To remind people of the devastation of the Super Cyclone of 1999 and get them prepared to face any kind of natural disaster in future, every year on October 29, the Disaster Preparedness Day and National Day for Disaster Reduction is observed in Odisha.
Disaster management is one of the core areas of the Indian Red Cross Society under which Odisha branch has been implementing different preparedness and response activities in the State. The unit has been observing the day in all 65 Multipurpose Cyclone Shelters, apart from participating in a State level function organised by the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA). This year the theme of the function was ‘Youth & Disaster Management.’
In this year’s function, the State Government felicitated two Red Cross Multipurpose Cyclone Shelter communities Gokharkuda in Ganjam district and Khurantatutha in Jagatsinghpur district for best shelter maintenance and management. Secretaries of the Shelter and Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) of both Multipurpose Cyclone Shelters received memento, cash award of Rs 10,000 each along with a certificate from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Red Cross also organised an exhibition on the day. Disaster preparedness equipment used by the shelter communities and non food relief items were displayed. Red Cross local unit honorary secretary, joint secretary, Youth Red Cross officers, members, Youth Red Cross and Junior Red Cross counsellors and volunteers took part.