Disaster risk is increasing worldwide,threatening development gains of the past decades. It is now widely realized that many disasters are avoidable, as they are consequences of unmanaged risk. Development without adequate incorporation of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) measures could worsen existing risks, introduce new risks, and increase the negative impact of potential disasters. Over the past 30 years, more than 2.5 million people deaths and approximately $4 trillion economic losses have been recorded due to disasters caused by natural hazards. The global losses have quadrupled from $50 billion per year in the 1980s to $200 billion per year in the last decade. Almost 75 percent of the losses are attributed to extreme weather events and climate change, which threaten to push additional 100 million people into extreme poverty by 2030 (source: The World Bank’s Shock Wave report on Managing the Impacts of Climate Change on Poverty)
However, over the last two decades, a paradigm shift has also taken place from disaster relief to a holistic approach with emphasis on disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness. The Government of India has strengthened institutional arrangements for DRR with the enactment of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and by setting up an apex authority i.e. National Disaster Management Authority under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister. National Disaster Management Plan is also prepared in consultation with all the stakeholders. The present institutional framework in India assigns roles and responsibilities to every Ministry/ Department of the Union Government and to every State/ Union Territory (UT) Government to prepare and implement a holistic disaster management plan, with adequate financial provisioning.
The Government of India has recognized the need to evolve a consultative process of decision-making in disaster management with the active involvement of Central and State Governments and all concerned stakeholders in the field of disaster management. Accordingly, a multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) was constituted by the Government of India vide resolution dated 26th February 2013. NPDRR is characterized by a process that facilitates dialogue, sharing experiences, views and ideas, presentation of findings of research and action, and explores opportunities for mutual cooperation in the DRR field.
NPDRR is chaired by Hon’ble Union Home Minister. Minister of State In-charge of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs is Vice Chairperson of NPDRR. Other members of NPDRR are 15 Union Ministers, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, Minister of each State Government/ UT dealing with the subject disaster management, representatives of Parliament, ex-officio members, Heads of institutions of national importance, Local Self-Governments, persons representing industry, media representatives, civil society organizations, NGOs and international representatives.
The first session of NPDRR was organized on 13-14 May 2013 in New Delhi on the theme, “Mainstreaming DRR in Development: From Risk to Resilience”. It was organized with the objective to encourage implementation of Hyogo Framework of Action and to nurture a pool of scientists, disaster management specialists, and practitioners in DRR.
The 2nd session of NPDRR was held on 15-16 May 2017 in New Delhi, on the theme “Disaster Risk Reduction for Sustainable Development: Making India Resilient by 2030”. The meeting deliberated on emergent issues related to disaster risk management, with a special focus on Prime Minister’s 10-point agenda for DRR, and its relevance in integrated implementation of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), Paris Climate Agreement, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Earlier, the 3rd session of NPDRR was scheduled on 5-6 May 2020 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi with the theme of “Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction”. However, due to COVID-19, the event could not be held at that time.
Now the 3rd session of NPDRR has been planned on 10-11 March 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The National Platform will provide an opportunity to all stakeholders (including Ministries & Departments, States & UTs, Organizations/ Institutions, NGOs/CSOs, academic institutions, and private sector associations etc) to share learning, best practices, review & revisit their initiatives on DRR and plan their activities for future. The main theme of 3rd session of the National Platform is “Building Local Resilience in a Changing Climate”, which is aligned with the PM’s 10-Point Agenda, to build local capacities, especially in the context of a rapidly changing disaster risk scenario in the wake of climate change.
India is witnessing an increasing frequency and intensity of disasters and extreme weather events which can erode our hard-earned development gains. Increasing frequency of disasters is causing greater human and economic losses due to phenomenon of climate change, which needs to be responded with greater preparedness through a long-term DRR policy and approach. A systematic approach to disaster management in a changing climate requires a sense of urgency, and greater investment in risk reduction at the local and community levels. Taking this into account, the central theme of the third sessionof NPDRR is “Building Local Capacities in a Changing Climate”.
The 3rd session of NPDRR would be an excellent opportunity to bring together all the stakeholders to discuss current challenges in disaster management, share learning, and draw recommendations for future action that is grounded in country level experience. The 3rd session would also help mainstream disaster management practices across ministries and departments, States and Union Territories, urban and rural local-self-governments, academic institutions, NGOs, CSOs, PSUs, and Communities.
The objectives of the third session of NPDRR are:
The expected outcomes of the 3rd session of NPDRR are:
The event will comprise of four plenary sessions, one ministerial session, and eight thematic sessions.
Four plenary sessions are proposed during the two days as follows:
An exclusive ministerial session under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Union Home Minister will also be held. The session is scheduled on 10th March, 2023, just after the inaugural session. During the ministerial session, issues related to strengthening of disaster management systems at the state and districts levels (e.g. by enhancing the capacity of State and District Disaster Management Authorities) will be deliberated upon. This will include topics such as establishment of State Disaster Response Forces, and other capacity-building issues across the States and UTs. The States and UTs are expected to share their experiences and lessons learnt.
Eight thematic sessions are proposed on following topics:
A tentative programme schedule of the 3rdsession of NPDRR is annexed.
Pre-events: In the run up to the third session of the NPDRR, as many as 17 pre-events have been planned across the country with a view that the output of these pre-events would contribute to the overall discussion and outcomes during the event. For more details
Exhibition/Information Display: An exhibition of publications/IEC material on disaster risk management, rescue and response related equipment / products will be organized during the event. .
Short Film Competition: A short film competition is also proposed as part of the 3rd session of NPDRR. The winners of the competition will be felicitated during the event. .