Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurated
the First Session of National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in New Delhi
at Vigyan Bhawan today.
Union Home Minister Shri Sushilkumar
Shinde, Vice Chairman of National Disaster Management
Authority Shri M. Shashidhar
Reddy and Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Mullapally Ramachandran were also
present on the occasion. The whole range of stakeholders from Government,
Parliamentarians, Mayors, Media, International Organizations, NGOs, local
community representatives, scientific and academic institutions and corporate
businesses etc., participating in this
two day conference. The theme of the Conference is “Mainstreaming DRR in
Development: From Risk to Resilience”. The meeting is expected to help in sharing of
experiences, views and ideas, present findings of research and action and
explore opportunities for mutual cooperation in the field of Disaster Risk
Reduction.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan
Singh complimented the
Home Minister Shri Sushilkumar
Shinde and his team for their initiative in setting
up the National Platform for Disaster Risk Management for providing
multi-stakeholder coordinated leadership in the very important area of Disaster
Risk reduction. This is in fulfillment of India’s commitments to the United
Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction as it is now one of the
eighty countries which have a national platform. He also expressed confidence
that the Platform will emerge as a very useful forum for exchange of ideas and
experiences and will be a great help to our country in building systems for
preventing disasters and dealing with their fall-out.
The Prime Minister also said that managing disasters is necessarily a
collaborative and complex exercise, involving not only several Departments of
the Government at the Centre but also State and local Governments, Civil
Society Organizations, local communities and the people at large. He further
stated that while we have made encouraging progress in recent years in putting
in place institutions and mechanisms for disaster prevention and mitigation, we
have still a large distance to travel.
On this occasion, Union Home Minister Shri Sushilkumar Shinde said that the gathering of the stakeholders from the Central and State
Governments, international organizations, civil society organizations, academic
institutions and members of the corporate sector symbolizes the commitment of
all towards effective disaster management and substantive Disaster Risk
Reduction in the country.
The Home Minister also said that the government has been focusing on developing
capacities in the country for preparedness, prevention and mitigation along
with developing capacities for response. Institutional structures have been put
in place with the enactment of the Disaster Management Act in 2005 and creation
of National Disaster Management Authority. The Government came out with
Disaster Management Policy in 2009. Schemes for Earthquake Mitigation, School
Safety, Cyclone Mitigation, Capacity Building, Strengthening of Fire &
Emergency Services and Revamping of Civil Defence are being implemented in the
country with the objective of Disaster Risk Reduction. We have already implemented a number of Reconstruction and Recovery
programs. These programs have been implemented for the people at large and have
addressed the issues of reconstructing, repairing and strengthening traditional
houses in rural and urban areas. A lot of lessons learnt from these programs
need to be applied for prevention and mitigation.
Welcoming the participants, Vice Chairman National Disaster Management Authority,
Shri M. Shashidhar Reddy,
while providing details of the strategy evolved by the NDMA to achieve the
national vision on disaster management gave an over view of the disaster
management in the Country. He also mentioned about the priority sectors for
mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reductions and various schemes of Govt. of India
where DRR can be considered. He hoped
that there would be thoughtful discussions during the first session of NPDRR
which will suggest a way forward.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Sh. Mullappally Ramachandran
presented a vote of thanks and stressed that the Platform would become a
milestone in our road to disaster risk
reduction.
