CHANDIGARH, MAY 15
Haryana Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, Capt. Abhimanyu, today urged the Central Government to provide financial support in planning and implementation of disaster management programmes, particularly in view of Gurugram falling within the ambit of seismic zone IV, one of the regions highly prone to earthquakes.
The Minister, who was speaking at 2nd meeting of National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in New Delhi, said that social media application should also be developed to interconnect institutions and States.
The meeting saw the whole range of India’s disaster risk community coming together to share experiences, views and ideas, and explore opportunities for mutual cooperation in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), to prepare a roadmap for the formulation of future national action plans on DRR.
The Minister, who was speaking at 2nd meeting of National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in New Delhi, said that social media application should also be developed to interconnect institutions and States.
The meeting saw the whole range of India’s disaster risk community coming together to share experiences, views and ideas, and explore opportunities for mutual cooperation in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), to prepare a roadmap for the formulation of future national action plans on DRR.
Expressing consonance with the approaches promoted globally by the United Nations, Capt. Abhimanyu said that Haryana Government had established an institutional framework for DRR from state to grassroots levels. “We are following strictly the 10-point agenda laid by Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, during the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction held in November, 2016, and have already worked on some aspects of the agenda,” he added.
He said that the State Disaster Management Plan for Haryana and District Disaster Management Plans for all districts were being implemented. About 3,710 government school safety plans, with hazard, risk, vulnerability and capacity analysis have been prepared, and training on disaster management and preparation of different teams of schoolchildren and teachers as first responders has been carried out. Apart from this, 70 college disaster management plans and 650 village disaster management plans have been prepared. Disaster management plans for district headquarters, bus stands and railway stations have also been prepared for all the districts. Disaster management plans have also been prepared for Mini Secretariats, Judicial Complexes and Civil Hospitals, Emergency Response teams are being formed by designation and training of the teams on specific subjects is being carried out, he added.
He said that in collaboration with the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, youth of Haryana, especially sportspersons, NSS and NCC scouts and NYK volunteers at divisional level were being trained in first aid, search and rescue, evacuation, fire safety and camp management to make them capable as first responders. These include those who live around vulnerable areas such as bus stands, railway stations, flood-prone areas and industrial areas. Training is also being provided to women volunteers, Anganwadi workers, ASHAs and Self Help Groups to meet the special needs of women affected by disasters.
The Minister said that the Disaster Management Initiative for Legal Services had been conducted to spread awareness about the legal aspects of the Disaster Management Act and its implementation. “We have laid emphasis on legal services due to lack of awareness of laws for compensation of disaster relief, so that local people are aware about the processes and application through public prosecutors. We have also prepared the case studies of past disaster events such as Samjhauta Express fire tragedy, Dabwali fire and Charkhi Dadri air crash. We are making more case studies of recent disasters,” he added.
Highlighting the steps taken by the State Government for risk coverage, he said that Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Suraksha Yojana had been launched in Haryana to provide financial assistance in case of damage to crops due to natural calamities such as heavy or low rainfall, hailstorm, waterlogging and landslides.
He said that the State Disaster Management Plan for Haryana and District Disaster Management Plans for all districts were being implemented. About 3,710 government school safety plans, with hazard, risk, vulnerability and capacity analysis have been prepared, and training on disaster management and preparation of different teams of schoolchildren and teachers as first responders has been carried out. Apart from this, 70 college disaster management plans and 650 village disaster management plans have been prepared. Disaster management plans for district headquarters, bus stands and railway stations have also been prepared for all the districts. Disaster management plans have also been prepared for Mini Secretariats, Judicial Complexes and Civil Hospitals, Emergency Response teams are being formed by designation and training of the teams on specific subjects is being carried out, he added.
He said that in collaboration with the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, youth of Haryana, especially sportspersons, NSS and NCC scouts and NYK volunteers at divisional level were being trained in first aid, search and rescue, evacuation, fire safety and camp management to make them capable as first responders. These include those who live around vulnerable areas such as bus stands, railway stations, flood-prone areas and industrial areas. Training is also being provided to women volunteers, Anganwadi workers, ASHAs and Self Help Groups to meet the special needs of women affected by disasters.
The Minister said that the Disaster Management Initiative for Legal Services had been conducted to spread awareness about the legal aspects of the Disaster Management Act and its implementation. “We have laid emphasis on legal services due to lack of awareness of laws for compensation of disaster relief, so that local people are aware about the processes and application through public prosecutors. We have also prepared the case studies of past disaster events such as Samjhauta Express fire tragedy, Dabwali fire and Charkhi Dadri air crash. We are making more case studies of recent disasters,” he added.
Highlighting the steps taken by the State Government for risk coverage, he said that Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Suraksha Yojana had been launched in Haryana to provide financial assistance in case of damage to crops due to natural calamities such as heavy or low rainfall, hailstorm, waterlogging and landslides.
Referring to proactive steps taken by the Haryana Government for mitigating loss of life and property in natural calamities, Capt. Abhimanyu said that the Government had collaborated with different organisations and institutions such as AIIMS and used social media applications to monitor rainfall and flow of water of the rivers. This group includes all stakeholders, including Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal, the Revenue and Disaster Management Minister, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Mr. O.P. Dhankar, Irrigation Minister, Chief Secretary, Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, field-level functionaries, NGOs, Central Government institutions such as Central Water Commission, Indian Meteorological Department and National Disaster Management Authority, and officials of surrounding states and Union Territories such as Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Due to timely warnings and active flood management measures, the Yamunanagar District Administration was able to protect precious human lives and properties in the flood-prone villages during cloudburst-like situation last year, when around 365mm rainfall occurred in the short span of five hours in the district, by releasing advance warnings and carrying out evacuation. As many as eight people stranded on Yamuna island were airlifted due to faster communication through social media applications.
He said that the Haryana Government was establishing Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) at state and district levels. “Since Haryana is vulnerable to earthquakes, we intend to conduct seismic micro-zonation of vulnerable areas such as Gurugram, Faridabad, and other important cities. The Town and Country Planning Department and Haryana Urban Development Authority will ensure the implementation of National Building Code to come up with disaster resilient structures. Asset mapping of disaster response resource inventories in GIS-enabled environment in the State has become one of our priorities,” he added.
He said that the Haryana Government was establishing Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) at state and district levels. “Since Haryana is vulnerable to earthquakes, we intend to conduct seismic micro-zonation of vulnerable areas such as Gurugram, Faridabad, and other important cities. The Town and Country Planning Department and Haryana Urban Development Authority will ensure the implementation of National Building Code to come up with disaster resilient structures. Asset mapping of disaster response resource inventories in GIS-enabled environment in the State has become one of our priorities,” he added.
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