Page 26 - Mann Ki Baat - English

Raj Kumar
Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat

Building Inner Strength and Potential

Immediately after receiving this information accessible to all
the information about Cyclone through every possible means of
Biparjoy, both the Central mass communication is equally
Government under the leadership important. Our meteorological
of Prime Minister Narendra Modi officials were meticulous in
and the State Government of providing us detailed and
Gujarat swung into action to thorough updates on the
tackle it effectively. We geared- progression of this cyclone –
up to make all necessary its exact location every hour,
arrangements on war-footing probable direction and expected
level. The Prime Minister himself speed. We were getting all
constantly guided the Ministry necessary information from time-
of Home Affairs, the Government to-time on the basis of which we
of Gujarat and all other mapped the districts, blocks and
concerned agencies. He took villages in our coastal area and
stock of the situation at regular shifted the people to safer places.
intervals. When the Cyclone hit For the first time in the history of
the Gujarat coast, everyone— Gujarat, more than 1.5 lakh people
the administration, common were kept in shelters.
man and the media—joined The preparations made
hands together and worked beforehand actually proved
in tandem. Coming out of this useful for us. We were able to keep
calamity with minimal damage in touch with people even when
is a classic example of teamwork the cyclone hit our coast and
and public participation. With that's why our confidence was
the cooperation of the entire intact. To my mind, our collective
administration, our Chief Minister, and scientific preparations
all the ministers, and the Zilla scrape us through.
Parishad, we successfully As per the instructions from
handled Biparjoy and ensured the Government of India, the
everyone's safety. Chief Minister himself used to
In the case of natural calamity, hold meetings with the District
it is necessary to get timely Collectors of all the affected
information. Besides, making areas. I myself used to assess

22
22