Context:

• A meeting of the ministers of the Disaster Management Department of all the states was held  recenetly under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister.

Key Points:

• The centre government has announced that ‘Aapda Mitras’ will be made in all the villages of the state of Haryana who will work as volunteers at the time of disaster. In this regard, soon a portal will be started to register the Aapda Mitras.
• The meeting was attended by the Haryana Deputy Chief Minister who also has the charge of Revenue and Disaster Management Department. As per the mandate, committees will be formed from district to village level by the State Disaster Management Board. It is noteworthy that this year Rs 1,100 crore has been sanctioned for providing relief in times of possible calamities like flood and drought, while provision of Rs 500 crore & Rs 300 crore was made per year respectively in previous years.
• In addition to that the state government also has plans to improve drainage facilities in the areas in the state where water gets filled due to rains and to pour water into canals etc. so that there is neither damage to crops nor loss of life and property.
• The state government also claims to have a robust warning system in place that issues warning about  possible disaster by sending messages through mobile etc. This year too, messages related to heavy rains, strong storms etc. have been sent in advance to the people of the state.
• The Central Government on the occasion informed that it has put a technology in place that van be used to predict fire due to lightning. In this regard, the Haryana government is also going to implement this technology soon in the state so that people can be saved from loss of life and property.
• Besides, the state government has also made a request to the Home Minister to set up a battalion of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) in Hisar so that help can reach immediately in case of any disaster. In this regard, the state government has also given training to 260 IRB personnel for the National Disaster Relief Force.