FIRST Response leaders are in Delhi today to meet senior officials of the National Disaster Management Authority in Delhi.

Feba India's Director of Training Suma Emmanuel, the FIRST Response coordinator, and Feba UK's International Ministry Director Jon Hargreaves will share the results of the FIRST Response trial and promote partnership with the government to enable emergency radio stations to be set up in the event of future disasters.

In the evening they will also be meeting with non-government organisations to promote the importance of developing a partnership which includes radio in their disaster mitigation planning.

Final Debrief

Before departing the trial in Nagapattinam on Monday night, the FIRST Response participants were joined by a state dignitary and local businessmen to receive certificates and celebrate the end of three gruelling days of broadcast. At the celebration, held in the pilgrimage town of Velankanni near Nagapattinam, participants spoke of their enthusiasm for their experience, especially the tremendous team atmosphere and sense of accomplishment.

Listen to audio about their experiences: FIRST Response Participants

"Not only do I see the potential of radio in disaster mitigation, I can see it has huge potential for community development in India," says Saji Varghese, a World Vision manager in the emergency response unit, who was a participant of the FIRST Response workshop and trial. Saji is pictured here interviewing a local man in Nagapattinam.

The FM station finally went off air at 3.30pm on Monday afternoon, but the shortwave programmes in Hindi, Bangla and English continue until Friday 4th July.