BRICS members discuss joint task force

The two-day BRICS ministers’ meeting on disaster management began on Monday in Udaipur.

Topics under discussion at the meet are forecasting and early warning on floods and extreme weather events and highlights of recent scientific and technical developments. The other areas of discussion comprise lessons for ensuring last mile connectivity, community level action on early warning and emerging disaster risks as a result of climate change.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, who is presiding over the meeting, said BRICS countries were striving to set up a joint task force on disaster management as a permanent forum for regular dialogue and mutual support.

“India is a disaster-prone land and we have one of the largest and efficient disaster response forces in the world. China is an expert in handling earthquake situations, while Russia leads in managing wildfire incidents. Therefore, there would soon be a common platform and road map for the BRICS members to share and gain from each other’s expertise and technologies,” he told reporters. 

“Disaster management should be in our thought. Houses, roads, malls, schools and colleges should be designed and constructed, and street poles should be installed in accordance with this thought,” he said.