In News:

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in partnership with the Indian Army's Southern Command and the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA), recently conducted "EXERCISE AIKYA" in Chennai. This two-day Integrated Symposium and Table Top Exercise (TTEx) aimed to bolster disaster preparedness and response among key stakeholders across Peninsular India.

Key Highlights:

• Objective: "Aikya," meaning "Oneness" in Tamil, sought to unify India’s disaster management community by enhancing collaboration and preparedness.
• Participants: The exercise involved representatives from:
  • Six southern states/UTs: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Puducherry.
  • Central ministries related to disaster management.
  • State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs).
  • Armed forces, including the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
  • Response agencies such as the NDRF, Indian Coast Guard, CRPF, CISF, and Railways.
  • Early warning agencies including the IMD, NRSC, INCOIS, CWC, and FSI.
  • Research institutions like NIDM, NIOT, IIT Madras, and DAE, with Prof. CVR Murty of IIT Madras serving as the Exercise Mentor.
• Focus Areas: The exercise simulated various emergency situations, covering:
  • Tsunamis, landslides, floods, cyclones, industrial incidents, and forest fires.
  • Recent disaster events in Tamil Nadu, Wayanad, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Discussions: Participants engaged in discussions about:
  • Leveraging technology and AI for disaster management.
  • Economic impacts of disasters.
  • Vulnerabilities specific to the Peninsular region.
  • Strategies for improving response times.

Future Plans

"EXERCISE AIKYA" marks a crucial step towards strengthening India’s disaster management framework. The NDMA and the Southern Command plan to conduct similar exercises with other military commands and institutions, including the Army War College and Naval War College, to further enhance national disaster preparedness and response capabilities.