Imphal: Under the leadership of N Biren Singh, Manipur has decided to launch community-focused disaster risk reduction (DRR) programmes especially for safety against hazards like lightning, flood, drought , landslides and earthquakes to make Manipur a resilient state – said Tribal Affairs & Hills Areas and Transport Minister, V Valte, while launching online Lightning Resilient Campaign for all North Eastern states including Sikkim.
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest on behalf of CM, Manipur, the minister said that as a unique initiative by our dynamic CM, Manipur is going to launch Tribal DRR and Hill Area DRR programme in collaboration with India Meteorological Department ( IMD), Ministry of Earth Science, North Eastern Space Application Center( NESAC) Shillong and Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council(CROPC).
These programmes are the first of its kind initiative in the North-Eastern region. The minister said that in Manipur, since agriculture is the main livelihood, accurate weather-based farming shall be very useful . We are renovating our disaster management systems under the guidance of CM to make it proactive and preventive, not reactive and relief as was done in the past. The minister informed that Forecasts of Lightning, flood and drought is being launched with SMS service and shall launch special weather service for its citizens before the monsoon 2021
Dr M Mohapatra, Director General of India Met Department while speaking from Delhi assured that the demand of Manipur and entire North East shall be met with recent steps in setting up high-quality observations systems in the NE region, impact-based forecasting and community outreach services. Mr PP Shrivastav, IAS Retired, Former Advisor to Governor of Manipur applauded the initiatives are taken by the state. Dr PLN Raju, Director of NESAC briefed about the lightning early warning and other services being offered to all 8 states in North East- especially to disaster management, agriculture, water resource , forest environment and climate change departments.
Col Sanjay Srivastava, Chairman CROPC said that there will be no deaths due to lightning as we have the knowledge and proven solutions. He offered CROPC services to all to prevent such deaths and damages. Lightning Resilient India Campaign is going to be a life-changer for the region first by preventing deaths and secondly by climate change adaptation- said, Col Sanjay Srivastava.
During the event, it was brought out by Valte In North East, we have far-flung areas with diverse grography. Most of the tribe stay on a hilltop which is highly prone to lightning. In fact, maximum casualty takes place of tribal people. Therefore, we are going to start tribal DRR that Tribal Disasters Risk Reduction. Similarly, we are going to start Hill Area Disaster Risk Reduction programme.
Ashin Johnny OSD Nagaland SDMA, Dr Sarat Kumar Das from Tripura SDMA, a representative from Assam SDMA also spoke on the occasion and extended support to the lightning Resilient India Campaign.
Anil Kumar Sinha, IAS Former VC BSDMA, Dr KJ Ramesh, Member National Commission for monitoring Pollution, all relief commissioners of Northeastern states, Bashanta Sharma State Coordinator BJP, Anup Srivastava Senior Consultant NDMA, NM Prusty, Shafeequr Rahman, State Cordinator NSRMP Manipur and many CSOs and NGOs took part in the event.
Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee against Anti Tribal Bills, Churachandpur meets Tribal Affairs and Hills Minister Vungzagin Valte Friday at his office conference hall, Imphal to review and discuss the Memorandum of Understanding arrived between Government of Manipur and the JAC on the 10th May, 2017. Minister V. Valte chairs the meeting on behalf of the Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh
After a thorough discussion on issues pertaining to the MoU, the Minister assured that the matter is brought to the government for further deliberation and decision.
C. Arthur Worchuiyo, Director (TA&H/SC), S. Lengen, Deputy Secretary (TA&H), and R. Rang Peter, Jt. Secy (TA &H) attended the meeting on behalf of the government. H. Mangchinkhup, Chief Convener of the JAC long with Rev. Dr. Kamkhanthang, Biakmuan Tombing and Khaitinlal Neihsiel represented the JACAATB.
