Gandhinagar hosts Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group meeting

Azir khobor 3 April,2023: Gandhinagar hosted a Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group meeting that saw deliberations on better management of natural calamities. This meeting is being held in Gandhinagar from March 30 to April 1. Significantly, after assuming the G20 presidency, India has taken a crucial step by forging a consensus for a new methodology for disaster risk reduction.
The 3-day meeting was inaugurated by Dr. PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the India Government’s Minister of State for Communications, Dev Singh Chauhan. The program saw participation from member states, invitees, nine international organizations, and 100 delegates. During the meeting, participating member states were encouraged to take measures to prevent natural calamities, and save life and property, and better management was discussed. The three-day Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group meeting covers five priority areas. Dr. P.K. Mishra said that Indian Presidency has accorded high priority to disaster risk reduction. The ‘Commemorative Earthquake Memorial’ was built after the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat. Referring to the Smritivan Earthquake Museum, which has been built to pay tribute to the people killed in this disaster, Minister Dev Singh Chauhan said that disasters adversely affect development goals and hinder progress. Given this, disaster risk reduction is essential.
Director General of GIDM, PK Taneja said that the main objective behind this meeting is to provide a platform for sharing and to encourage all participating countries to share their experiences and lessons learned during disasters.
In the first Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group meeting, Brazil presented the opening speech. Meanwhile, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office, Mami Mizutori gave an exhortation.