Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a meeting to assess the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction (DMRR&R) efforts in J&K. He stressed the need for improved disaster mitigation plans and emphasized the urgency of making the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) fully functional by the end of the fiscal year. Dulloo highlighted the importance of studying Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) and urged training programs for students and volunteers to strengthen disaster response.
Principal Secretary Chandraker Bharti provided updates on disaster management activities, including the strengthening of disaster management authorities at various levels and the preparation of updated District Disaster Management Plans (DDMPs) for 2024-25. Plans for heatwave, flood, cold wave, and landslide management were also discussed, with the Landslide Management Plan still under development. The Emergency Response Support System (ERSS), a toll-free number for disaster responses, has been launched, and the Common Alert Protocol (CAP) is in place to disseminate alerts through multiple channels.
Welfare measures for migrants were also reviewed. The status of transit accommodations for Kashmiri Pandit employees was discussed, along with recruitment updates. Migrants are being provided benefits under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), social security schemes, and access to self-employment and skill development programs. The outreach to cover West Pakistani Refugees (WPRs) under the Rehabilitation Package and the development of infrastructure for displaced communities, like the PoJK Bhawan at Suketar, were also part of the discussion.