National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR)

March 11, 2023

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The Prime Minister inaugurated the 3rd Session of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) in New Delhi.

Highlights of the Session

The main theme of the session is “Building Local Resilience in a Changing Climate”.
The PM also felicitated awardees of the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar.
The PM gave an example of Bhunga houses of Kutch which survived the earthquake to a large extent.

Bhunga Houses of Kutch

After the devastating earthquake of 1819, the people of Kutch came up with an innovative circular design of bhungas to minimize the damage to their lives as well as properties.
They are traditional houses, a unique type of round mud hut walled with thatched roof.
The reworked design of bhungas that is about 200 years old stood very firm during the earthquake of 2001 when it was very close to the epicenter.
These houses are commonly called ‘Architecture without Architect’ because of the superior architectural knowledge gained by the locals through the years.
The design of the house is such that it keeps the interior cool in summers and warm in winters and they are tremendously strong and can withstand natural calamities like desert storms and earthquakes.

About NPDRR

It is a multi-stakeholder platform constituted by the Government of India in 2013 to facilitate dialogue, sharing experiences, views, ideas, action-oriented research & explore opportunities in the area of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).
It aims to bring together the whole range of India’s disaster risk community from Government, Parliamentarians, Mayors, Media, International Organizations, NGOs, local community representatives, scientific and academic institutions and corporate businesses etc.
The output from the National Platform will offer a strategic direction and a road map for the formulation of the future National Action Plans on DRR.

Functions

To review the progress made in the field of disaster management from time to time.
To appreciate the extent and manner in which the Disaster Management Policy has been implemented by the Central and State Governments, and other concerned agencies, and to give appropriate advice in the matter.
To advise on coordination between the Central and State Governments/UT Administrations, local self-governments and civil society organizations for Disaster Risk Reduction.
To advice suo-moto or on a reference made by the Central Government or any other State Government or a Union territory Administration on any question pertaining to disaster management.
To review the National Disaster Management Policy.

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

It is aimed at preventing new and reducing existing disaster risk and managing residual risk, all of which contribute to strengthening resilience and therefore to the achievement of sustainable development.
DRR strategies and policies define goals and objectives across different timescales and with concrete targets, indicators and time frames.

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030

It is a global, agreed policy of disaster risk reduction and is set out in the United Nations endorsed Sendai Framework adopted in March 2015 in Sendai Japan, whose expected outcome over the next 15 years is:
- The substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries.
It was the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda and provides Member States with concrete actions to protect development gains from the risk of disaster.
The Sendai Framework works hand in hand with the other 2030 Agenda agreements, including The Paris Agreement on Climate Change, The Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, the New Urban Agenda, and ultimately the Sustainable Development Goals.

It recognizes that the State has the primary role to reduce disaster risk but that responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders including local government, the private sector and other stakeholders.