Tuesday, April 24, 2012
National Crop Forecast Centre inaugurated
Sharad Pawar, Minister of Agriculture and Food
Processing Industries inaugurated National Crop Forecast Centre (NCFC) at New Delhi on April 23. Minister of State for Agriculture, Harish Rawat and
senior officers from the Ministry were also present on the occasion.
The NCFC, named after great Indian statistician P.C. Mahalanobis, has been set up in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in a short period of six months. It will be responsible to prepare multiple in-season crop forecast and assessment of drought situation using state of the art techniques and methodology for selected major crops.
The Centre has all the facilities required for remote sensing based agricultural forecasting, including a sophisticated laboratory with high-end workstations, image processing and GSI software, large format scanner, plotter and printers and GPS systems. With the technical support from Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad and National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad, NCFC will start providing crops forecasts and drought assessments from this kharif season (2012-13). It has already initiated activities for jute crop assessment using microwave remote sensing data.
Objectives and functions of the Centre are given below:
• Multiple forecasts of 11 major crops namely Rice (Kharif & Rabi), Jowar (Kharif & Rabi), Maize, Bajra, Jute, Ragi, Cotton, Sugarcane and Groundnut (Kharif & Rabi), Rapeseed & Mustard and Wheat at National/State/District Level.
• Operationalization of existing methodologies developed by ISRO regarding crop forecasts as part of Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agro-meteorological and Land based observations (FASAL) and drought assessment based on National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Monitoring System (NADAMS) Project on immediate basis.
• Inclusion of additional crops in crop forecast and sub-district level moderate to high resolution drought assessment in the entire country in collaboration with ISRO within a period of 2 years.
• Development & refinement of crop forecasts and drought assessment based on current and future trends in satellite and related technologies within a period of 3 years.
• Maintenance and statistical analysis of database comprising all data generated/used as part of the FASAL and NADAMS projects, forecast of results from India Meteorological Department (IMD), State Agricultural Statistics Authorities (SASAs), Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), ICAR etc. for making operational forecasts of selected crops and making the same available regularly to decision makers and identified users.
• Assimilation of results of crop forecasts information from the projects/programmes such as flood, drought monitoring etc. and generation of the required information.
• Evolution of the Centre to coordinate use of geomatics in other fields of agriculture such as cropping system, horticulture, soil and its health, rainfed area assessment & its management planning and estimation of damage due to natural calamities by the end of XIIth Plan.
• In the long run, work towards assessing the crop prospects using remote sensing and geographic information system on a global level.
The NCFC, named after great Indian statistician P.C. Mahalanobis, has been set up in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in a short period of six months. It will be responsible to prepare multiple in-season crop forecast and assessment of drought situation using state of the art techniques and methodology for selected major crops.
The Centre has all the facilities required for remote sensing based agricultural forecasting, including a sophisticated laboratory with high-end workstations, image processing and GSI software, large format scanner, plotter and printers and GPS systems. With the technical support from Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad and National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad, NCFC will start providing crops forecasts and drought assessments from this kharif season (2012-13). It has already initiated activities for jute crop assessment using microwave remote sensing data.
Objectives and functions of the Centre are given below:
• Multiple forecasts of 11 major crops namely Rice (Kharif & Rabi), Jowar (Kharif & Rabi), Maize, Bajra, Jute, Ragi, Cotton, Sugarcane and Groundnut (Kharif & Rabi), Rapeseed & Mustard and Wheat at National/State/District Level.
• Operationalization of existing methodologies developed by ISRO regarding crop forecasts as part of Forecasting Agricultural output using Space, Agro-meteorological and Land based observations (FASAL) and drought assessment based on National Agricultural Drought Assessment and Monitoring System (NADAMS) Project on immediate basis.
• Inclusion of additional crops in crop forecast and sub-district level moderate to high resolution drought assessment in the entire country in collaboration with ISRO within a period of 2 years.
• Development & refinement of crop forecasts and drought assessment based on current and future trends in satellite and related technologies within a period of 3 years.
• Maintenance and statistical analysis of database comprising all data generated/used as part of the FASAL and NADAMS projects, forecast of results from India Meteorological Department (IMD), State Agricultural Statistics Authorities (SASAs), Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), ICAR etc. for making operational forecasts of selected crops and making the same available regularly to decision makers and identified users.
• Assimilation of results of crop forecasts information from the projects/programmes such as flood, drought monitoring etc. and generation of the required information.
• Evolution of the Centre to coordinate use of geomatics in other fields of agriculture such as cropping system, horticulture, soil and its health, rainfed area assessment & its management planning and estimation of damage due to natural calamities by the end of XIIth Plan.
• In the long run, work towards assessing the crop prospects using remote sensing and geographic information system on a global level.
3rd National Panchayati Raj Day
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will be holding a day
long National conference on the occasion of the 3rdNational Panchayati
Raj Day at VigyanBhawan, New Delhi, on April 24. On the occasion, best
performing Gram Panchayats would be conferred with” Rashtriya Gaurav
Gram Sabha Purskar, 2012, while another 170 Panchayati Raj Institutions
(PRIs) comprising of three –tier Panchayats would be facilitated with
Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar for their exemplary work under the
Panchayat Empowerment Accountability Incentive Scheme (PEAIS ).
During the conference, the five different groups of delegates would be discussing the topics such as (i) Gram Sabha and People’s Participation, (ii) Devolution of 3Fs i.e Funds, Functions and Functionaries (iii) Issues related to Women (iv) Agriculture, Rural Development and Livelihood and (v) Management of Forest Produce/Natural Resources.
Approximately 1500 delegates such as State Ministers for Panchayati Raj, Senior officials from State Government Panchayati Raj Departments, States elected representatives (ERs) from the three tiers of PRIs, the national award winning Panchayats as well as representatives from SCs/STs and Women would attend the National Conference.
The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 that came into force with effect from 24th April, 1993 has institutionalized Panchayati Raj through the Village, Intermediate and District levels Panchayats. This date thus marks a defining moment in the history of decentralization of political power to the grassroots level. The impact of the 73rd Amendment in rural India is very visible as it has changed power equations irreversibly. Accordingly, the Government of India decided in consultation with the States to celebrate 24th April as National Panchayati Raj Day. Ministry of Panchayati Raj organises National Conference on 24th April every year to commemorate the National Panchayati Raj Diwas.
During the conference, the five different groups of delegates would be discussing the topics such as (i) Gram Sabha and People’s Participation, (ii) Devolution of 3Fs i.e Funds, Functions and Functionaries (iii) Issues related to Women (iv) Agriculture, Rural Development and Livelihood and (v) Management of Forest Produce/Natural Resources.
Approximately 1500 delegates such as State Ministers for Panchayati Raj, Senior officials from State Government Panchayati Raj Departments, States elected representatives (ERs) from the three tiers of PRIs, the national award winning Panchayats as well as representatives from SCs/STs and Women would attend the National Conference.
The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 that came into force with effect from 24th April, 1993 has institutionalized Panchayati Raj through the Village, Intermediate and District levels Panchayats. This date thus marks a defining moment in the history of decentralization of political power to the grassroots level. The impact of the 73rd Amendment in rural India is very visible as it has changed power equations irreversibly. Accordingly, the Government of India decided in consultation with the States to celebrate 24th April as National Panchayati Raj Day. Ministry of Panchayati Raj organises National Conference on 24th April every year to commemorate the National Panchayati Raj Diwas.
The Fourth BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Summit was held in New Delhi
The Fourth BRICS summit was held in New Delhi on 29 March 2012. The theme of the summit was BRICS partnership for Global Stability, Security and Prosperity.
The summit was participated by India, Brazil, Russia, China and South
Africa. At the end of the summit, Delhi Declaration was issued.
Development banks of BRICS signed two agreements- i) Master agreement on
extending credit facility in local currency. ii) BRICS Multilateral
letter of credit confirmation facility agreement. The five participating
banks are Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Economico e Social- BNDES,
Brazil; State Corporation Bank for Development and Foreign Economic
Affairs-Vnesheconombank of Russia; Export-Import bank of India; China
Development Bank Corporation, and Development Bank of Southern Africa.
These two agreements are expected to enhance cooperation among the BRICS
development banks and to significantly promote intra-BRICS trade.
Highlights of Delhi Declaration
The BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) idea was first conceived in 2001 by Goldman Sachs as part of an economic modeling exercise to forecast global economic trends over the next half century; the acronym BRIC was first used in 2001 by Goldman Sachs in their Global Economics Paper No. 66, "The World Needs Better Economic BRICs".
Expansion of BRIC into BRICS
BRIC Foreign Ministers at their meeting in New York on 21st September 2010 agreed that South Africa may be invited to join BRIC. Accordingly, China, as the host of 3rd BRICS Summit, invited South African President to attend the Summit in Sanya on 14 April 2011 with the concurrence of other BRIC Leaders.
Highlights of Delhi Declaration
- BRICS nations agreed on the reform of IMF and world bank.
- Brazil, India, China and South Africa congratulated the Russian Federation on its accession to the WTO.
- BRICS nation said they were committed to playing their part in the global fight against climate change and will contribute to the global effort in dealing with climate change issues.
The BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) idea was first conceived in 2001 by Goldman Sachs as part of an economic modeling exercise to forecast global economic trends over the next half century; the acronym BRIC was first used in 2001 by Goldman Sachs in their Global Economics Paper No. 66, "The World Needs Better Economic BRICs".
Expansion of BRIC into BRICS
BRIC Foreign Ministers at their meeting in New York on 21st September 2010 agreed that South Africa may be invited to join BRIC. Accordingly, China, as the host of 3rd BRICS Summit, invited South African President to attend the Summit in Sanya on 14 April 2011 with the concurrence of other BRIC Leaders.
Union Cabinet approved Bill seeking Amendment in the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969
The Union Cabinet on 12 April 2012 gave its approval to the introduction
of a Bill seeking an amendment in the Registration of Births and Deaths
Act, 1969 to include registration of marriages as well, so that the
existing administrative mechanisms will be able to carry out such
registration of marriages in accordance with the specified procedures
and be able to maintain necessary records and statistics for
registration of marriages also.
The Cabinet also approved introducing a Bill in Parliament to further amend the Anand Marriage Act, 1909 to provide for registration of marriages under the Act.
The proposed Bill is set to benefit the women from unnecessary harassment in matrimonial and maintenance cases. It also seeks to provide evidentiary value in the matters of custody of children, right of children born from the wedlock of the two persons whose marriage is registered and the age of the parties to the marriage.
The Cabinet also approved introducing a Bill in Parliament to further amend the Anand Marriage Act, 1909 to provide for registration of marriages under the Act.
The proposed Bill is set to benefit the women from unnecessary harassment in matrimonial and maintenance cases. It also seeks to provide evidentiary value in the matters of custody of children, right of children born from the wedlock of the two persons whose marriage is registered and the age of the parties to the marriage.
Supreme Court upheld the Constitutional Validity of the RTE Act, 2009
The Supreme Court of India on 12 April 2012 upheld the constitutional validity of the Right to Education Act, 2009,
which mandates 25 per cent free seats to the poor in government and
private unaided schools uniformly across the country. The apex court
clarified that its judgment will come into force from 12 April 2012.
However, the act will apply uniformly to government and unaided private
schools except unaided private minority schools.
A three-judge bench of Chief Justice S H Kapadia and justices K S Radhakrishnan and Swantanter Kumar gave the ruling.
The bench had reserved its verdict on 3August 2012 on a batch of petitions by private unaided institutions which had contended that the section 12 (1)(c) of RTE Act violates the rights of private educational institutions under Article 19(1) (g) which provided autonomy to private managements to run their institutions without governmental interference.
Right to Education Act (RTE) was passed by the Indian parliament on 4 August 2009.The act came into force on 1 April 2010. It has the provision of free and compulsory education for children between 6 and 14 in India under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution. India became one of 135 countries to make education a fundamental right of every child.
Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE act says that every recognized school imparting elementary education is obliged to admit underprivileged children even if it is not aiaded by the government to meet its expenses.
A three-judge bench of Chief Justice S H Kapadia and justices K S Radhakrishnan and Swantanter Kumar gave the ruling.
The bench had reserved its verdict on 3August 2012 on a batch of petitions by private unaided institutions which had contended that the section 12 (1)(c) of RTE Act violates the rights of private educational institutions under Article 19(1) (g) which provided autonomy to private managements to run their institutions without governmental interference.
Right to Education Act (RTE) was passed by the Indian parliament on 4 August 2009.The act came into force on 1 April 2010. It has the provision of free and compulsory education for children between 6 and 14 in India under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution. India became one of 135 countries to make education a fundamental right of every child.
Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE act says that every recognized school imparting elementary education is obliged to admit underprivileged children even if it is not aiaded by the government to meet its expenses.
Govt Launches Centre for Crop Forecast
The government on April 23 launched an integrated centre which will
provide estimates of agricultural output and assess the drought
situation in the country through latest technologies.
About The Center:
About The Center:
- Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar launched the National Crop Forecast Centre (NCFC), which will prepare in-season forecasts for selected 11 major crops such as rice, wheat, sugarcane and maize.
- The centre, in collaboration with ISRO, will also work towards preparing sub-district level drought assessment in the entire country.
- The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation prepares advance estimates of crop output through various technologies like remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS).
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) through its programme the National Agriculture Drought Assessment and Monitoring System (NADAMS) provides data on drought assessment in various states during the monsoon season.
- The centre will help in integrating data from these sources and would also provide production forecasts of more crops.
- It will coordinate the use of Geomatics in cropping system, horticulture, soil and its health and estimation of damage due to natural calamities.
About Earth Day
Earth Day began on April 22, 1970 and has been an important day ever
since. It’s a day to reflect on our planet, our environment and what we
can do to help keep them healthy.
From the beginning, children and schools were approached to support the formation and continuation of this special day. And this makes sense! Children have the most important stake in keeping our planet healthy. They’ll still be the caretakers long after their parents and grandparents have passed away.
But this is one of those jobs that’s never complete. Global warming and other issues never conceived of in 1970 are now common themes on the news.
From the beginning, children and schools were approached to support the formation and continuation of this special day. And this makes sense! Children have the most important stake in keeping our planet healthy. They’ll still be the caretakers long after their parents and grandparents have passed away.
What Did Earth Day Accomplish?
Well, after the first earth day in 1970 here’s what happened:- The Environmental Protection Agency was established later in 1970.
- The tough Clean Air Act of 1970 was passed with only a handful of dissenting votes in both Houses of Congress.
- The Federal Occupational Health and Safety Act aimed at “in-plant pollution” was passed by a coalition of labor and environmental groups.
- Within the next three years, such landmarks as the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act were passed.
But this is one of those jobs that’s never complete. Global warming and other issues never conceived of in 1970 are now common themes on the news.
The First Earth Day
Senator Gaylord Nelson of the United States founded Earth Day. Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970 in the United States. Across the United States, 20 million people and thousands of local schools and communities participated in the first Earth Day. The huge turnout for the first Earth Day made it the largest organized celebration in the history of the United States. Earth Day’s success helped influence the government of the United States to create stronger laws to protect the environment.Earth Day Goes International
On March 21, 1971, United Nations(UN) Secretary-General U Thant made Earth Day an international celebration. He spoke about it at a Peace Bell Ceremony at the United Nations in New York City. The United Nations Earth Day ceremony continues each year on the day of the vernal equinox (March 20th or 21st), with the ringing of the UN Peace Bell at the very moment of theequinox.What Did Earth Day 1990 Achieve?
- The UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The Earth Summit was the largest collection of national political leaders ever to meet in one place. It made some important initial steps toward addressing climate change and preserving biodiversity.
- More than a dozen countries established eco-labeling programs to guide consumers toward environmentally preferable goods and services.
- Several Eastern European nations, responding to public demand, established new environmental protection agencies.
- CARE, the international relief agency, set out new environmental goals for itself in the 1990s that include planting 500,000,000 trees worldwide.
Monday, April 23, 2012
India Disaster Statistics by Disaster Type Of the affected people and Economic damage 1990 - 2011
| Number of Events 1990 - 2011 | 320 |
| Number of people Killed | 110768 |
| Average no of people killed per year | 5538.4 |
| Number of people affected | 915310733 |
| Average no of people affected per year | 45765536.65 |
| Economic damage (USD X 1000) | 44295667 |
| Economic damage per year (USD X 1000) | 2214783.35 |
India - Disaster Statistics
Natural Disasters from 1980 - 2008
Overview
| No of events: | 395 |
| No of people killed: | 139,393 |
| Average killed per year: | 4,807 |
| No of people affected: | 1,506,794,740 |
| Average affected per year: | 51,958,439 |
| Ecomomic Damage (US$ X 1,000): | 45,184,830 |
| Ecomomic Damage per year (US$ X 1,000): | 1,558,098 |
Natural Disaster Occurence Reported
Average Disaster Per Year
| Drought: | 0.21 |
| Earthquake*: | 0.55 |
| Epidemic: | 1.90 |
| Extreme temp: | 1.17 |
| Flood: | 5.79 |
| Insect infestation: | 0.03 |
| Mass mov. dry: | 0.03 |
| Mass mov. wet: | 1.07 |
| Volcano: | ... |
| Storm: | 2.79 |
| Wildfire: | 0.07 |
Top 10 Natural Disasters Reported
Affected People
| Disaster | Date | Affected | (no. of people) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 1987 | 300,000,000 |  |
| Drought | 2002 | 300,000,000 | |
| Flood | 1993 | 128,000,000 | |
| Drought | 1982 | 100,000,000 | |
| Drought | 2000 | 50,000,000 | |
| Flood | 2002 | 42,000,000 | |
| Flood | 1982 | 33,500,000 | |
| Flood | 2004 | 33,000,000 | |
| Flood | 1995 | 32,704,000 | |
| Flood | 1980 | 30,000,023 | |
Killed People
| Disaster | Date | Killed | (no. of people) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake* | 2001 | 20,005 | |
| Earthquake* | 2004 | 16,389 | |
| Storm | 1999 | 9,843 | |
| Earthquake* | 1993 | 9,748 | |
| Epidemic | 1984 | 3,290 | |
| Epidemic | 1988 | 3,000 | |
| Storm | 1998 | 2,871 | |
| Extreme temp. | 1998 | 2,541 | |
| Flood | 1994 | 2,001 | |
| Flood | 1998 | 1,811 | |
Economic Damages
| Disaster | Date | Cost | (US$ X 1,000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood | 1993 | 7,000,000 | |
| Flood | 2006 | 3,390,000 | |
| Flood | 2005 | 3,330,000 | |
| Earthquake* | 2001 | 2,623,000 | |
| Storm | 1999 | 2,500,000 | |
| Flood | 2004 | 2,500,000 | |
| Flood | 2005 | 2,300,000 | |
| Storm | 1990 | 2,200,000 | |
| Storm | 1996 | 1,500,300 | |
| Earthquake* | 2004 | 1,022,800 | |
Statistics Per Event
Killed People
| Drought: | 53.33 |
| Earthquake*: | 3,108.19 |
| Epidemic: | 274.78 |
| Extreme temp: | 320.56 |
| Flood: | 225.01 |
| Insect infestation: | ... |
| Mass mov. dry: | 45.00 |
| Mass mov. wet: | 90.26 |
| Volcano: | ... |
| Storm: | 279.99 |
| Wildfire: | 3.00 |
Affected People
| Drought: | 125,195,833.33 |
| Earthquake*: | 1,741,700.25 |
| Epidemic: | 7,205.18 |
| Extreme temp: | 6.62 |
| Flood: | 4,005,617.70 |
| Insect infestation: | ... |
| Mass mov. dry: | ... |
| Mass mov. wet: | 123,677.55 |
| Volcano: | ... |
| Storm: | 624,422.81 |
| Wildfire: | ... |
Economic Damages
| Drought: | 340,187.00 |
| Earthquake*: | 318,893.75 |
| Epidemic: | ... |
| Extreme temp: | 16,000.00 |
| Flood: | 164,938.27 |
| Insect infestation: | ... |
| Mass mov. dry: | ... |
| Mass mov. wet: | 1,758.06 |
| Volcano: | ... |
| Storm: | 120,139.25 |
| Wildfire: | 1,000.00 |
Statistics By Disasters Type
*: Including tsunami
India Disaster Management Congress
First India Disaster Management Congress:
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) had organized the First India Disaster Management Congress in Vigyan Bhavan New Delhi on 29-30 November 2006. Dr. Manmohan Singh Prime Minister of India inaugurated the Congress. More than 1200 hundred delegates from all over the country attended and 350 technical papers were presented in 18 Thematic Sessions organized around Thematic Clusters. This was the largest knowledge conference on disaster management ever held in this part of the world.
Second India Disaster Management Congress:
The second India Disaster Management Congress will be held in New Delhi on 4 November 2009. The three day Congress is expected to bring together 1500 scientists, scholars and practitioners working on different aspects of disaster risk reduction and management across the world. Each Thematic Session shall have a minimum of six paper presentations.
A number of issues pertaining to disaster risk reduction, management, emergency response and various cross cutting issues during disaster events will be the focus of discussion in this congress. A total of 28 Technical/ Thematic Sessions are proposed to be organized in around 13 Thematic Clusters namely: Geological disasters (Earthquake, Landslide and Avalanche), Hydro Meteorological Disasters ( Flood, Cyclone, Drought), Man Made Disasters ( Industrial and Chemical, Nuclear Emergencies & Road Accidents), Science & Technology ( Early Warning and Disaster Communication, Geo-Information System), Social and Economic Issues (Gender, children and Financing Disaster Management), Disaster, Development and Governance (Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction in Development and Involvement of Communities, Civil Society and NGOs in Disaster Management), Education, Training and Capacity Building for Disaster Management, Disaster Response ( Role of Armed Forces, NDRF, Police and Civil Defense and Incident Command System), Emergency Health Management ( Public Health Emergencies and Mass Causality Management, Psycho-social Care and Pandemics), Emerging Issues and Concerns ( Climate Change and Urban Risk Management), Corporate Sector in Disaster Management, Role of Media in Disaster Management and Post Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction: International Experiences and Best Practices.
The congress will have participants from various Government and Non-governmental, international organizations, research and academic institutions which are concerned with various issues related to disaster management. International experts have been invited as guest’s speaker from across the globe namely Ms. Kit Miyamoto, President & CEO, Miyamoto International Inc., California, Prof. Hiroyuki Maeda, Deptt. Of Civil & Envt. Engg., National University Corporation, Kitami Institute of Technology, Japan, Dr. Vernon Singhroy from Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Natural recources, Canada, Dr. Suzanne Lacasse, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Prof. Dr. Roslan Zainal Abidin, Director International Research Centre on Disaster Prevention, Malaysia, Seyed Amir Shamsnia, Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Iran, Mr. Debanjan Upadhyay, International Institute of Geo-information Science & Earth Observation, The Netherlands, Prof. Madhav Badami, Associate Director, McGill School of Environment, McGill University, Canada, Dr. Nibeditta Ray-Bennet, UK, Ms. Susanna Hoffman, USA, Ms. Sarah Bradshaw, London, Ms. Yoko Saito, Japan, Ms. Simin Saedi, Iran, Ms. Ancila Bere , Indonesia, Ms. Tanty S. Thamin, Indonesia, Mr. David J. Schonfeld, Sh. Bijan Yavar & Sh. Maisam Mirtaheri, Iran, Ms. Zenaida Delica Wilson South-south Disaster Risk reduction Advisor, Regional centre in Bangkok, UNDP Thailand, Dr. Marla Petal, Switzerland, D. Amaratanga, Salford, UK, Dr. Akhilesh Surjan, Japan, Shri Arjun Katoch, UNOCHA, Geneva, Supt. Brian J. Graham NSW Rural Fire Service Australia, Satchit Balsari, MD, MPH Weill Cornell Medical College, Dr. Allen R Dyer Prof. Of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences USA, Colin Fernandes, Programme Officer, Austcare, BandaAceh, Indonesia, Prof J Shukla, President, Institute of Global Environment, & University Professor, George Mason University, USA, Dr. Goh Moh Heng, President BCMI, Singapore, W. Craig Fugate, Office of Administrator, FEMA, Dr. S.K.Singh, Director Training Division Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) Chameli House, 17, Topkhana Road, Dhaka, Ronju Ahammad Bangladesh.
The valedictory session will be chaired by the former President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. The valedictory session will be an opportunity to highlight and bring to notice issues, challenges, shortcomings and opportunities and road map ahead in the field of disaster management.
The Congress is being organized by NIDM in collaboration with the Ministry of Home affairs, National Disaster Management Authority, United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Development Programme, United States Agency for International Development, World Health Organization and Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.
The idea of holding the India Disaster Management Congress was conceived in order to provide a platform for interaction and integration of knowledge on various aspects of disaster risk reduction and management. The first India Disaster Management Congress was held at New Delhi in November 2006 which was the largest knowledge conference on disaster management ever held in this part of the world. More than 1200 delegates from all over the country attended it and 350 technical papers were presented. The First India Disaster Management Congress had 7 Thematic Clusters and 18 Thematic Sessions.
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) had organized the First India Disaster Management Congress in Vigyan Bhavan New Delhi on 29-30 November 2006. Dr. Manmohan Singh Prime Minister of India inaugurated the Congress. More than 1200 hundred delegates from all over the country attended and 350 technical papers were presented in 18 Thematic Sessions organized around Thematic Clusters. This was the largest knowledge conference on disaster management ever held in this part of the world.
Second India Disaster Management Congress:
The second India Disaster Management Congress will be held in New Delhi on 4 November 2009. The three day Congress is expected to bring together 1500 scientists, scholars and practitioners working on different aspects of disaster risk reduction and management across the world. Each Thematic Session shall have a minimum of six paper presentations.
A number of issues pertaining to disaster risk reduction, management, emergency response and various cross cutting issues during disaster events will be the focus of discussion in this congress. A total of 28 Technical/ Thematic Sessions are proposed to be organized in around 13 Thematic Clusters namely: Geological disasters (Earthquake, Landslide and Avalanche), Hydro Meteorological Disasters ( Flood, Cyclone, Drought), Man Made Disasters ( Industrial and Chemical, Nuclear Emergencies & Road Accidents), Science & Technology ( Early Warning and Disaster Communication, Geo-Information System), Social and Economic Issues (Gender, children and Financing Disaster Management), Disaster, Development and Governance (Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction in Development and Involvement of Communities, Civil Society and NGOs in Disaster Management), Education, Training and Capacity Building for Disaster Management, Disaster Response ( Role of Armed Forces, NDRF, Police and Civil Defense and Incident Command System), Emergency Health Management ( Public Health Emergencies and Mass Causality Management, Psycho-social Care and Pandemics), Emerging Issues and Concerns ( Climate Change and Urban Risk Management), Corporate Sector in Disaster Management, Role of Media in Disaster Management and Post Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction: International Experiences and Best Practices.
The congress will have participants from various Government and Non-governmental, international organizations, research and academic institutions which are concerned with various issues related to disaster management. International experts have been invited as guest’s speaker from across the globe namely Ms. Kit Miyamoto, President & CEO, Miyamoto International Inc., California, Prof. Hiroyuki Maeda, Deptt. Of Civil & Envt. Engg., National University Corporation, Kitami Institute of Technology, Japan, Dr. Vernon Singhroy from Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Natural recources, Canada, Dr. Suzanne Lacasse, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Prof. Dr. Roslan Zainal Abidin, Director International Research Centre on Disaster Prevention, Malaysia, Seyed Amir Shamsnia, Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Iran, Mr. Debanjan Upadhyay, International Institute of Geo-information Science & Earth Observation, The Netherlands, Prof. Madhav Badami, Associate Director, McGill School of Environment, McGill University, Canada, Dr. Nibeditta Ray-Bennet, UK, Ms. Susanna Hoffman, USA, Ms. Sarah Bradshaw, London, Ms. Yoko Saito, Japan, Ms. Simin Saedi, Iran, Ms. Ancila Bere , Indonesia, Ms. Tanty S. Thamin, Indonesia, Mr. David J. Schonfeld, Sh. Bijan Yavar & Sh. Maisam Mirtaheri, Iran, Ms. Zenaida Delica Wilson South-south Disaster Risk reduction Advisor, Regional centre in Bangkok, UNDP Thailand, Dr. Marla Petal, Switzerland, D. Amaratanga, Salford, UK, Dr. Akhilesh Surjan, Japan, Shri Arjun Katoch, UNOCHA, Geneva, Supt. Brian J. Graham NSW Rural Fire Service Australia, Satchit Balsari, MD, MPH Weill Cornell Medical College, Dr. Allen R Dyer Prof. Of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences USA, Colin Fernandes, Programme Officer, Austcare, BandaAceh, Indonesia, Prof J Shukla, President, Institute of Global Environment, & University Professor, George Mason University, USA, Dr. Goh Moh Heng, President BCMI, Singapore, W. Craig Fugate, Office of Administrator, FEMA, Dr. S.K.Singh, Director Training Division Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) Chameli House, 17, Topkhana Road, Dhaka, Ronju Ahammad Bangladesh.
The valedictory session will be chaired by the former President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. The valedictory session will be an opportunity to highlight and bring to notice issues, challenges, shortcomings and opportunities and road map ahead in the field of disaster management.
The Congress is being organized by NIDM in collaboration with the Ministry of Home affairs, National Disaster Management Authority, United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Development Programme, United States Agency for International Development, World Health Organization and Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.
The idea of holding the India Disaster Management Congress was conceived in order to provide a platform for interaction and integration of knowledge on various aspects of disaster risk reduction and management. The first India Disaster Management Congress was held at New Delhi in November 2006 which was the largest knowledge conference on disaster management ever held in this part of the world. More than 1200 delegates from all over the country attended it and 350 technical papers were presented. The First India Disaster Management Congress had 7 Thematic Clusters and 18 Thematic Sessions.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
PUBLIC POLICY IN INDIA
Definition:
A
Public Policy is a goal oriented course of action adopted and implemented by
the government bodies and officials in pursuit of certain objectives or goals
of public interest.
Basically,
Public Policies are:
- Goal oriented
- Decision making process
- Government’s collective action
- Addresses public concerns
- Interaction of people’s demands with power structures
Importance of
Public Policies:
Although
the trend of privatization made the governments to relax from many areas of
development still there are many important areas which needs to be focused for
the sake of public interest and for social welfare and growth. Thus the study
of Public Policy, also called ‘Planned view of development’, gains much more
relevance.
The
scientific analysis of public policy helps in understanding the causes and
consequences of the policy thereby facilitating practical solutions to social
problems.
A
Policy which is formulated and is implemented in a participative, transparent,
open and accountable manner is an effective public policy serving public
interest.
Stages in Public
Policy Process:
(i) Policy
Formulation:
A
policy will be formulated in a coherent fashion keeping in mind the needs,
interests, and problems of the society. It covers the larger sections of the
society too.
(ii) Policy
Education:
Educating
the masses and actual beneficiaries about the formulated policies and their
impacts through media.
(iii) Policy
Implementation:
This
is a crucial stage which actually decides the translation of the policy goals
into action. It is the task of the executive branch of the government to
systematically act upon the policies with the available resources.
(iv) Policy
Monitoring:
Monitoring
is the task done after the implementation and performing auditing and reporting
process.
(v) Policy
Impact:
A
quantitative and qualitative study needs to be done to know the impact of the
policy.
Types of Public
Policies:
- Welfare & Development Public policies
- Regulatory Public policies
- Distributive & Re-distributive policies
Institutions
that play a crucial role in policy making are:
- Legislature
- Executive
- Cabinet and Cabinet secretariat
- Prime Minister and Prime Minister’s Office
- NDC and Planning Commission
- IAS, IPS and IFS officers
- Judiciary.
- National Policy for Farmers, 2007
- Agriculture Pricing Policy
- National Agriculture Development Programme or Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
- Agriculture Policy: A Vision for 2020
- Consolidated FDI Policy, 2010
- National Employment Policy, 2008
- National Manufacturing Policy, 2011
- National Drug Policy
- National Pharmaceutical Policy, 2002
- National Broadband Policy, 2004
- National Policy on Information Technology, 2011
- National Policy on Electronics, 2011
- National Policy on Education, 1968
- National Policy on Education, 1986
- National Programme of Action
- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan- Education For All
- Policy Statement on Environment and Development
- National Skill Development Policy
- National Nutrition Policy
- National Health Policy of 2002
- National Population Policy of 2000
- National Mineral Policy
- National Electricity Policy, 2003
- Rural Electrification Policy
- National Policy on Older Persons
- National Policy for Empowerment of Women
- National Telecom Policy, 2011
- National Water Policy, 2002
- National Urban Sanitation Policy
- National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy
- National Tourism Policy, 2002.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
SAARC DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTRE
SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC) was set up in October 2006 at the premises of National Institute of Disaster Management in New Delhi. The Centre has the mandate to serve eight Member Countries of South Asia Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - by providing policy advice and facilitating capacity building services including strategic learning, research, training, system development and exchange of information for effective disaster risk reduction and management in South Asia.The Centre is a sleek body of professionals working on various dimensions of disaster risk reduction and management in South Asia. The Centre is networking through the National Focal Points of the Member Countries with the various Ministries, Departments and Scientific, Technical, Research and Academic institutions within and outside the Government working on various aspects of disaster risk reduction and management.The Centre conducts studies and research, organizes workshops and training programmes, publishes its reports and documents provides various policy advisory services to the Member Countries. The Centre has the Vision to be recognized as a vibrant Centre of Excellence for knowledge, research and capacity building on disaster management in South Asia and in the rest of the world. INDIA Basic Facts |
| Geographic Coordinates | 20 00 N, 77 00 E |
| Total Area Sq. Km | 3,287,590 |
| Coastline Km | 7000 |
| Lowest Elevation in Meters | 0 |
| Highest Elevation in Meters | 8598 |
| Percentage of Arable Land | 48.83 |
| Total Population | 1,129,866,154 |
| Annual Population Growth % | 1.6 |
| Total Literacy Rate % | 61 |
| Percentage of People Living in Urban Areas | 28.1 |
| GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) US$ | 4.164 Trillion |
| GDP Per Capita US$ | 3800 |
| GDP Growth rate % | 9.4 |
| BPL Population % | 2.5 |
| Event | Year | Dead | Affected |
| Quake | 1993 | 9475 | 1 million |
| Cyclone | 1999 | 10086 | 15 million |
| Quake | 2001 | 13805 | 1.8 million |
| Tsunami | 2004 | 12405 | 3.5 million |
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