IIT-Guwahati Signs Mou With ASDMA For Collaboration In The Field Of Disaster Risk Reduction

HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Oct 18: The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati at the director’s boardroom, IIT Guwahati with an aim to collaborate on various projects and activities.

Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, Jogen Mohan graced the occasion for signing of the MoU followed by the launching of the website (www.iitg.ac.in/cdmr) of Center for Disaster Management and Research (CDMR), IIT-G.

The MoU envisages fulfilling of some objectives for both the parties in capacity building for mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), case studies, evaluation studies, undertaking research projects/innovative activities, publication of articles & awareness materials, taking up pilot projects in DRR area, conducting & supporting consultation, knowledge, and experience sharing, etc. Further, the CDMR at IIT Guwahati will act as the nodal centre for research collaborations, training programs and projects in this domain.

Prof TG Sitharam, director of IIT Guwahati and GD Tripathi, chief executive officer of ASDMA signed the MoU in presence of formal witnesses of Prof Sudip Mitra, head of CDMR, IIT Guwahati and Alakananda Medhi, ACS, state project coordinator, ASDMA & other faculty members of IIT-G and officers of ASDMA.
Minister Mohan highlighted the various aspects of this MoU and said that this collaboration between IIT-G and ASDMA will lead towards strengthening the disaster management strategy for Assam. He said that he believes IIT-G and specifically, Center for Disaster Management and Research (CDMR) would strengthen the state disaster management policies with its innovative and action-oriented research and technical expertise. He also assured his full support towards strengthening CDMR’s institutional capacity.

Prof Sitharam in his welcome address mentioned about the importance of the MoU and how IIT-G and ASDMA can work towards developing a resilient society. He also requested minister Jogen Mohan to lend support to CDMR in order to make it a Centre of Excellence not only in Assam or in this region but to also make it an international hub for disaster risk reduction and management related innovation, research, capacity building and advocacy.

GD Tripathi emphasised on the primary aspects of this collaboration like training and education on disasters, imparting awareness and innovation and research.
He further added, “This MoU will enhance the opportunities of the professionals of ASDMA for better training and also potential academic pursuits.”
Prof Sudip Mitra apprised the minister about the initiative that CDMR is pursuing for the capacity development of all the SDMAs of North Eastern regions by seeking Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) technical support for capacity building & infrastructure development.
Finally, the minister along with CEO, ASDMA and other officials visited the CDMR office at the Technology Complex at IIT-G and interacted with the masters and PhD students of the Centre. Later, they visited the structural engineering lab of IIT-G and interacted with the professors and students and discussed various technologies used to prepare safe buildings and other structures.