New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi awarded Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) with ‘Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2023’ at a special function held on 10 March at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Pramila Mallick along with Chief Secretary and OSDMA Chairman Pradeep Kumar Jena and Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and OSDMA Managing Director Nukunja Dhal received the prestigious award from Shri Modi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority for its disaster management.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, “Odisha State Disaster Management Authority has been doing pioneering work in disaster preparedness, particularly with regard to cyclones. This team has utilised the latest technology to save lives. Glad that they have been conferred the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar.”
Chief Secretary Jena said Odisha has done tremendous work in disaster management. The State Government has been working with a mission ‘every life is precious’ during the last 23 years.
“We have ensured zero causality in the last seven cyclones. Odisha has been recognised not only at national-level but also at international level. We have been awarded by the UN. However, Odisha has not been awarded with the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar in the last 23 years,” Shri Jena said.
This award from the Government of India will encourage the State to work more responsibly, he said.
All credit goes to the State Administration and also the community, who always extended a big hand to the government during any natural disaster. And the leaser is the Chief Minister, who always guided the administration to ensure zero casualty, the Chief Secretary said.
It is to be noted here that the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar is an Indian National Award for disaster management for those who served selfless service for the country.
Every individual and organisation is awarded by the Government of India every year on January 23, the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar carries a cash reward of Rs 51 lakh and a certificate of appreciation.
Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), was established in 1999 in the aftermath of the Super Cyclone. OSDMA embarked on multiple initiatives including raising of the Odisha Disaster Response Action Force (ODRAF), Multi-hazard Early Warning Service (MHEWS) framework, and a cutting-edge technology-enabled web/smartphone-based platform called “SATARK” (System for Assessing, Tracking, and Alerting Disaster Risk Information based on Dynamic Risk Knowledge).
OSDMA provided effective response during various cyclones, Hudhud (2014), Fani (2019), Amphan (2020) and Odisha floods (2020). OSDMA conducted disaster preparedness initiatives in building community resilience in 381 tsunami prone villages/wards and 879 multi-purpose cyclone/ flood shelters located within 1.5 km from coastline.