NDMA calls for pro-active participation of telecom service providers in mitigating losses during disasters
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) called a meeting of Telecom Service Providers (TSP) here yesterday to discuss their participation in planning preparedness, information, and relief and rescue operations.
NDMA member Shri R.K. Jain, who chaired the meeting, underlined the importance of communication networks before, during and after any disaster. He informed that all key members from telecom service providers fraternity would now be included in NDMAs list of e-mails and SMSes. This would enable forecasts and pre-disaster warnings to reach them, and thus the public, at the earliest.
A detailed discussion on the role of telecom service providers in the time of a disaster and the challenges that they face was held. NDMA assured them of providing any assistance or expertise needed, as the case may be, in restoring their damaged infrastructure and communication networks.
Addressing the concern of bubble pricing for essential services such as transport, fuel, shelter, etc. during a disaster for infrastructure restoration workers, NDMA advised the telecom service providers to coordinate with the district authorities, who can list them under Essential Service Providers. This would mean that the TSPs will receive a certain quota of essentials in case a disaster strikes.
NDMA intends to make TSPs an integral part of its mitigation and relief operations across the country. They would now also be included in mock exercises that the disaster management authority conducts throughout the country.
NDMA also advised them to ensure that they install mobile towers only at disaster resilient locations.
NDMA Members Lt. Gen. N.C. Marwah (Retd.) and Dr. D.N. Sharma also attended the meeting and provided valuable inputs. Senior officials of NDMA, representatives of Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI) and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) as well as various telecom service providers attended the meeting.
NDMA member Shri R.K. Jain, who chaired the meeting, underlined the importance of communication networks before, during and after any disaster. He informed that all key members from telecom service providers fraternity would now be included in NDMAs list of e-mails and SMSes. This would enable forecasts and pre-disaster warnings to reach them, and thus the public, at the earliest.
A detailed discussion on the role of telecom service providers in the time of a disaster and the challenges that they face was held. NDMA assured them of providing any assistance or expertise needed, as the case may be, in restoring their damaged infrastructure and communication networks.
Addressing the concern of bubble pricing for essential services such as transport, fuel, shelter, etc. during a disaster for infrastructure restoration workers, NDMA advised the telecom service providers to coordinate with the district authorities, who can list them under Essential Service Providers. This would mean that the TSPs will receive a certain quota of essentials in case a disaster strikes.
NDMA intends to make TSPs an integral part of its mitigation and relief operations across the country. They would now also be included in mock exercises that the disaster management authority conducts throughout the country.
NDMA also advised them to ensure that they install mobile towers only at disaster resilient locations.
NDMA Members Lt. Gen. N.C. Marwah (Retd.) and Dr. D.N. Sharma also attended the meeting and provided valuable inputs. Senior officials of NDMA, representatives of Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI) and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) as well as various telecom service providers attended the meeting.
