Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah addressed the Annual Conference of Relief Commissioners and Disaster Response Forces from States and Union Territories in New Delhi as the chief guest. The event was also attended by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, and other dignitaries.
In his speech, Amit Shah declared that India is rapidly advancing to become a global leader in disaster management. He described the last decade under the Modi government as transformative, marked by major improvements in capacity building, speed, efficiency, and precision in disaster response.
Shah proudly noted that the government’s ambitious goal of ‘Minimum Casualty’ has evolved into a remarkable achievement of ‘Zero Casualty’ during this period, winning international acclaim. The successful management of Gujarat’s Biparjoy cyclone, where zero casualties were recorded, exemplifies the power of coordination among central and state authorities, scientists, security forces, and the public.
The Home Minister called upon all Relief Commissioners to prepare detailed District Disaster Management Plans within 90 days and emphasized the need for an action plan to address heat waves, leveraging past experiences. He also stressed that environmental conservation is essential to disaster prevention and urged continuous efforts to safeguard nature.
Highlighting recent efforts, Amit Shah mentioned the ‘Whole of Government’ approach that unified various agencies involved in disaster management into a cohesive think tank. This multi-stakeholder and inter-agency coordination has strengthened India’s preparedness and response capabilities.
He praised the role of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in policy-making, training, and technological advancements, and lauded the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for its nationwide recognition and rigorous training of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel to maintain high standards.
Concluding his address, Shah urged all stakeholders to build on this strong foundation and continue working collectively to protect lives and build a disaster-resilient India.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
