Accidents, disasters eroding two per cent of GDP: Kiren Rijiju

NAGPUR: Accidents and disasters are eroding 2 per cent of country's GDP which could have been 9 per cent otherwise, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said here today.

"Nation is losing nearly 2% of its GDP due to various accidents and disasters which otherwise could help in enhancing the growth rate of the country to 9 per cent," the MoS, Home, said.

He was addressing the Wardens Conclave at National Civil Defence College here.

Rijiju distributed gold medals to 40 learning achievers of various training programmes conducted at this institute from all over the country.

He also felicitated two civil defence veterans of the 1965 Indo-Pak War from Delhi, namely Amarnath Singhal, chief warden and Jasbir Singh, senior chief warden.

"Civil defence will continue to play a prominent role in management of disasters as the possibility of any war is very remote," the minister said.

Expressing concern over the country losing 2 per cent of its GDP due to spending on various accidents and disasters, Rijiju underlined the need for prevention and extensive use of science and technology for achieving the GDP target.

The NDRF Director General, O P Singh praised the selfless services rendered by the civil defence volunteers in various parts of the country.

"Though the Civil Defence Organisation which was originally created to deal with the war-time emergencies, over the years has exhibited its prowess in handling other emergencies too," he said.

National Civil Defence College director G S Saini, was also present on the occasion.