India has taken initiative for the paradigm shift in disaster management from relief centric to a holistic one and drawing the best practices around the world to improve its system and processes for disaster management, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today. Addressing the inaugural session of the Asia Leaders’ meeting towards implementation of the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction in Asia, Singh said that that the multi-dimensional aspects of disaster related risks should be dealt with affirmative action. “India has moved ahead from disaster mitigation to risk reduction. Our national policies include mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction and development programmes, besides community resilience building,” he said.
The Home Minister said government has been actively pursuing a paradigm shift in disaster management from a relief centric approach in the past to a holistic one, that encompasses preparedness, prevention, mitigation and risk reduction. “We have established robust Institutional structures from national to provincial level with legislative back up and policy framework for enhancing our capabilities to reduce risk and loss to economy,” he said.
Calling upon all entities, public and private, to strengthen the international support mechanisms for disaster risk reduction by sharing of reliable and affordable modern technology for capacity-building, Singh hoped the three-day deliberations will set the agenda for the First Asia Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) after the advent of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) due be held in New Delhi in November next year. “At the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan earlier this year, we committed to support a 15-year plan (2015-2030) of action with defined global targets and priorities under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction,” he said.
The Home Minister hoped the meeting would help devise future strategies for identification of risks, challenges and equal distribution of scarce resources ultimately contributing to achieve sustainable development goals. “Systematic incorporation of risk mitigation, emergency preparedness and capacity building approaches into national policy framework and developmental programmes would not only strengthen institutional mechanism but inculcate awareness among masses, in particular the law-making entities,” he said.