The Centre has granted an aid of Rs 915 crore to Odisha from the National Disaster Response Fund. This was announced by Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde at the 9th Raising Day function of the Nation Disaster Response Force (NDRF) at Munduli near here on Sunday.
“Three days back the NDRF’s high-level committee, in which I am also a member, decided to sanction an assistance of Rs 915 crore to the State,” said Shinde.
The Union Home Minister praised both the NDRF and the Odisha Government for the rescue work during cyclone Phailin that struck the State in October last.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who was present during the function, said the State Government expects the NDRF to play a significant role in capacity building of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF).
“Your prompt response to prepositioning in the danger zone and outstanding performance in rescuing endangered lives and in the relief operations has been commendable,” said Patnaik.
During the Raising Day function, the NDRF personnel took out a parade and demonstrated their skills through mock drills.Among others, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Vice-Chairman M Sashidhar Reddy, State Ministers and top officials of both Central and State Government security agencies were present.