, more departments in Panjab University would follow suit and organise similar academic exercises online.

In his address, PU Registrar, Prof (Dr) Karamjeet Singh began by congratulating the participants and assuring them that PU, Chandigarh would ensure that the academic work of the University would continue
unhindered even in the current lockdown period and beyond. He reminded the participants that today on the birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, it was important to remember the Guru’s emphasis on respecting Mother Nature.

The first session was conducted by Prof (Dr) Rajinder Kaur, and 31 papers were read. The online workshop continued with a second session presided over by Prof (Dr) Shruti Bedi in which 39 papers were presented on various themes related to the topic.

 The papers were wide ranging and shed light on various aspects of Disaster management in India and across the globe. Topics such as Cyber Safety Issues and Challenges during the current pandemic, Socio
Psychological Impact and changing perspectives, Coronavirus and Constitutional Rights, The war against Bioterrorism and the Law, Cabin fever in Lockdown etc were deliberated upon.

The workshop concluded with Dr Rattan Singh expressing his gratitude to the participants. Prof Singh enjoined upon the faculty to continue with the online instruction, teaching and projects which they were
conducting regularly with the students and continue to pursue academic exercises even at a time when everyone was confined to their homes because of the need for social distancing.