New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi there has been a comprehensive transformation in both the approach and methodology of disaster management over the last 12 years. Chairing the third meeting of the Governing Body of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), HM Shah said the Modi government has completely transformed the entire disaster management system, set the goal of ‘Zero Casualty’ and taken the country towards achieving this objective.

“We have also successfully faced several disasters with ‘Zero Casualty’, which is a major achievement,” he said. Home Minister Shah said that earlier disasters were viewed only from the perspective of relief and rehabilitation. “Today, we have entered a new era based on three pillars - risk reduction, early warning systems and ‘Zero Casualty’. This is a matter of pride for all of us,” said the Home Minister. He said that in this direction, the ‘Whole of Government’ approach is increasingly becoming an integral part of our work culture.

“Whenever a disaster occurs, all government departments actively respond. Now, with the strength of new research, we should take this process forward with greater speed and ensure continuous monitoring,” he said. Just as a ‘Whole of Government’ approach has been adopted in dealing with disasters, we must also move forward with a ‘Whole of Government’ approach to further strengthen the disaster management system, he said.

“Prime Minister Modi has also laid special emphasis on environmental protection,” he said. HM Shah said that ultimately environmental protection is the most effective means of preventing disasters. Environmental protection, risk reduction, resilience and a broad national vision are enabling India to gradually emerge as a model for the world, he said. Home Minister Shah said that there was a time when the predecessor of NIDM, the National Centre for Disaster Management, was lying almost inactive in a corner of Krishi Bhawan. 

However, in 2003, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee took the historic decision to give it a new lease of life. Keeping in view the wide scope of the subject and the need for coordination among various agencies, it was decided to bring the institution under the Ministry of Home Affairs, said HM Shah. Prime Minister Modi has played a significant role in revitalising the institution. The NIDM has emerged in its present form with a transformed and strengthened role before the country, said Home Minister Amit Shah.

--IANS