Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo urged prompt, institutionalized disaster relief while chairing the 4th SEC meeting of the Disaster Management Department in Jammu.
Feb 16, Srinagar: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Sunday called for a time-bound and institutionalized mechanism to ensure swift relief to disaster-affected families while chairing the fourth meeting of the State Executive Committee of the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Jammu.
He said families impacted by natural calamities often depend solely on government assistance and directed officials to ensure that relief reaches affected households without delay. He emphasized prompt disbursement of aid and accountability in processing claims.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including the principal secretary, home; special director general, coordination; special secretary, finance; and officers of the department.
Taking note of pending claims, Dulloo directed immediate clearance of outstanding relief amounts for districts affected by last year’s flash floods. He sought a compliance report confirming that funds were released in accordance with the assessed requirements.
He also called for strengthening preparedness and mitigation measures, directing departments to establish a clearly defined response framework outlining roles and responsibilities to ensure coordinated action during emergencies.
Principal Secretary Home Chandraker Bharti briefed the action committee taken reports from previous meetings. He said the process to establish Urban Disaster Management Authorities in Jammu and Srinagar is underway. He also informed the panel that engagement of the United Nations Development Programme as a technical partner for disaster risk management in the Union Territory is in progress to help frame a comprehensive mitigation plan.
Bharti said about Rs 96 crore has been released to districts under the State Disaster Response Fund following recent disasters. He also highlighted capacity-building initiatives undertaken to enhance preparedness across districts.
The committee was informed that post-disaster needs assessments were conducted in coordination with the National Disaster Management Authority in line with guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs to evaluate losses and frame a structured recovery strategy.
To strengthen response mechanisms, the committee approved a standardized Incident Response System notification for divisions and districts to ensure coordinated and timely action during emergencies.
Discussions were also held on enhancing the functioning of District Disaster Management Authorities. The finance department will provide funds to hire consultants to improve technical and institutional capacity.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to protecting lives and livelihoods, the chief secretary directed departments to work toward building a resilient and responsive disaster management framework for Jammu and Kashmir.