News

26 January 2026: The Provincial Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (PPDRR) of Lumbini Province has been officially established to enhance disaster risk reduction and management through strengthened multi-stakeholder coordination. The platform was formally announced during a program held on 26 January 2026 at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, Deukhuri, Dang.

The PPDRR has been formed under the chairpersonship of the Mr. Lok Bahadur Sunar, Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, Lumbini Province, with Mr. Dharmaraj Ghimire, DPNet Lumbini Province Chair serving as the Member Secretary. The platform comprises nine thematic groups, including: Government Agencies; Public Enterprises and Semi-Government Institutions; Academic and Research Institutions; Development Partners and United Nations Agencies; International Non-Governmental Organizations; Non-Governmental Organizations; Business and Private Sector; Media/Information Technology and Communication; and Disaster-Affected Communities.

The event was chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law and attended by the Chief Guest, Mr. Dinesh Prasad Bhatt, Executive Chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). Distinguished participants included Ms. Roshani Kumari Shrestha, Joint Secretary at NDRRMA, Ms. Goma Dhakal Paudel, Under Secretary, disaster focal persons from provincial line ministries, representatives from government and non-government organizations, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Federation of Nepali Journalists, and other key stakeholders.

During the program, the Coordinators of all nine thematic groups expressed their strong commitment to lead their respective groups and organize individual thematic group meetings within the next couple of months. As part of the PPDRR process, the thematic groups also shared their interest in advocating disaster risk reduction (DRR) initiatives, raising public awareness, highlighting key DRR issues, strengthening stakeholder collaboration, ensuring effective coordination for disaster preparedness and response, promoting knowledge management, and contributing to consensus-building across sectors.

Addressing the program, Executive Chief of NDRRMA, Mr. Dinesh Prasad Bhatt, emphasized the importance of a “whole-of-society approach” to disaster risk reduction. He highlighted how the Provincial Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (PPDRR) and the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) can work together to bridge existing gaps and promote collective action for effective DRR. He also referred to the successful coordination during Dashain 2025, where collaboration among transport stakeholders, disaster forecasts from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), public awareness through Nepal Telecom’s caller ringtone (CRBT), and partnerships with ACORAB, Radio Nepal, and other media outlets played a crucial role in timely information dissemination and effective disaster risk reduction.

Similarly, the Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, Lumbini Province, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to carrying forward disaster risk reduction initiatives through the PPDRR. The Secretary stressed the importance of an inclusive, coordinated, and “leave no one behind” approach, ensuring that disaster risk reduction efforts are participatory, well-coordinated, and responsive to the needs of all communities.

The program also featured a presentation on the objectives, structure, and operational provisions of the PPDRR, delivered by Er. Suraj Gautam, General Secretary of DPNet Nepal, highlighting the role of provincial platforms in strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration and institutionalizing disaster risk reduction efforts at the provincial level.