OSDMA Of Odisha Wins Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2023

Bhubaneswar: Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has been selected for the prestigious Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2023 for their excellent work in disaster management.

OSDMA and Lunglei Fire Station (LFS), Mizoram have been selected for the annual award in the institutional category, an official release said on Monday.

The Union government under the leadership of Prime Minister  Narendra Modi has instituted the annual award to recognise and honour the invaluable contribution and selfless service rendered by individuals and organisations in India in the field of disaster management, it said.

The award is announced every year on January 23, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 51 lakh and a certificate in case of an institution and Rs 5 lakh and a certificate in case of an individual, the release said.

Under the guidance of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, the country has significantly improved the disaster management practices, preparedness, mitigation and response mechanisms resulting in significant reduction in casualties during natural calamities.

For the award of year-2023, nominations were solicited from July 1, 2022 onwards. The award scheme for the year 2023 was given wide publicity through print, electronic and social media. In response to the award scheme, 274 valid nominations were received from institutions and individuals.

It may be noted here that OSDMA, established in 1999 in the aftermath of the Super Cyclone, embarked on multiple initiatives including raising of the Odisha Disaster Rapid 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.

Similarly, Lunglei Fire Station of Mizoram responded efficiently and effectively to a massive forest fire which was reported on April 24, 2021 in the uninhabited forest areas that surrounded Lunglei town and spread to more than 10 village council areas.