National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) organised the launch-cum-inception workshop of the project on “Catalytic Assistance to the Twelve Most Drought-Prone States” under National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF). The program was jointly organised by National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) at NASC Complex, New Delhi on 17.03.2026.
The project aims for national initiative on drought mitigation and resilient landscapes across twelve climate-vulnerable states in India viz., Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, to strengthen preparedness, adaptation, and sustainable resource management by small and marginal farmers in drought prone areas.
Inaugural address on the origin and importance of the project was given by Dr Krishna S. Vatsa, Member and HOD, NDMA and Chairman, Technical Advisory Committee. Shri S. Rakesh Kumar, JS, NDMA briefed about the workshop objectives.
Remarks on the project was given by Dr VK Singh, Director, ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad, and Dr Himanshu Pathak, DG, ICRISAT, Hyderabad.
Dr Susama Sudhishri, NRAA expert, briefed about the monitoring and evaluation framework, data collection methodologies and tools.
Dr Shalander Kumar, ICRISAT, Hyderabad, briefed about the implementation framework and guidelines, PMU and dashboard, role and responsibility of the technical institutions.
Dr. Alok Sikka, Country Representative - India at International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Dr A.K. Mishra, NDMA, Shri BP Yadav, NDMA, Shri Shubhranshu Mishra, Additional Secretary, DAFE, Odisha Govt, Dr KV Rao, Principal Scientist and Head (DRM), ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad, Dr G Venkatesh, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad, Dr Swati Nayak Scientist, IRRI, senior officials from NDMA, NRAA and ICAR, state district nodal officers and senior officials from the respective state government were attended and deliberated during the national level inception cum workshop program.
