PARLIAMENT QUESTION: STRENGTHENING DISASTER MANAGEMENT

PARLIAMENT QUESTION: STRENGTHENING DISASTER MANAGEMENT

The tripartite MoU between the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR–NIScPR), and Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) aims to establish a collaborative academic and policy-support framework in Disaster Management and Disaster Risk Reduction (DMRR), including launching a PhD programme, conducting policy-relevant research, developing India-specific datasets and tools, strengthening science communication, and enhancing national capacity in disaster governance and resilience.

The MoU provides for science communication, community outreach, and explores possibilities of development of digital knowledge platforms to bridge the gap between scientific research and public disaster preparedness.

The academic curriculum will be aligned with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), particularly with respect to better involvement of academia and scientific institutions in DRR, which will be developed by a Joint Working Group to be led by NDMA.

The MoU envisages certificate courses, short-term training programmes for government officials and practitioners, expert lectures, and policy dialogues to promote evidence- based decision-making. NDMA, being the apex authority, will monitor and steer the academic, capacity building, and training activities as required for DRR under this MOU.

This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent charge) for the Ministry of Science and Technology & Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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