Message from the Editor
Greetings!
I am delighted to welcome
you all to the NDMA blog, "Aapda-Samvaad". We are here to have a conversation with you on things
we are passionate about - disaster prevention, preparedness, mitigation; better
response, recovery and reconstruction - in short, Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR). Now, why do we want to talk to you? Population
growth, rapid and unplanned urbanisation coupled with steep environmental
degradation means all of us are living amidst risks and are vulnerable, in
varying degrees, to disaster losses. DRR is no longer a choice if we wish to
reduce these losses, both in terms of lives and livelihoods. It's important
that we consciously weave DRR in all our activities so that we do not give away
years of development by letting a hazard turn into a disaster.
The Government of India
is committed to the cause of DRR and is a signatory to the Sendai Framework for
DRR (2015-2030) which has laid down seven time-bound loss reduction and
capacity enhancement targets closely linked to development.
It's a daunting task and
the Government can't do it alone. It requires community participation - each
one of us needs to contribute if we want to build a resilient neighbourhood, a
resilient community and a resilient nation.
This blog is a step forward in that direction. We hope it inspires
you to pause and think of disaster risks that surround us and do your best to
reduce these existing risks and stop creation of new risks. Our little efforts
will go a long way in making India disaster resilient thereby ensuring that the
fruits of development reach to all our fellow countrymen.
We also invite you to join us on this journey towards a disaster
resilient India. Feel free to contribute to this blog - experiences, insights,
observations, photos, videos and anything else that you may think of - by
writing to us at ndma.awareness@gmail.com with your photograph and a short bio.
If it fits the bill, it will be on our blog.
Here's urging you to come on board - we promise it's going to be a great
ride!
Let's work together towards resilience.
R.K. Jain, IAS (Retd.)
Member, NDMA