To build a disaster-resilient society through institutional collaboration, a high-level delegation from Odisha led by Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari visited Gujarat.
The delegation aimed to strengthen mutual cooperation by sharing operational expertise, technical knowledge, and disaster response strategies.
During the visit, Minister Pujari, alongside Special Relief Commissioner-cum-MD of Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) Rajesh Prabhakar Patil and senior departmental officials, toured key disaster management institutes. These included the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) and the Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM) in Gandhinagar. The delegation also visited the Smrutivan Earthquake Memorial and Museum in Bhuj. The site honours the victims of the 2001 Gujarat earthquake while serving as a center for public education, memory preservation, and disaster preparedness.
As part of the itinerary, Minister Pujari met Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendrabhai Patel, to exchange views on innovative disaster mitigation practices undertaken by both states. High-level bilateral discussions were also held with Gujarat’s Minister of State for Revenue & Disaster Management Sanjaysinh Vijaysinh Mahida, Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Jayanti S. Ravi, Relief Commissioner Gaurang H. Makwana, and GSDMA CEO Dr. Dhabal Patel.
The discussions encompassed a wide spectrum of disaster risk reduction strategies, focusing on emergency preparedness, technology integration, capacity building, community mock drills, public awareness campaigns, and long-term post-disaster rehabilitation. To elevate this bilateral alliance, both states agreed to prioritize joint exercises, technical workshops, and structured exposure visits for personnel.
Having faced distinct natural calamities—from cyclones along the Bay of Bengal to seismic threats in western India—both Odisha and Gujarat possess robust institutional capacities. By leveraging each other’s field-tested frameworks and best practices, both state administrations committed to enhancing rapid response mechanisms and accelerating proactive disaster mitigation efforts across the country.
