Kathmandu, Nov 8: The Provincial Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (PPDRRR) has been formed in the Sudurpashchim Province today. The program was organized jointly by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law.
Chief Minister of Sudurpashchim Kamal Bahadur Shah, Minister of Internal Affairs and Law Shivaraj Bhatta, Member of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Dr. Gangalal Tuladhar, and the representative of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Smita Paudel, among others were present on the program.
During the program, it was informed that following the recommendations by the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction to form disaster risk reduction platforms at various levels globally, the Ministry of Home Affairs had established the “National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction” in the year 2012 and had formally introduced the “National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction Operational Guideline, 2019”.
Dr. Raju Thapa, representing the DPNet, presented a proposal during the program to form provincial platforms in line with the said guidance, based on the suggestions received from discussions held at the provincial level three times in the past.
Former Secretary Kedar Neupane, presented the proposed structure for the platform, which would be chaired by the Minister of Internal Affairs and Law and would include members representing governmental bodies, semi-governmental bodies, UN and donor agencies, international non-governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, academic sector, private sector, media world, and representatives of disaster-affected groups, with DPNet Sudurpashchim serving as the secretariat.
In the meeting, Minister of Internal Affairs and Law, was decided to be a Chair of the platform, and further discussions were to be held regarding the members of the platform.
Council member Dr. Tuladhar expressed confidence that such platforms representing all sectors would prove to be milestone in disaster management within the province.
Minister Shivaraj Bhatta emphasized the need for coordination, cooperation, partnership, study, research, and knowledge exchange in the context of risk reduction, management, and emergency humanitarian assistance, and noted that such activities would be progressive through the platform.
Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah mentioned that the Sudurpashchim Province is highly sensitive from a disaster perspective and the province has been making every effort to reduce disaster risk. He expressed the view that the federal government should consider the province’s vulnerability to disasters.
