Kamal Ghorui
Ghaziabad: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while hailing the service of the National Disaster Response Force, urged it to work to achieve the goal of zero casualty from minimum casualty in times of natural disaster. Shah said this in a ceremony in which the President’s Colour Award was bestowed on NDRF at its 8th Battalion headquarters at Ghaziabad’s Kamla Nehru.“The NDRF should work to achieve ‘Jaan hani shunya, sampati nuksan nuntam’ (zero casualty, minimum property damage) goal. It is a matter of pride that NDRF in the last 20 years since it was formed to provide succour and relief to people affected by disasters, natural and man-made, not only in the country but across the globe. The NDRF has placed India on the global map in the field of disaster relief,” said Union Home Minister Amit Shah while addressing the gathering.The 8th Battalion NDRF Ghaziabad in 2023 was involved in a rescue operation in earthquake-hit Turkiye, which also involved its elite dog squad.“There was a time when response of state during disaster was after the disaster and was limited to only providing relief to affected population, but in the last 12 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become proactive when NDRF team reaches the spot before natural disaster strike, be it cyclone, flood. An ecosystem has been developed in providing relief right from panchayat to central govt level. Sight of NDRF personnel in a disaster zone is enough to instil confidence in people. Such is the reputation the NDRF has earned for itself,” added Shah.Striking a cautionary note, Shah forewarned of challenges ahead for the NDRF in times of global warming and climate change spectre and stressed the need for capacity building, community participation. “Now we have the capacity to predict many natural disasters with support from IMD and risk mapping and early warning systems and with community participation the disaster relief is becoming its national character. The 10-point Disaster Risk Management outlined by the prime minister serves as the reference point on how it can be achieved,” said Shah.The NDRF Battalion, which has increased from 8 to 16, is also involved in training the SDRF team, Apda Mitra personnel from the National Service Scheme and fishermen.Shah also laid the foundation stone of six NDRF centres in the country, which will come up at an estimated cost of Rs 111 crore.The President’s Colour is one of the highest honours granted to military or paramilitary forces in recognition of their exceptional service to the nation. The award is symbolised by an emblem, known as the ‘Nishaan’, worn on the left-hand sleeve of all unit officers’ uniforms.
