Country emerging as global leader in disaster response: HM Shah

Addressing the Relief Commissioners and Disaster Response Forces Conference, HM Shah said, “In the last 10 years, we have achieved a lot in four areas of capacity, speed, efficiency and accuracy.”

“Speed is of essence in any operation related to disaster management. Timely response to a disaster and saving lives is the most important objective for which we have made big strides through training of workforce and introduction of technology and advance warning system for the community,” he said.

"Though the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) works under my ministry, I can confidently say that it has built a strong image, earned recognition, and gained respect across the country,” said HM Shah.

The NDRF has also worked hard to train jawans of the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF), he said.

He praised National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), NDRF and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) for bringing India closer to becoming a global leader in disaster management.

HM Shah said till a decade ago disaster management was limited to offering relief after a calamity, however, over the decade India’s disaster management is moving forward with a ‘Zero Casualty Approach’ which has even surprised the global community.

The Union Minister stressed on research to improve advance warning systems for disaster response and mitigation.

“We have succeeded in redefining our disaster response from reactive to pro-active over the decade,” said HM Shah, adding that ‘Bhagidhari’ has been the foundation of improving the response system.

“Starting from the Central government to State governments and to local bodies, a unified approach has been adopted for disaster response. Now, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi we are even involving the community in the effort,” he said.

HM Shah said in the coming decade each of the youth in the country will be equipped with the capability to join disaster response.

Highlighting the multi-dimensional approach of the government, HM Shah said the budgetary allocation for disaster response forces has also been increased three-fold over the past decade.

“In the case of NDRF, the allocation was Rs 28,000 crore between 2004 and 2014 but during 2014 and 2024 it was raised to Rs 84,000 crore,” he said.

For the SDRF, the budget between 2004 and 2014 was Rs 38,000 crore but between 2014 and 2024 it was increased to Rs 1.44 lakh crore, he said.

Coalition for CDRI, an international organisation launched by PM Modi, is a global partnership of 49 members dedicated to climate and disaster-resilient infrastructure solutions.

It is a partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and academia. CDRI advances the cause of climate and disaster resilient infrastructure (DRI).