Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday that India has greatly increased its capabilities in the field of disaster management. The capabilities of the country are now at par with many other countries of the world and on many occasions, it has been ahead of them.

Addressing the Conference on Capacity Building for Disaster Relief 2022, Shah said that we have come a long way in the field of disaster management. Earlier, the resettlement centric policy of the 90s was in force. Now we are able to get information about any disaster long before it. Due to early detection of danger, we have been able to save lives and property.

He said that due to various steps taken by the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been able to reduce the number of deaths during any disaster. Along with this, the Home Minister also stressed the need for capacity building in disaster management and proper transmission of information related to any disaster to the grassroots level.

Shah said that we get accurate information long before any disaster. There is a need to timely communicate the information related to potential disasters to the grassroots level. To alert the area where the disaster is about to occur, reduce property damage and save lives. Professional mastery in all these things cannot be achieved unless there is proper coordination between all agencies involved in disaster management. Shah also lauded the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) for assisting the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) apart from saving lives and helping the needy during calamity-like situations.

The Home Minister directed NDRF chief Atul Karwal to ensure that the information received about any calamity or lightning incident reaches not only at the district level but also at the village or place where it may occur. He said that the time duration of these events is very limited. Shah said that DG Karwal of NDRF should set up an alert system by combining the strength of NCC, NSS and Home Guard.