MHA Consultative Committee Meets to Discuss Disaster Management Preparedness
New Delhi. The Consultative Committee of Members of Parliament (MPs) attached to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) met in New Delhi July 4 under the Chairmanship of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
The Ministers of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary, Kiren Rijiju and Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi were present in the meeting.
Mr Singh said the members that Government has brought about a change in the approach to Disaster Management from a relief centric to a holistic and integrated approach covering the entire gamut of disaster management, encompassing prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation. This approach is based on the conviction that development cannot be sustainable unless disaster mitigation is built in the development process.
The Home Minister further informed that the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) has been entrusted with the nodal responsibility for Human Resource Development, capacity building including training & education, research, documentation and policy planning in the field of disaster management.
The Government has sanctioned on February 5 for setting up of Southern Campus of NIDM in Andhra Pradesh at a cost of Rs 70.87 crore during 2016-17 and 2017-18, he added.
Mr Singh said the members that an annual conference of Relief Commissioners/Secretaries to the Department of Disaster Management of States and UTs is organised by the MHA before the onset of south west monsoon to review the status of preparedness for ensuing monsoon and to discuss other disaster management related issues. In this series the last annual conference was held on May 18 this year.
The Home Minister also appreciated the work of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) constituted for the purpose of specialised response to a disaster or disaster like situation. Mr Singh informed the members that presently 12 battalions of NDRF are located in various parts of the country to assist the state governments as and when required.
He said NDRF has emerged as a visible, vibrant, multi-skilled, hi-tech and stand-alone force, capable of dealing with all types of natural and man-made disasters. Out of 12 NDRF battalions, 23 teams/ coys of NDRF have also been stationed on different places in their area of response. The Ministry has sanctioned a sum of Rs 882.24 crores last year for raising office buildings, training infrastructure and residential buildings at 10 battalions and 10 team/ coy locations.
The Minister highlighted that international co-operation in the field of Disaster Management Preparedness is also being enhanced. He said MHA is organising a meeting of BRICS Ministers for Disaster Management on August 22-23 in Udaipur, Rajasthan to develop closer cooperation amongst BRICS countries. India has taken the leadership role by committing to host the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction in November, 2016.
The members also raised the issues ranging from forecasting of floods, existing institutional arrangements, conduct of regular training and mock exercises, allocation of funds to states, cloud burst, criteria for assistance to the farmers, utilisation of funds, management of water bodies and flooding in urban areas. They also thanked the Home Minister for selecting most appropriate agenda for the meeting.
Dr Bhagirath Prasad, Devendra (alias) Bhole Singh, Harishchandra Deoram Chavan, Hukum Singh, Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, Kirti (Jha) Azad, Dr. Thokchom Meinya and TG Venkatesh Babu from the Lok Sabha and Bhubaneshwar Kalita, Devender Goud T, KC Tyagi, Mukul Roy, S Muthukaruppan and Shantaram Naik from Rajya Sabha had their presence in the meeting.
