Patnaik thanks Sitharaman for endorsing Odisha's disaster preparedness

 Odisha Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday thanked Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for endorsing coastal state's disaster preparedness, and said his government always makes efforts to "address needs" of vulnerable people.

Earlier, Sitharaman had shared an article on Odisha's disaster manment by Observer Research Foundation (ORF) -- an India-based independent think tank - and lauded state for its efforts to mitigate impact of calamities.

"Post Phailin, UN had recognised Odisha's preparedness as a 'global success story' and made plans to use it as a model for or cities.... Well done Orissa, she said on microblogging site.

Odisha government had evacuated close to a million people from coastal areas of state and moved m to safety, before cyclone Phailin struck in October 2013.

Around 25 people lost ir lives in calamity.

ORF, in its report, said "Odisha is an example of being vulnerable yet resilient, and salient features of its disaster manment approach thus offer lessons for whole country." It also stated that last month, "two coastal vills in Odisha, Venkatraipur in Ganjam district and liasahi in Jagatsinghpur district, earned recognition of being 'Tsunami Ready' from UNESCO-Intergovernmental Oceagraphic Commission, making India first country in Indian Ocean Region to establish such high levels of disaster preparedness at community level".

PK Jena, state's additional chief secretary-cum- special relief commissioner, said, "Odisha has consistently done well in disaster manment. However, a lot more still needs to be done to develop disaster-resilient infrastructure." 

(Im Credits:PTI)