New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Thursday that India has increased its stature in disaster management, adding that its capacity is ahead of some countries.
He was speaking at Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan on the first day of the National Disaster Response Force’s (NDRF’s) two-day ‘Annual Conference on Capacity Building for Disaster Response’.
Several top officers were present at the event, including Border Security Force (BSF) Director General (DG) Pankaj Kumar Singh, Fire Services DG Taj Hassan, and National Security Guard (NSG) DG M.A. Ganapathy, among others.
“We have travelled a long way in disaster management. The rehabilitation-centric approach was there before the 1990s. Now, we are able to get information much before any disaster,” Shah said.
“Due to information received earlier, we are able to save lives and reduce damage to property. In disaster management, we are on a par with the world in many places and ahead of several countries on various occasions. It is a matter of joy for us.”
He also said the NDRF should work on establishing a system that gives people quick alerts regarding incidents of lightning.
“NDRF DG Atul Karwal should work… to establish the alert system by combining the strength of NCC, NSS and Home Guards. A women’s self-help group will have to be added to this work. The training should be done at the gram panchayat level too,” Shah added. “Besides, there should be a system for people to be trained in the regional language in each and every state.”
The Union minister further said over 21,000 personnel of the state disaster response forces (SDRFs) have been trained and nearly 32 sets of guidelines have been composed as preventive measures to be taken during a disaster.
He also lauded the NDRF’s efforts in saving lives and helping the needy during disaster-like situations, as well as supporting SDRFs.
With inputs from ANI