Increasing disaster reduction abilities brought India closer to other nations: Rajnath

New Delhi, Sept 28: Terming disaster management and risk reduction as issues that concern the entire humanity, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said India's efforts to increase its disaster reduction capabilities have proved instrumental in developing close bonds with other countries. Delivering keynote address at the 13th formation day of the National Disaster Management Authority, Mr Singh said, 'We are one with countries of the world on issues relating to disaster reduction. Disaster management and risk reduction are issues associated with the entire humanity. "Our efforts to increase our capabilities for disaster reduction have been instrumental in other countries coming closer to us.' In this context, Mr Singh said in 2014 when Nepal suffered an earthquake, India played an important role in providing relief which was appreciated by the people of that country. 'There are no boundaries for nature. For example, if a disaster affects the Bay of Bengal area, it not just impacts India but also other countries,' the Minister said at the function, which was also attended by Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba. Mr Singh said the focus in disaster mitigation should be on community involvement. Speaking about the theme of this year's Formation Day, School Safety, the Home Minister said the implementation of the school safety policy should be carried out in maximum schools in the country. Lauding the work being done by the NDMA in the field of disaster reduction, he said, 'In a short period, the NDMA has come a long way. It has done good work in enhancing its disaster management capabilities. The NDMA has establioshed a niche for itself across the world due to its work. "Last month I attended an SCO meeting in Kyrgistan on disaster management. there, I found all the members of the organisaiton highly impressed with the work in disaster management being done in India.'  UNI