Second meeting of BRICS Ministers for Disaster Management got underway at Udaipur today. Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs of India, inaugurated the summit along with ministers and prominent dignitaries from the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations.

Rijiju got the proceedings underway at Udai Vilas. He mentioned that among the BRICS nations, India had the lowest percentage of people living in urban setup. India has 35% urban population as compared to 86% in Brazil, 75% in Russia, 56% in China and 65% in South Africa. He said that with increasing urbanisation and industrialisation, the impact of disasters is much higher in urban areas than rural areas. He noted that earlier disaster management was under the agriculture department in India but now has been created as a separate department.

Rijju mentioned that in India, under PM Narendra Modi’s directions, Disaster Management has been kept at the highest priority. He informed about the disaster signalling equipment that are in place at different regions for alerting on disaster issues and how these had come handy in recent tsunami situations.

Additional Chief Secretary from PM’s Office, Dr P.K. Mishra noted that over the last 20 years, 1.3 mn people worldwide had died because of natural disasters. He also said that the world had suffered a loss of over USD 3.5 Bn  on account of natural disasters over the last 3 decades. He also talked about how developed world is also no longer untouched by the natural disasters citing examples of Japan, New Zealand and USA.

South Africa’s Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Des Van Rooyen called for a joint task force and technical collaboration amongst the BRICS nations. He expressed strong intent and said that BRICS summit will certainly become a pathway in achieving the collaborations.

Pang Chenmin from China’s Civil Affairs Ministry called for Joint declaration in line with the UFA proceedings and first BRICS summit in St. Petersburg and called for cooperation from all the nations.

Rajasthan Lauded

The participants were awed by a unique digital presentation on Rajasthan Chief Minister’s Water Self-Reliance’ campaign. Presenters informed the audience that a strong foundation has been laid in Rajasthan by constructing 94000 water conservation structures in the first phase of the scheme. Water conservation work is planned in 4000 panchayats over the next 2 years. The presentation and the campaign were well acknowledged by the present dignitaries. The presentation carried translations in Chinese, Russian, English and Hindi languages.

Des Van Rooyen, called the presentation inspiring and lauded water deficient state for taking up the conservation steps.