Prime Minister Inaugurates National Platform of Disaster Risk Reduction

The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh lighting the lamp
to inaugurate the First Session of National Platform
for Disaster Risk Reduction.

New Delhi, May 13: 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
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 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, 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 Mullappally Ramachandran presented a vote of thanks and stressed that the Platform would become a milestone in our road to disaster risk reduction.