Government to upgrade NDRF facilities to provide help to neighbouring countries

NEW DELHI: The government plans to upgrade the capabilities and skills of its disaster management force to offer its services to neighbouring countries as well as those in South Asia for managing rescue activities in the event of a disaster, Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju said on Thursday.

The National Disaster Management Force (NDRF), comprising of nearly 10,000 paramilitary personnel, is the world's largest standalone disaster response force and its performance has been appreciated in handling various emergencies in the country. "We feel that the standards of NDRF should be further increased so that we can offer this force in the time of need to our neighbouring countries for relief and rescue operations in the case of a natural calamity. India should have a world-class NDRF that can even extend help to countries in South Asia," Rijiju said.

Countries in South Asia as well as Nepal and Bangladesh are prone to natural disasters like Tsunamis and floods. The NDRF earlier received appreciation from the Japan government after a 46-member NDRF team went there in 2011 to provide disaster relief and rescue assistance in the tsunami struck town of Onagawa.

NDRF can presently go to a foreign country if invited, seeking help. The NDRF had earlier applied for certification from the United Nations agency (International Search and Rescue Advisory Group) as well.

Though the role of NDRF has come up for praise in managing calamities during the Kedarnath disaster as well as rescuing people during the Phialin storm, the efficency of NDRF's parent body, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has come in for major criticism.

The Vice-Chairman and members of NDMA were recently asked to resign from their posts. These posts are expected now to be filled with experts having knowledge and experience of disaster management. It is speculated that former Home Secretary and now BJP MP, RK Singh has been sounded to be appointed as the Vice-Chairman of the NDMA. The Prime Minister acts as Chairman of the NDMA.