Guwahati: A six-member team from the Tokyo-based Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Thursday (July 18) visited the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) in Guwahati in connection with the ‘Country focused training programme on enhancing disaster risk reduction and resilience building capacities of Northeastern states of India.’
The training programme is under implementation for building capacities of the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) of India’s Northeastern states. It is a part of official development assistance of the Japanese government based on bilateral cooperation with India.
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The training programme is a joint collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati’s (IITG’s) Centre for Disaster Management and Research (CDMR), and JICA.
The team will visit a few flood, erosion and landslide affected areas in Barpeta, Kamrup, and Kamrup Metropolitan districts to understand the risk and vulnerabilities of these areas with the objective of potential project development for mitigation and prevention measures to reduce disaster risks in the region.
Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota graced the occasion in presence of ASDMA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gyanendra Dev Tripathi and other senior officials of the IITG, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and the ASDMA.
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The Chief Secretary in his speech highlighted the hazards and risks Assam is prone to, and the measures taken by the government agencies and the community. He also stressed on the need for sustainable solutions to the recurrent natural calamities in the state as well as earthquake vulnerability solutions.
On the other hand, Tripathi emphasised on the primary aspects of the collaboration like training and education on disasters, imparting awareness and innovation, and research, which would enhance the opportunities of the ASDMA professionals.
The discussion followed with presentations from the ASDMA on learning of the participants who had recently participated in a two-week-long training programme conducted in Japan.
The training programme was attended by two officials from the ASDMA along with several other SDMAs of the Northeastern region. The ASDMA team also shared the plan and follow-up actions on the training to be imparted in the next two years.
The JICA team was led by Kuwano Takeshi and comprised earthquake specialist Araki Motoyo, flood specialist Yuasa Takashi, training management specialist Kato Tomohiro and human resource development specialist Sasaki Yuka.
The team of Japanese experts earlier visited the IITG and met its director and other team members of the institute.