Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today emphasized the need for timely and effective relief for families affected by disasters while chairing the 4th meeting of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction (DMRR&R).
Highlighting the vulnerability of communities in Jammu & Kashmir, he observed that families affected by natural disasters often rely solely on government support. He directed officers to ensure prompt disbursement of relief assistance without delay.
Taking note of pending claims, the Chief Secretary ordered immediate clearance of outstanding relief amounts in favor of Deputy Commissioners of districts affected by the flash floods of the previous year and requested a detailed compliance report.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Principal Secretary, Home, Chandraker Bharti, who briefed the Committee on Action Taken Reports and ongoing initiatives. He informed that the process to establish Urban Disaster Management Authorities in Jammu and Srinagar is underway, and that engagement of the United Nations Development Programme as a technical partner for Disaster Risk Management is in progress.
Approximately ₹96 crore has been released to districts under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Post Disaster Needs Assessments (PDNA) were also conducted with support from the National Disaster Management Authority, in line with the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Committee approved a standardized Incident Response System notification to ensure coordinated and prompt action during emergencies and reiterated the commitment to building a resilient disaster management framework for Jammu & Kashmir.