National Workshop on “Strengthening National Response Capabilities”
National Workshop on “Strengthening National
Response Capabilities”

The National Disaster
Response Force (NDRF) is organizing a National Workshop on “Strengthening
National Response Capabilities” here tomorrow. It will provide a platform and
to prepare a roadmap to strengthen national disaster response capabilities.
Eminent dignitaries from various fields will participate in the workshop and
share their view on effective disaster response in India: strengths, weaknesses
and the role of NDRF, localizing preparedness at the community level to
strengthen National capabilities and preparedness towards Trauma care and CBRN
emergencies.
Dr. P.K. Mishra, Additional
Principal Secretary, PMO will deliver a key note address in the inaugural
session. Shri Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State (Home) will grace the occasion as
chief guest in the closing ceremony.
The Disaster Management has
emerged as one of the most critical areas of concern in recent years. A number
of initiatives are being taken in mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR),
preparedness, management and response at regional, National and International
level by stakeholders to minimize the affect of disaster to a great extent.
NDRF since its inception is
committed to make a disaster resilient Nation by providing specialised response
to people in distress during disaster not only within the country but also
beyond the National boundaries. Since 2006, the Force has saved more than 4.73
lakh precious lives during various calamities and crisis. Besides, the NDRF has
continuously been engaged in community capacity building of masses through its
workshop, seminar, awareness programmes and training.
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Union Home Minister addresses the International
Conference on Rule of Law for supporting 2030 Development Agenda
“Sustainable Development is not possible without the rule of law”: Shri Rajnath Singh
“Sustainable Development is not possible without the rule of law”: Shri Rajnath Singh
The Union Home Minister
Shri Rajnath Singh has said that the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by more than 190 nations in
September last year are complex and enormous to achieve. Addressing the
International Conference on Rule of Law for supporting 2030 Development Agenda
here today, Shri Rajnath Singh said the world today feels the need for ever
more proactive, responsive, innovative and inclusive approach towards
development. <>
Shri Rajnath Singh said
that in a world where prosperity and material wealth is held by a small
minority, the SDGs should be more focused on reducing the gap between the haves
and have nots. He said that Sustainable Development is not possible without the
rule of law and that peace and harmony are essential for sustainable
development. Very importantly, the Global Community has noted the need to
reduce the violence in all forms and promote rule of law not only at the
national level but also at the international level, he added.
Following is the text of
the address delivered by Shri Rajnath Singh on the occasion:
“It gives me immense
pleasure to be a part of this Conference. I would like to congratulate the
organizers for organizing this Conference, which I firmly believe, serves to be
the perfect podium for exchange of ideas and knowledge on the path towards
attainment of 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. I have been informed that
this three day conference has deliberated upon several key aspects pertaining
to sustainable development and the development agenda for 2030.
During the last two days,
you have discussed a wide range of issues and heard a number of leading opinion
makers. You have heard the Hon’ble Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of
India. You have heard a number of leading legal luminaries from across the
globe.
You have also heard a
number of renowned experts. I have been informed that the discussions in the
Conference have been remarkably vibrant and rich in content. I am hopeful that
this Conference shall add its voice to the issue of environmental justice and
rule of law which are necessary for sustainable development.
As you are aware the United
Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in
September last year. More than 190 nations pledged their support and expressed
their commitment for attainment of these goals. Given the complexity and
enormity of the 2030 Agenda, the world today feels the need for ever more
proactive, responsive, innovative and inclusive approach towards development.
In a world where prosperity
and material wealth is held by a small minority, the SDGs should be more
focused on reducing the gap between the haves and have nots.
Sustainable Development is
not possible without the rule of law. Peace and harmony are essential for
sustainable development. It is impossible to visualise the world without
poverty, hunger, deprivation, gender discrimination, etc. unless and until we
create an atmosphere which allows people to use available resources for their
development instead of unproductive activities.
We need to ensure access to
justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at
all levels. Very importantly, the Global Community has noted the need to reduce
the violence in all forms and promote rule of law not only at the national
level but also at the international level. I think we in our country
indeed recognize the importance of these goals in pursuit of a world free from
inequities and deprivations.
Poverty eradication is the
greatest global challenge facing the world today and it is certainly one of the
top most priorities for India where one third of its population lives in
extreme poverty. The government in India has already kickstarted the process by
empowering the poor through several of its social and economic security
schemes. We want to instill confidence among the poor that their destiny is in
their own hands and with a positive mind and strategic thinking the twin
challenges of poverty and hunger can be met successfully.
Our policy is of ‘Zero
Tolerance against Hunger’. I am confident that by 2030 India would be
successfully able to end hunger and ensure safe, nutritious and sufficient food
to every Indian all year round.
The SDGs target of doubling
the agricultural productivity and incomes of farmers specially the small scale
producers by 2030 is challenging. Nevertheless, the Government of India has
committed itself to double the income of all the farmers by 2022, much ahead of
the timeframe set by the SDGs.
Developing and implementing
resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, and
strengthening capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather,
drought and other natural calamities is an area of concern to the world.
We need to increase
investments in irrigation, rural infrastructure and agricultural research and
extension services. Our government has already started working on this
prescription as we have decided to build roads to all rural settlements in the
next three years and also allocated funds to increase the percentage of
irrigated land in the country which is currently pegged around 46 percent.
As a measure to ensure the
proper functioning of food commodity markets and facilitate timely access to
market information to our farmers, the Government has decided to establish the
United Agricultural Marketing ePlatform which aims to connect 585 agri mandis
by March 2018. This facility will allow farmers to sell their produce at any
mandi of their choice and help the farmers in realizing a fair and market
determined prices for their produce, thereby improving their incomes.
We have introduced vibrant
schemes relating to restoration of soil health, crop insurance and given
massive impetus to well being of the rural population. We have been
conscious of the need to promote healthy life and quality education.
Improving the living
conditions for women and protecting them against all forms of discrimination is
another challenge facing the world. The SDGs have targeted to eliminate all
forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private
spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
The government of India is
exploring new avenues to empower women and ensure their full and effective
participation and provide them with equal opportunities for leadership at all
levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
Recently the Government has
decided to give 33 percent reservation to women in police forces managed by the
Centre and also the paramilitary forces. The Central government has sent an
advisory to implement this decision of 33 percent reservation to women in state
police forces.
Access to affordable,
reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all is another significant goal set
by the SDGs. The future of our energy needs is dependent on how do we use the
renewable energy. The battle to drive carbon dioxide out of the global energy
system has produced certain positive outcomes yet we are still far behind in
achieving the goal. We have wind and solar energy as two prime sources of
renewable energy and India is heavily betting on clean and renewable
energy. The government of India has now decided to double the clean-energy
tax on coal to fight environmental pollution.
The tax on coal, which
fires more than 60 percent of the nation’s generation capacity, will now be
increased to Rs 400 a metric ton from Rs 200 per ton. The government plans to
allocate 30 billion rupees ($438 million) annually to come up with a
comprehensive plan, spanning 15-20 years, to augment nuclear power generation.
Taxing coal and promoting nuclear energy shows the government’s commitment to
the environment.
Climate Change is an issue
which warrants urgent action to combat its impacts. Although a lot of buzz has
been created around the word ‘Climate Change’, not much has been done to
counter this menace. At the time of the first UN Climate Change Conference in
1995 the atmospheric concentration of CO2 was 361 parts per million. In 2014 it
reached 399 parts per million.
Between 2000 and 2010 the
rise in Greenhouse emissions was faster than in the 1980s and 1990s. We need to
strengthen our resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and
natural disasters in all countries. The world must commit itself to integrate
climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
The year 2015 was a
landmark year for India in fighting Climate Change. At the International level,
India played a crucial role in the climate change talks and agreement under
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris in
December 2015, and the launch of ISA (International Solar Alliance). Our Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi played an important role at COP 21 agreement
(Conference of Parties) in the launch of the ISA, and also volunteered to host
its secretariat.
According to the recently
published Economic Survey, as of January 4, 2016, with 1,593 projects out of
7,685 registered under Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of UNFCCC, India has
the second highest CDM projects. A budget provision of Rs.350 crore for 2015-16
and 2016-17 has been earmarked for National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change
(NAFCC) while National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) is supported by cess on coal.
In India Rivers like Ganga,
Yamuna, Kaveri, Godavari and others are considered sacred. Ganga is India’s one
of the longest and most worshipped rivers. The River Ganga is important not
only for its cultural and spiritual significance but also because it hosts more
than 40% of the country’s population.
Certain studies have shown
that Ganga’s self-purifying quality leads to oxygen levels 25 times higher than
any other river in the world. The water of Ganga does not tend to decay over
longer periods of storage. In a study conducted by Malaria Research Center in
New Delhi it was observed that water from upper ambits of Ganga did not host
mosquito breeding, and also prevented mosquito breeding in any water it was
added to. The Government launched an integrated Ganga conservation
mission called ‘Namami Gange’ to arrest the pollution of Ganga River and revive
the river.
Global environmental change
is interwoven with a complex web of social, economic, political and scientific
implications. Recent natural fluctuations in weather and climate, while not
necessarily attributable to climate change due to anthropogenic activities,
illustrates the magnitude and broad scope of environmental impacts on our
intricately intertwined global economy.
The crisis which we are
facing today forces humankind to review the whole gamut of Man–Nature
relationship, more precisely in the light of the developments of the last five
decades and accordingly chalk out the path of development for the generations
yet to come.
The importance of
protecting environment can even be found in Indian ancient texts under which it
is our dharma to protect nature. Our ancient texts say ‘सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनो’and “लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु. We believe in the
wellbeing of entire humanity and the environment around us. We believe in
harmony with nature. We as a society have always acknowledged our duty to
protect the environment.
The dharma of protecting
the environment was to sustain and ensure progress and welfare of all. Our
culture strives to strike a fine balance between the process of exploiting the
environment for development and our duty to conserve it.
Even the Constitution of
India clearly states that it is the duty of the state to ‘protect and improve
the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country’. It
imposes a duty on every citizen to ‘protect and improve the natural environment
including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife’. Reference to the environment has
also been made in the Directive Principles of State Policy as well in the
interpretation of the Fundamental Right to life.
The right to a clean and
healthy environment, as has been held by the Supreme Court, is not only a
Fundamental Right but has been inculcated and understood to be one of the basic
human rights.
The three pillars of the
Indian democracy, the legislature, executive and judiciary are keen to
incorporate the philosophy of deliberative democracy in environmental decision
making for ensuring effective accomplishment of the diverse goals of
environmental sustainability. This is in line with the international mandate as
formulated in the erstwhile Millennium Development Goals and the recently
framed Sustainable Development Goals.
The Judiciary and the
Executive play a major role in ensuring rule of law and sustainable
development.
In fact, rule of law and
sustainable development are inseparable. Well-functioning and robust
legal institutions and governments bound by the rule of law are vital to good
governance which is essential for sustainable development. A fair,
impartial and accessible system of justice and a representative government are
key elements of the rule of law. Good governance promotes accountability,
transparency, efficiency, and rule of law in public institutions at all levels.
This conference has
provided a useful platform where concept of good governance, rule of law and
sustainable development has been discussed by the judiciary and
executive. There are not too many platforms such as this. This
conference has been attended by practitioners in the field like Chairmen and
Member Secretaries of Pollution Control Boards as well as policy makers.
It has provided a rare
opportunity to understand the mutual concerns and develop a way to move
forward. The workshop has also been attended by a number of students
representing the aspirations of the young population.
India is a country where
nearly 60 percent of its population is under the age of 35 years. To take the
debate of sustainable development forward we need to communicate with the
youth. Today the youth is coming of age in a time of social media. The youth is
driving the conversation from analogue and local to digital and global. I
believe that the time has come to start the development conversations at ‘the
last mile’ where the marginal man is standing.
In the end, I would like to
compliment the National Green Tribunal, Ministry of Environment, Forest &
Climate Change and Ministry of Water Resource, River Development and Ganga
Rejuvenation as well as UNEP for their active role during this workshop.
The idea behind this
Conference on ‘Rule of Law for Supporting the 2030 Development
Agenda/Sustainable Development Goals’ was to raise environmental awareness by
asking new questions, exploring new possibilities and effectively looking at
old problems from new, global angles. It all requires a great creative
imagination and it gives me contentment that the elaborative deliberations have
demonstrated such rare ingenuity. I believe that the conclusions and
recommendations formulated here shall mark real advancement in environmental
jurisprudence and thinking.
I think we need to create
more such opportunities to develop a shared understanding and a common
vision. I strongly believe and reiterate that we can transform this
country if we all join our hands in pursuit of our common objectives.”
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