New Delhi: Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has been selected for the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2023 for its excellent work in disaster management.
OSDMA, an autonomous organization of the Odisha Government whose primary purpose is to carry out responses to natural or man-made disasters and for capacity-building in disaster resiliency and crisis response, has been selected for the prestigious award in the Institutional category.
The Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar is announced every year on 23rd January, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. The award carries a cash prize of Rs. 51 lakh and a certificate in case of an institution and Rs. 5 lakh and a certificate in case of an individual.
For the award of year-2023, nominations were solicited from 1st July, 2022 onwards. The award scheme for the year 2023 was given wide publicity through print, electronic and social media. In response to the award scheme, 274 valid nominations were received from institutions and individuals, said the Ministry of Home Affairs.
OSDMA was established in 1999 in the aftermath of the Super Cyclone. OSDMA embarked on multiple initiatives including raising of the Odisha Disaster Response Action Force (ODRAF), Multi-hazard Early Warning Service (MHEWS) framework, and a cutting-edge technology-enabled web/smartphone-based platform called “SATARK” (System for Assessing, Tracking, and Alerting Disaster Risk Information based on Dynamic Risk Knowledge).
OSDMA provided effective response during various cyclones, Hudhud (2014), Fani (2019), Amphan (2020) and Odisha floods (2020). OSDMA conducted disaster preparedness initiatives in building community resilience in 381 tsunami prone villages/wards and 879 multi-purpose cyclone/ flood shelters located within 1.5 km from coastline.
Besides OSDMA, Mizoram’s Lunglei Fire Station was also selected in the Institutional Category for Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2023.