New Dehli June 16 (KNS):Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah addressed the Annual Conference of Relief Commissioners and Disaster Response Forces of States and Union Territories in New Delhi today. Also present were Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, and other senior officials.
In his address, Amit Shah highlighted the transformative changes in India’s disaster management system over the past decade. He emphasized the adoption of a unified 'Whole of Government' approach that brought all relief and disaster response agencies onto one platform. This coordination, he said, has helped identify gaps and strengthen national disaster preparedness.
“Due to climate change, disasters are increasing globally, but India is emerging as a global leader in disaster management,” Shah said. He credited institutions like the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) for India's growing leadership in the field.
Shah said that under the Modi government, India has seen historic progress in four key areas—capacity building, speed, efficiency, and accuracy. He pointed out that disaster response has now reached the tehsil level, and new technologies and community engagement have significantly improved effectiveness. “We’ve moved from a relief-centric to a zero-casualty approach,” he said, citing examples like Cyclone Fani in 2019 and Cyclone Biparjoy in 2023 where minimal or zero loss of life was recorded.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
He noted a dramatic increase in disaster-related budgets. Between 2004–2014, the total allocation to disaster relief stood at ?66,000 crore. Under the Modi government (2014–2024), that figure has tripled to ?2 lakh crore. Shah also announced the creation of a ?68,000 crore National Disaster Risk Management Fund and highlighted the fourfold budget increase under the 15th Finance Commission.
Shah instructed all Relief Commissioners to ensure that each district prepares a Disaster Management Plan within 90 days and emphasized the urgent need for a lightning action plan. He urged states to adopt the Incident Response System and stressed expanding heatwave preparedness based on real-world experiences.
He also discussed future plans, including linking Start-up India with disaster response technology, launching annual inter-state mock drills, and training 1 lakh community volunteers under the ?470 crore Yuva Aapda Mitra program.
Amit Shah noted the government’s environmental focus, linking disaster resilience with climate action. “We cannot prevent disasters without protecting the environment,” he said. He praised Prime Minister Modi’s initiatives like Mission LiFE, the International Solar Alliance, the Global Biofuel Alliance, and the 10-point agenda for disaster risk reduction under the G20 framework.
In conclusion, Shah said India’s disaster management efforts in the past 10 years will be remembered as a turning point in history, showcasing how coordination, investment, and technology can save lives and set global standards. (KNS)