Sikkim Disaster Management Authority Bags Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2026
The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) has been conferred the prestigious Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2026 in the institutional category, recognising its exemplary contribution to disaster preparedness, response, and resilience.
The award is announced annually on January 23, commemorating the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, and honours institutions and individuals for outstanding service in the field of disaster management.
Established in 2005, SSDMA has emerged as a national model for community-based disaster management. The authority has deployed 1,185 trained Aapda Mitras as disaster management volunteers across all Gram Panchayats in Sikkim, significantly strengthening grassroots-level preparedness and response mechanisms.
SSDMA’s proactive interventions have played a crucial role in minimising loss of life and property during major calamities, including the 2016 Mantam landslides and the 2023 Teesta floods. Its community-centred disaster resilience framework has earned nationwide acclaim for being sustainable, scalable, and replicable, particularly for Himalayan and Northeastern states.
Meanwhile, in the individual category, Lieutenant Colonel Seeta Ashok Shelke has been honoured with the same award for her exceptional leadership in conducting large-scale Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations during the 2024 floods and landslides in Wayanad, Kerala.
The recognition highlights India’s growing emphasis on community participation and professional leadership in disaster risk reduction and emergency response.
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