Increasing frequencies and growing intensities of disasters around the world have been causing enormous losses of lives, livelihoods and assets. The 4th World Congress on Disaster Management (WCDM-2019) was held in Mumbai from the 29th January to 1st February 2019, with an aim to deliberate on some of the most critical issues and challenges related to implementation of the global frameworks on building resilience to disasters.
The theme of the Congress, namely, 'Building Resilience to Disaster: Bridging Gaps between Promises and Action' allowed excellent opportunities to people to critically evaluate the challenges and also facilitate the implementation of the development agenda at the ground level. 4th WCDM 2019 was structured in 9 Plenary Sessions, Multiple Thematic Sessions and 6 Special Feature Events. Besides poster presentations, film shows and exhibitions shall be organized.
The Government of Maharashtra, Disaster Management Initiatives and Convergence Society (DMICS), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai, jointly organized WCDM-2019 which was designed to stitch together the largest assembly on disaster management outside the UN system.
The State of Maharashtra is vulnerable to a host of natural as well as manmade disasters. The 2030 Global development agenda, woven around the Sendai Framework, Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement, promises to overcome these challenges with a clear set of goals, targets and indicators. The Ten point Agenda set by the Hon. Prime Minister of India in the 2016 Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in New Delhi has become the guideline for implementation of the agenda in India and globally.
UN agencies, regional organisations, national governments, city mayors, academic and scientific institutions, civil society organisations, business houses, and media besides experts, policy makers, researchers and practitioners from around the world attended the Congress and participated actively in its deliberations to enable us to move forward collectively to reduce the impacts of Disasters and make the world safer place.
The Event Began with the Cutting of the Ribbon at the Exhibition center by Honorable Chief minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Devander Fadnavis and then he inaugurated the 4th World Congress on Disaster management conference at the convocation center auditorium at IIT Powai also there were many great personalities present on the dais.
The 4-day event was visited by a lot of School Kids, Engineering Colleges and Government authorities as well as safety and Fire decision makers like advisors, consultants and Engineers.
The National Disaster Response Forces & the State Disaster Response Force also had their stalls in the exhibition area and showcased their equipments and their uses as well as their life saving and rescue abilities and skills to the various visiting school goers and delegates.
There was a gala evening organized on the 1st day of the World Congress on Disaster management with a vibrant performance by the amazing Dance Crew with a theme based on Unity & Diversity which involved Folk Dances of all the States of the Republic of India thereby creating a memorable experience and showcasing the glitz and glamour of various cultures of India..
The Disaster management congress concluded with the releasing of a Declaration towards a dedicated and strong political commitment in turning promises into action and taking a leadership development and sensitization pledge. The fourth WCDM focused specifically on the issues of implementation of global agendas of building resilience across sectors.
We would like to thank the organizers of World Congress on Disaster management for giving us te opportunity to be part of your show and event also as the main media Sponsor it was immensely delightful to cover the Show & Conference and brand in all sought of ways.