Lok Sabha Question No. 129 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-08
Subject: SAARC Conference on Disaster Reduction
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: ASADUDDIN OWAISI, V. PANNEER SELVAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*129

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 08 TH  DECEMBER, 2015/AGRAHAYANA 17,1937 (SAKA)

SAARC CONFERENCE ON DISASTER REDUCTION

*129. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI: SHRI V. PANNEERSELVAM:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the representatives of SAARC countries met recently in New Delhi  to  prepare  a  regional  roadmap  for  disaster  mitigation  in  the  South Asian region;

(b) if so, the details thereof, the issues discussed and consensus arrived at along with the names of countries which participated in the meeting;

(c)  whether a meeting of High level Committee for Central assistance to States to fight natural disaster was also held;

(d)  if  so,  the  outcome  thereof  and  steps  taken  or  being  taken  by  the Government  in  the  aftermath  of  the  high  level  Committee/SAARC  meet; and

(e) whether the second Asian Partnership on disaster management is also proposed to be held soon and if so, the details thereof ?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*129 FOR 08.12.2015

- (a) & (b): Yes, Madam. India held the SAARC Workshop on Sharing Best Practices  on  27th  November  2015  combined  with  the  proceedings  of SAARC Disaster Management Exercise-2015 (SAADMEx - 2015) during 2326 th  November, 2015.

The objectives of the Workshop were as mentioned below:

- To  share  best  practices  and  success  stories  of  handling  disasters and  draw  lessons  from  different  approaches  of  Disaster  response  & Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), in different member countries.
- Strengthening existing systems of regional co-operation and role of different institutions; in the context of lessons learnt from  Nepal Earthquake.
- To  deliberate  on  the  outcomes  of  SAADMEx  -  2015  and  firm  up recommendations  for  strengthening  regional  response  and  coordination for disaster management in the region

The  regional  workshop  was  attended  by  delegates  from  all  8  SAARC countries,  namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh,  Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Issues pertaining to best practices on DRR and strengthening of regional disaster response were deliberated in detail by  Member  countries  in  the  technical  sessions.  Four  such  technical sessions were organized to discuss issues pertaining to best practices on DRR  and  strengthening  regional  disaster  response.  Some  of  the  key outcomes and decisions of these sessions were:

- There should be a regional mechanism and common platform for countries to share best practices;
- Standard  Operating  Procedures  (SOPs)  which  have  been  developed  by SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC) must be implemented in all SAARC countries  and  must  be  continuously  monitored  and  evaluated  as per international standards;

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## L.S.S.Q.NO.*129 FOR 08.12.2015

- Mechanisms must be designed and developed/promoted to adapt innovative best practices at National level and DRR should be seen as a key component in any planning process;
- Guidelines  must  be  developed  for  accepting  international  assistance during emergencies;
- Integration of DRR into local plans, programmes/ schemes must be carried out;
- SDMC should be strengthened to operationalize with South Asia regional response.

(c) & (d): Recently, the meeting of the High Level Committee was held on 9.11.2015 under the Chairmanship of Home Minister to discuss Karnataka droughts  and  Gujarat  Floods.  In  this  meeting,  the  HLC  approved  and assistance  of  Rs.  1540.20  crore  to  Karnataka  for  drought  (kharif)  during 2015-16, from National Disaster Response Fund subject to the adjustment of 50% of balance available in the State Disaster Response Fund account. The HLC also approved Rs. 561.82 crore from NDRF to Gujarat for floods during  2015-16,  from  National  Disaster  Response  Fund  subject  to  the adjustment  of  50%  of  balance  available  in  the  State  Disaster  Response Fund  account  .  An  additional  Rs.  9.45  crore  from  Special  component  of National  Rural  Drinking  Water  Programme  (NRDWP)  was  approved  to Gujarat for repair of damaged rural drinking water supply works.

- (e): No such Asian Partnership on Disaster Management is proposed to  be  held  soon.  However,  2 nd   ISDR(International  Strategy  for  Disaster Reduction)  Asian  Partnership  (IAP)  was  held  at  New  Delhi  from  17-19 th November, 2015 to discuss inter-alia the preparation of the Asia Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.

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