Bhubaneswar, June 4 (). Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday inaugurated the technical meeting of the BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction (DRRD) Working Group in the holy city of Puri.
He appealed for increased international and state cooperation to deal with the growing challenges posed by climate change and natural disasters.
Welcoming the representatives, experts and guests of BRICS countries, Chief Minister Majhi described this meeting as an important platform to advance disaster risk reduction efforts at the global level.
He informed that the theme of this meeting is ‘building for resilience, innovation, collaboration and sustainability’. This theme reflects the immediate priorities of the international community to ensure the security of lives, livelihoods and future generations through greater cooperation.
Addressing the session, CM Majhi emphasized that disaster risk reduction is no longer just an isolated regional issue, but has become a mainstay of sustainable development, economic stability and human security.
He said climate change, rapid urbanization and environmental degradation are increasing both the frequency and intensity of disasters around the world, requiring stronger preparedness and coordinated action.
He also highlighted Odisha’s globally acclaimed disaster management model, which is based on the guiding principle of ‘Zero Casualty’.
CM Majhi said the state has continuously strengthened its disaster preparedness through evidence-based planning, advanced early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, institutional capacity building and inclusive governance mechanisms.
Noting Odisha’s vulnerability to new risks arising in cities due to cyclones, heat waves, lightning, coastal erosion and climate change, the Chief Minister stressed the need for continued innovation and investment in resilience-building measures.
CM Majhi said, “Odisha’s journey proves that preparedness, strong institutions and community participation can significantly reduce the impacts of disasters. However, even greater efforts, stronger partnerships and advanced technological capabilities will be required to meet future challenges.”
He stressed the need for climate-resilient urban planning, sustainable land use and concrete measures to protect against heat waves to strengthen the resilience of cities against rising temperatures, extreme weather events and rapid urbanisation.
The Chief Minister also appealed for enhanced scientific interventions, public awareness campaigns and enhanced preventive measures to tackle the growing threats from heat waves, lightning and coastal erosion.
The Chief Minister highlighted the importance of the BICS platform in promoting cooperation among emerging economies on critical issues such as disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, resilient infrastructure and capacity building.
He urged participating countries and experts not to limit themselves to discussions, but to transform their conversations into concrete partnerships and practical outcomes that can benefit vulnerable populations around the world.
“BICS offers a unique opportunity to strengthen cooperation in the areas of early warning systems, strong infrastructure, climate adaptation and institutional capacity building. What is needed today is to translate dialogue into concrete action,” he said.
Expressing confidence on the outcomes of the meeting, CM Majhi said the “complete discussions” could prove to be a milestone in global disaster risk reduction efforts.
He said, “The framework that will emerge from this historic conference held in Puri can pave the way towards global security and give a new definition to international cooperation in the field of disaster risk reduction.”
It is noteworthy that the BIX technical meeting of ‘Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group’ is being organized in Puri from 3rd to 5th June.
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ASH/PM