Excelsior Correspondent
ANANTNAG, Oct 31: Minister for Revenue, Relief Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, Abdul Rehman Veeri today formally launched national level scheme ‘Sustainable Reduction in Disaster Risk’ aimed to mitigate disasters.
Central Government has selected two districts from J&K namely Anantnag and Poonch for building capacity at institutional and community level for mitigations of disasters under the scheme.
These districts would get a funding of Rs 50 lakh each for two years for putting in place required infrastructure, awareness and training for reducing the impact of disasters.
The Minister was addressing a function organised by State Disaster Management Authority in collaboration with District Administration Anantnag, in which Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Younis Ahmed Malik, SSP Anantnag Altaf Ahmed Khan, Dr G.M. Dar (Head Disaster Management IMPA), Director Disaster Management Aamir Ali and other senior officers all concerned departments were present.
He asked the officers to put in a proper disaster risk reduction recovery plan for the district besides saying that sustainable reduction in risk leads to sustainable environment.
The Minister said that more measures are being implanted to put in place institutionalized mechanism at various levels.
He also said that given the challenge to cope up with man-made and natural disasters, it is important to deal with the disasters in a professional way.
He also appreciated the efforts of officials in training 300 volunteers in disaster risk management and said that they would be first responders in their localities and would be equipped will all equipments and training for the job.
“It is imperative to train and support volunteers in each district for mitigation of impact of disasters. Even in this age of modern technology, we cannot predict calamities like earthquake, cloud bursts. In such a scenario, it is important that we must be prepared for it so that response can be effective and losses can be minimized,” he said.
Veeri also stressed on creating awareness about the role and responsibilities of people during disasters and forming inventory of all equipments, boats, vehicles which can be used in disasters.
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