Bhubaneswar, June 2: The second technical meeting of the BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Working Group commenced in Puri on Wednesday, bringing together policymakers, disaster management experts, and government officials from 11 BRICS member and partner countries to deliberate on strategies for strengthening disaster resilience and reducing risks associated with natural and climate-induced disasters.

The three-day event, which will continue until June 5, marks the first in-person technical meeting of the BRICS DRR Working Group under India’s BRICS Presidency. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is scheduled to participate in the deliberations on Thursday.

Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said India had earlier hosted the first technical meeting of the working group in a virtual format on April 29 and 30. He noted that the Puri meeting is significant as it is the first such BRICS disaster management event being held in Odisha.

Representatives from BRICS member and partner nations are taking part in discussions focused on sustainable financing for disaster risk reduction, resilient infrastructure development, anticipatory response systems, and the integration of traditional knowledge into modern disaster management practices.

The agenda also includes community-based disaster governance, disaster risk financing, multi-hazard early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, nature-based solutions, indigenous knowledge systems, and the role of science, technology, and innovation in mitigating disaster risks.

Originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS expanded in recent years with the inclusion of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.

Ahead of the meeting, Chief Minister Majhi described the event as a matter of pride for Odisha, highlighting the state's globally recognised achievements in disaster preparedness, response, and resilience-building initiatives.

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