Union Home Minister Amit Shah, speaking at the Relief Commissioners and Disaster Response Forces Conference in New Delhi on June 16, declared that India is poised to become a global leader in disaster response.
He credited the remarkable progress over the past decade to strategic reforms in capacity-building, technology adoption, and rapid response systems.
“In the last ten years, we have achieved significant gains in four crucial areas—capacity, speed, efficiency, and accuracy,” HM Shah said.
He emphasised that speed is paramount in disaster management, and that India has made substantial advances in training personnel and deploying technology to ensure timely interventions and minimise loss of life.
Addressing the Conference of the Relief Commissioners of States and Union Territories and the Disaster Response Forces. https://t.co/Zkrl4PSpvN
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 16, 2025
HM Amit Shah noted that disaster response in India has evolved from a relief-based approach to one that prioritises prevention and preparedness.
“Our shift towards a Zero Casualty Approach has not only saved lives but also drawn global attention,” he said, underlining that India’s current strategy involves early warnings, community outreach, and coordinated multi-level response.
Strengthening national forces
Praising the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Shah remarked, “Though the NDRF comes under my ministry, it has earned recognition and trust across the country through professionalism and dedication.”
He further acknowledged the role of the NDRF in training State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel, thereby building resilient capacity across states.
The Union Minister also stressed the need for continued research to improve early warning systems and disaster mitigation tools.
He noted that the government is adopting a unified response model involving the central and state governments, local bodies, and communities under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. “Bhagidari—collaborative partnership—is the cornerstone of our disaster response,” he said.
Moreover, HM Shah revealed that budgetary support for disaster response has increased substantially.
The allocation for NDRF rose from ₹28,000 crore (2004–2014) to ₹84,000 crore (2014–2024).
For SDRF, the budget grew from ₹38,000 crore to ₹1.44 lakh crore in the same period.
This investment reflects the government’s commitment to disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience.
Highlighting India’s international role, HM Shah lauded the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), a global initiative launched by PM Modi.
With 49 member partners, including UN agencies, multilateral banks, and private organisations, the CDRI promotes climate and disaster-resilient infrastructure.
“CDRI is proof of India’s leadership in shaping global disaster response,” he said.
Looking ahead, Shah envisioned a future where every Indian youth would possess the skills and training to respond to disasters.
“In the next decade, disaster response will become a national movement,” he concluded, reaffirming the government’s commitment to saving lives and safeguarding communities.
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