News: India’s first disaster-focused ‘Living Lab’ is set up in Kanichar Gram Panchayat, Kannur district, Kerala.
About India’s first ‘Living Lab’
- The ‘living lab’ is a pioneering approach that blends real-time data with hands-on training.
- The living lab approach is an ecosystem that integrates real-world settings with research and innovation to create and test solutions.
- Origin: It was first developed in the Netherlands.
- Aim: The initiative aims to equip residents with the knowledge and skills to respond effectively to natural hazards, making the community more resilient.
- Features
- The initiative is marked by the involvement of several stakeholders including government, experts, private agencies and civic society, to find real-world solutions.
- Under this initiative, the local weather forecasting and early alert systems using sensor technology have been integrated to provide residents with timely warnings about landslides and adverse weather conditions.
- People who check the data share the information with others through ward-level WhatsApp groups.
- The initiative promotes a proactive stance by converting villagers into informed first responders and advocates of safety.
