Pune Security Dialogue to focus on impact of disasters and pandemics on national security

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 25

The Pune Security Dialogue on National Security, in this year’s edition, will look at issues of national security and how disasters and pandemics can have an impact.

The two-day seminar (October 28 and 29) will be conducted online and is titled ‘National Security Preparedness in the age of Disasters and Pandemics’.

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval will deliver the Inaugural Address.

Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist, World Health Organisation, will be the keynote speaker, the convenor of the PDNS, Lt Gen VG Patankar announced at a press conference conducted virtually.

The Tribune Trust, The Pune International Centre, The Policy Perspectives Foundation of Delhi and Centre for Advanced Strategic Studies, Pune, are the partners to the event conducted annually.

Lt Gen Patankar said national security is not just defence or territorial integrity of the county, it is influenced by every field of human activity, be it agriculture, industry or social aspects.

Covid -19, he said, had thrown up many challenges. In the past, we have learnt a lesson from earthquakes, oil spills and major fires. The pandemic has been managed, but the same cannot be said about earthquakes. A lot of work needs to be done.

This year’s conference has been divided into four sessions that is apart from the opening session and the valedictory. The first session will talk about disaster prevention and disaster prevention and minimising the damage. Former Indian Army Chief Gen NC Vij, who was later Chairman, National Disaster Management Authority, will chair it and Pradyot C Haldar, president, Policy Perspectives Foundation, will be among the speakers.

The second session will be on external dimension and future threats. Ambassador Sudhir Devare, Member, Pune International Centre (PIC), will chair it. The third session  is on role of science and technology. Dr Sangeeta Kale, Member, PIC, will chair while Dr Sanjay Singh, CEO, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd, and Dr Rakesh Mishra, Director, Tata Institute of Genetics and Society, will be speakers.

The fourth and last session will be on imperatives for national security. Lt Gen SS Mehta, Trustee, PIC and former Western Army Commander, will chair it. Panelists will include Kamal Kishore, Member Secretary, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA),  Lt Gen SA Hasnain, Member, NDMA, Krishna Vatsa, Member, NDMA, Rajendra Singh, Member, NDMA, and Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology, India Meteorology Department.

The valedictory session will have the Vice Chairman of the Niti Aayog, Rajiv Kumar, speak.