Minister for Home and Disaster Management Vangalapudi Anitha inaugurated a three-day training programme on ‘Disaster Risk Reduction in Andhra Pradesh’ at the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), South Campus, at Kondapavuluru of Gannavaram mandal in Krishna district on Monday. The event has been organised by NIDM South Campus, in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA). Minister Anitha also planted saplings on the campus.
The training programme aims to strengthen disaster risk reduction efforts across Andhra Pradesh by fostering collaboration between national and State-level authorities. The goals are: building capacity among key stakeholders in disaster management and promoting innovative and resource-efficient strategies to mitigate disaster impacts.
Fifty-five participants attended the training programme representing the Women and Child Welfare Department (WD&CD), Samagra Siksha Abhiyan (SSA), Education, Roads and Building (R&B), Water Resources Department (WRD), Medical & Health, Municipal Administration & Urban Development (MA&UD), Fire, Police and APSDMA departments.
In her keynote address, Minister Anitha shared her experiences in handling the Budameru floods, highlighting the challenges posed by the lack of adequate boats during such crises. Also, she stressed the importance of preparedness and resource allocation in disaster-prone areas.
Revenue, Lands and Disaster Management Department Special Chief Secretary RP Sisodia delivered the inaugural address. He outlined the State’s proactive measures in disaster management and emphasised the need for robust frameworks and coordination to tackle emergencies. He elaborated on how innovative strategies and better inter-agency cooperation could mitigate disaster impacts, particularly in vulnerable regions.
NIDM South Campus Joint Director PS Reddy underscored the significance of platforms like this in enhancing disaster management capacity. He stressed the role of NIDM in fostering knowledge-sharing and capacity-building initiatives. NIDM Executive Director Rajendra Ratnoo and South Campus CCDRR Centre representative Dr Balu I participated in the programme.
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