Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Oct 13: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh has called for global collaboration to minimize disasters.
Addressing the valedictory function of the four-day “International BIMSTEC Conference”, as chief guest, here today, Dr Jitendra Singh said, “disasters know no boundaries/borders, nor does a natural calamity distinguishes where India ends and Pakistan begins”. Therefore, he said, “any long term road – map to prevent occurrence of natural disasters, has to be carried out through sharing of mutual good practices and sharing of experiences particularly in and around the Indian sub-continent, because of common conditions of ecology, geography, environment and also the inherent vulnerabilities”.
Calling for “mutual coexistence not only in peace, but also in disaster”, Dr Jitendra Singh gave full credit to the Indian scientific fraternity to have placed India as a frontline nation for its capacity and capability to manage every kind of disaster. This has been evidently proven, over and over again, in the recent situations, whether it was the Kashmir floods in 2014, or the Tamil Nadu rainfall havoc in 2015, or the recent floods in Manipur and Assam, preceded by earthquake in Manipur. He said, it is a matter of pride that India has also been prompt and competent to offer meaningful assistance to its neighbours, the most glaring example of which was the earthquake in Nepal where India’s assistance was appreciated worldwide.
In the last three years, Dr Jitendra Singh said, India has made rapid strides in gaining superior disaster management capabilities by putting into optimum use, the most modern technology available. This, he said, has been possible because Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a personal interest and has personally intervened and monitored every disaster situation from time to time. In addition, he said, the Prime Minister has a natural temper for scientific applications which have enabled the latest technical know-how in Space technology and other fields to be applied in widespread areas, whether it be disaster management or infrastructural development.
Dr Jitendra Singh disclosed that the Ministry of Northeast headed by him has set up a “Brahmaputra Study Centre” in Guwahati University and has earmarked Rs. 100 crore for a study to be undertaken at international-scale to work out the various possible options and modalities to prevent the occurrence of floods and also to prevent the damage accruing thereof.
On the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh also distributed felicitation testimonials and mementos to delegates from different countries, including Mayanmar, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
Director General, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Gen. Sanjay Kumar and Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) R.K. Jain also spoke on the occasion.
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