Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that earlier the approach to disaster was relief-centric, but now the approach is ‘rescue-centric’ to save people from disaster, The working style has changed from reactive to proactive methodology. Now the ‘zero casualty’ goal is being adopted during disasters
Amaravati: Backed by resilient infrastructure in the area of disaster management, India has emerged as a global leader in the sector by adopting a ‘zero casualty’ goal during calamities, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday.
He was addressing a gathering on the 20th Foundation Day celebrations of the NDRF at Kondapavuluru in Krishna district, after inaugurating the National Institute of Disaster Management’s (NIDM) southern campus and the National Disaster Response Force’s (NDRF) 10th Battalion campus near Vijayawada, along with inaugurating and laying foundation stones for various projects worth approximately Rs 220 crore.
He recalled earlier in a cyclone strike in Odisha, 10,000 people lost their lives and now in the last two years, two cyclones struck, but the country achieved the goal of zero casualty.
The Narendra Modi government allocated Rs 61,000 crore in 14th Finance Commission towards disaster management as against Rs 12,500 crore in 12th Finance Commission, he said.
“Today I can say with confidence, NDRF’s implementation of NDMA policies on the ground has played a pivotal role in positioning India as a global leader in disaster management. India has taken a lead in the entire world in disaster-resilient infrastructure by setting up CDRI(Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure), ” he said.
He said that under PM Modi’s leadership, India established the CDRI and today, 48 countries are working under the leadership of CDRI as its members.
He said the Modi-led government has worked towards bringing in big changes in approach, methodology and objective in the field of disaster management.
Shah said that earlier the approach to disaster was relief-centric, but now the approach is ‘rescue-centric’ to save people from disaster. This 360 degree change in approach of disaster management has come into implementation after the Modi government came to power in 2014, he said.
The working style has changed from reactive to proactive methodology, he said. Now the ‘zero casualty’ goal is being adopted during disasters, he said, adding that to achieve this goal NDRF, NDMA, and NIDM have worked in coordination.
In such a short span of time, NDRF has established itself as a credible organisation not only within India but also globally, he said.
He emphasized the importance of seamless coordination, from Gram Panchayats, police stations, NCC, and Scouts cadets to the Government of India, to ensure effective disaster management on the ground.
Shah said that the Modi government has done public awareness work in the field of disaster management by creating many apps, websites and portals. He mentioned that millions of people across the country have connected with these apps, and efforts are being made to make these apps capable of communicating in all languages.
He also highlighted that services like Dial 112 and the Common Alert Protocol have been of great help to the people. He further mentioned that N. Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister, Andhra Pradesh, has provided land at no cost to the Centre and has helped it in establishing the 10th Battalion of NDRF and the South India branch of NIDM.