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Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the efforts of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in mitigating natural disasters across the country, and comparing it to the ability of the National Democratic Alliance to mitigate 'manmade disasters.'
"When a disaster is sent by God, the NDRF comes to help and when a disaster is manmade, the NDA comes to help," Shah said during the 20th Foundation Day of NDRF in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. Minister Shah, along with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan also inaugurated the campuses of three important centres today, including the Southern Campus of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), the 10th Battalion of the NDRF, and the Regional Response Centre (RRC) in Supaul (9th Battalion). This campus has been partially operational since May 2023, and in a short span of time, more than 44 training programs have been organized, with over 2,130 stakeholders trained in various aspects of disaster management. The Union Home Minister further highlighted that between 2014 to 2019, Andhra Pradesh has suffered due to 'manmade disaster,' but the pair of CM Naidu and PM Modi will help speed up development. He added, "In the 5 years between 2014 and 2019, Andhra Pradesh, a state full of possibilities, suffered because of a manmade disaster. I want to assure you that you don't have to worry about those 5 wasted years. The pair of PM Modi and CM Naidu will speed up the development by three times." Since the formation of the 10th Battalion of the NDRF has set an extraordinary example of dedication, efficiency, and professionalism in the field of disaster management. It has participated in over 800 missions, saving the lives of more than 15,000 people and evacuating over one lakh citizens to safe locations. In the 2016 Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR), Prime Minister Modi outlined a 10-point agenda for disaster risk reduction, which continues to guide India's disaster management policy. Under the leadership of PM Modi, India is now adopting a zero-casualty approach to disaster management, rather than a relief-centered approach. This approach aims to achieve the goal of Zero Casualty during disasters. Both NIDM and NDRF are playing a crucial role in making India disaster-resistant and strengthening the disaster risk reduction system in the country, according to the statement. HM Shah also laid the foundation stone for a new 'Integrated Indoor Shooting Range' at the National Police Academy (NPA) in Hyderabad, where IPS probationary officers will be trained in firing skills. (ANI)
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