TIL Desk Lucknow:👉 The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in collaboration with Central Command of the Indian Army, successfully conducted Symposium and a Table Top Exercise on disaster management in Lucknow on 16 May 2024. This multi-stakeholder exercise brought together central ministries, disaster management institutes, early warning agencies and disaster management organizations from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
The exercise was a timely initiative, considering India’s multifaceted vulnerability to disasters, which is deeply rooted in a confluence of factors such as changing dynamics, magnitude, types, and frequency of disasters exacerbated by climate change. As key stakeholders in disaster management, the NDMA, State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), and the Indian Army recognized the importance of continuous learning and exchange of best practices.
The participants included representatives from central ministries responsible for various aspects of disaster management, including railways, road and transport, civil aviation, health and family welfare, environment, forest, and climate change. The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), SDMAs, revenue departments from the four states, and early warning agencies such as the India Meteorological Department (IMD), National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), National Centre for Seismology (NCS), Central Water Commission (CWC), and Geological Survey of India (GSI) under the Ministry of Mines also actively participated.
The aim of the exercise was to simulate emergency situations and exercise the roles and responsibilities of key disaster managers while learning from domain experts about the latest trends in disaster relief. The scope encompassed contemporary disaster issues in the four states, including earthquakes, landslides, floods, and avalanches. Additionally, the exercise focused on lessons learned from disaster management and relief operations in 2023, leveraging technology, the economic cost of natural disasters in India, disaster vulnerabilities in Uttar Pradesh, and incident response systems.
The Table Top Exercise was a landmark event for knowledge exchange, capacity building and strategic planning in disaster management and provided a valuable platform for stakeholders to collaborate, share knowledge, and enhance their preparedness for effective disaster management. By addressing the increasing vulnerabilities associated with climate change, this exercise represents a significant step towards building a more resilient and responsive disaster management framework in India.
The Symposium and the Table Top Exercise was attended by senior disaster management and military leadership/ hierarchy to include Shri Kamal Kishore, (Member & Head of the Department), Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) (Member), Shri Rajendra Singh (Member) from National Disaster Management Authority, Lt Gen Yogendra Dimri (Retd), Vice Chair Person, Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority and Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani, GOC-in-C, Central Command.
Related Posts
‘हारे तो EVM खराब’, SC ने ख़ारिज की बैलेट पेपर से चुनाव वाली याचिका
