The highly anticipated WCDM – DRR Awards annual ceremony was held on 15th January 2025 at The Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. The event was graced by Shri Piyush Goyal, Honorable Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, as the Chief Guest. The esteemed dignitaries in attendance included Justice M.M. Kumar, Former Chief Justice of Jammu & Kashmir High Court and Chair, Jury, WCDM-DRR Awards, and Shri Sanjay Kumar, IAS, Secretary, School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, as Guest of Honor.
The grand WCDM – DRR Awards ceremony was organized to recognize and celebrate the exceptional contributions of individuals and organizations in the field of disaster management. The event saw the participation of all 39 awardees, along with over 200 guests from diverse regions such as Meghalaya, Odisha, Bihar, and Karnataka, representing various corners of the country. The speaker hall exuded a vibrant energy, filled with such distinguished minds gathered in one place.
Justice M.M. Kumar addressed the gathering, sharing his insightful experiences during the 2014 Jammu & Kashmir floods, highlighting the challenges faced and the resilience demonstrated in the face of disaster.
In his address, Shri Sanjay Kumar emphasized the importance of focusing on preventive measures in disaster management, rather than solely relying on post-disaster policies. He pointed out that human nature often leads to a lack of seriousness until a disaster directly affects us.
Despite his busy schedule, the Chief Guest, Shri Piyush Goyal, took time to present the awards and deliver an inspiring speech. He made several key observations on disaster management, stressing the need to eliminate the necessity for approaching courts for insurance claims after disasters. He also highlighted the importance of raising awareness about climate change among children, as they will be the ones leading the country in the years ahead. Furthermore, Shri Goyal noted that disaster management has been prioritized with increased funding in the national budget and continues to be a key focus of the PM’s Ten Point Agenda on DRR.
The awardees expressed their gratitude and admiration for the efforts of Dr. S Ananda Babu, President and Convener of the DMICS – WCDM in organizing the World Congresses on Disaster Management. They acknowledged the significant achievement of the WCDM-DRR Awards and the six successful WCDM conferences held to date, which have been made possible through collaboration with leading scientists, researchers, academicians, as well as central and state governments, the armed forces, PSUs, and dedicated individuals. Organizing such a prestigious event year after year requires immense dedication and hard work, and yesterday's successful event stands as a testament to that commitment.
The success of the event was truly a team effort, and this was evident to all who attended. The DMICS team, consisting of long-time supporters such as Dr. Ray Kancharla, Major Rahul Jugran, Dr. Piyoosh Rautela, Mr. Kumar Raushan, and Mr Amitesh and many others worked tirelessly alongside Dr. Ananda Babu to ensure the event’s resounding success.
We are deeply grateful for the invaluable support provided by our partner and collaborators. The event would not have been possible without your generous contributions.
A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you. We look forward to continued collaboration in the future.
WCDM DRR 2024 Gallery