Has India Really Achieved the 'Zero Casualty' Target in Disaster Response?

New Delhi, June 16 (NationPress) Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Monday that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has successfully accomplished the 'Zero Casualty' goal during disasters over the last decade, positioning the nation on the brink of becoming a global frontrunner in crisis management.

Speaking at the annual gathering of Relief Commissioners and Disaster Response Forces from States and Union Territories, HM Shah remarked, “In the past 10 years, we have made significant progress in four key areas: capacity, speed, efficiency, and accuracy.”

“In any disaster management operation, speed is crucial. The primary goal is to respond promptly to emergencies and save lives, which we have advanced through workforce training, technological innovations, and enhanced community warning systems,” he added.

HM Shah stated, “Although the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) operates under my ministry, I can assert with confidence that it has established a solid reputation, gained recognition, and earned respect throughout the nation.”

He acknowledged the NDRF's dedication in training personnel from the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF).

HM Shah commended the efforts of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), NDRF, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) for propelling India closer to global leadership in disaster management.

He emphasized that prior to a decade ago, disaster management focused mainly on post-calamity relief, but now India's approach is evolving towards a ‘Zero Casualty Approach’ that has astonished the global community.

The Union Minister underscored the need for research to enhance advanced warning systems for disaster response and mitigation.

“We have successfully transformed our disaster response from a reactive stance to a proactive one over the past decade,” HM Shah remarked, crediting ‘Bhagidhari’ as the cornerstone of improving the response framework.

“From the Central government to State governments and local bodies, a collaborative approach has been embraced for disaster response. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are now even involving the community in our efforts,” he noted.

HM Shah projected that in the upcoming decade, every young person in the country will be equipped with the skills to participate in disaster response.

Highlighting the government's multifaceted approach, the Home Minister revealed that funding for disaster response forces has tripled over the last ten years.

“For the NDRF, the budget allocation was Rs 28,000 crore from 2004 to 2014, but from 2014 to 2024, it soared to Rs 84,000 crore,” he explained.

For the SDRF, the budget between 2004 and 2014 was Rs 38,000 crore, whereas for the period of 2014 to 2024, it increased to Rs 1.44 lakh crore, he added.

The Coalition for CDRI, initiated by PM Modi, is a global alliance of 49 members dedicated to creating climate and disaster-resilient infrastructure.

This partnership includes national governments, UN agencies, multilateral development banks, the private sector, and academia, all working towards advancing the cause of climate and disaster-resilient infrastructure (DRI).

HM Shah asserted that over the last two years, various agencies involved in relief and disaster management have been unified under a single platform, adopting a 'Whole of Government' strategy to form a think tank for cohesive action.

This initiative has addressed existing gaps and prepared the entire nation to confront disasters. Furthermore, a multi-stakeholder approach and effective inter-agency coordination have been successfully established.

The Home Minister remarked that due to climate change and global warming, disasters are increasingly affecting the entire globe.

He praised the NDMA for its exemplary work in policy development, research, and the dissemination of training resources, along with the development of apps and overall coordination.

HM Shah stated that during the tenure of the Modi government, there has been a notable shift in the approach to disaster management.

He emphasized the significance of anticipating future disasters, conducting advanced research, and adapting global insights to align with India’s unique geographical conditions.

The Union Home Minister concluded, “India has made tremendous strides in the creation of early warning systems. Timely preparedness has been seamlessly integrated into the calendar, a scientific method for active prevention and mitigation has been developed, and we have also achieved remarkable success in disaster risk reduction.”

He asserted that by pursuing the aim of 'Minimum Casualty', the Modi government has astounded the global community by reaching the target of 'Zero Casualty' in a decade.

For instance, in 1999, Odisha faced a super cyclone that resulted in 10,000 fatalities, whereas in 2019, during Cyclone Fani, only one life was lost.

Furthermore, during Cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat, there were zero casualties — not a single human or animal life was lost.

This demonstrates that collaborative efforts among local units, the public, state, and central authorities, along with scientists and security personnel, can yield remarkable outcomes.