The major objectives of the Programme are to:

• Provide comprehensive knowledge to the learners on disaster preparedness, mitigation and rehabilitation;
• Enable the learners to carry out risk assessment and vulnerability analysis;
• Generate community awareness, and strengthen institutional mechanism for community mobilisation and participation in disaster management;
• Develop communication skills for disaster preparedness;
• Create greater awareness about effective disaster response in various emergency situations;
• Equip learners with tools for meeting emergency medical requirements;
• Incorporate gender sensitive disaster management approach; and
• Inculcate new skills and sharpen existing skills of government officials, voluntary activists, development professional and elected representative for effective disaster management.

EVALUATION
Evaluation consists of two parts 1)continuous through assignments and 2)term-end examination. In the final result, continuous evaluation (assignment of a Course) carries 30% weightage, while 70% weightage is given to term-end examination. Following is the scheme of awarding divisions and grades:

You are required to score at least forty percent marks in continuous evaluation (assignments)as well as term-end examination separately. In the ooverall computation also, you must get at least forty percent marks in each Course to claim the Post Graduate Diploma in Disaster Management.

Assignments
Assignments constitute the continuous evaluation system. Submission of assignment is compulsory. Assignments of a Course carry thirty percent weightage while seventy percent weightage is given to the term-end examination.

There is one Tutor-Marked Assignment (TMA)for each four-credit Course. You will have to submit one TMA for each Course. These assignments are designed to test your comprehension of the print material you receive, and to prepare you for the term-end examination. They are designed in such a way as to help you concentrate mainly on the printed Course material and supplement with personal experience, conceptual grasp, and keen observation.

The last date for submission of assignments (Jan-December Session) is 30 September and for (July-June Session) is 31 March.

You will not be allowed to appear for the term-end examination for a Course if you do not submit the assignment in time for that Course.

The evaluators/counselors after correcting the assignments shall send them back to you with their comments and marks. The comments guide you in your study and help in improving your performance.

The University/Coordinator of the Study Centre has the right not to entertain or reject the assignments submitted after the due date. You are, therefore, advised to submit the assignments before the due date.

If you do not get a passing grade in any assignment, you have to submit it again. However, once you get the pass grade in an assignment, you cannot re-submit it for improvement of grade. Assignments are not subject to re-evaluation except for factual errors, if any, on the part of the evaluator. The discrepancy noticed by you in the evaluated assignments should be brought to the notice of the Coordinator of the Study Centre, so that he/she forwards the correct score to the Student Registration and Evaluation Division (SR & ED( at the Headquarters.

Whenever you receive a set of material and assignments, check them immediately and ask for missing book/books, if any, to the Material Production and Distribution Division (IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068) or the Coordinator of your Study Centre.

Term-end Examination
As stated earlier, term-end examination is the major component of the evaluation system and it carries seventy percent weightage in the final result. You must fill and send your term-end examination form before the last dates, that is 31st March for June exam, and 30th September for December exam.

Examination Form
It is an essential pre-requisite for you to submit the Examination Form for taking examination in any course. Copies of the examination forms are available at the Study Centre/Regional Centres! Student Registration and Evaluation Division at Headquarters. A specimen copy is also printed

* Attention Delhi Students : Those who wish to appear in the examination at DELHI shall submit their examination form to the Registrar, Students Registration & Evaluation Division with the requisite late fee. Your DRAFT in this case should be payable at IGNOU, NEW DELHI.