Disaster resilience not a cost burden, but strategic investment for long-term stability and competitiveness: Member, NDMA, GoI
February 06, 2026
NEW DELHI, 06 February 2026: Ms Rita Missal, Member, NDMA, Government of India, today said that disasters today are faster, costlier, and more interconnected than ever. With India growing at 7.45%, resilience is no longer optional - it’s essential, she added. “Today’s risk landscape spans physical, digital, economic, and environmental dimensions, making it imperative to embed resilience directly into systems rather than respond after impact. Risk intelligence, data-driven planning, and active industry participation are essential to safeguarding growth and continuity. Disaster resilience is not a cost burden, but a strategic investment in long-term stability, competitiveness, and the future, she highlighted.”
Dr Ramesh Subramaniam, Global Director, Programmes & Strategy, CDRI underscored that resilience presents a critical opportunity to embed a preparedness lens into infrastructure decision making reducing damages, minimizing service disruptions, accelerating recovery, and enabling communities to withstand and rebound from disasters. While these challenges are daunting, they also present significant opportunities, he said. Strengthening codes and standards, leveraging advanced technology solutions such as artificial intelligence, promoting nature-based solutions, and deepening financial innovation, will be critical to sustaining long-term resilience, he added.
Mr Rajeev Sharma, Chair, FICCI Committee on Corporate Security & Disaster Risk Reduction and Cluster Managing Director, India, Nepal & Bangladesh, G4S Corporate Services (India) Pvt Ltd, emphasized that resilience is the new growth driver, FICCI and EY’s ‘Risk Outlook guides Indian enterprises to anticipate, adapt, and thrive amid disruption, he added. In a business environment shaped by volatility, the ability to anticipate, absorb and adapt to risk is emerging as a defining capability for sustained growth, he highlighted.
Mr Sudhakar Rajendran, Risk Consulting Leader, EY India, said that leading organisations are strengthening enterprise-wide risk governance, investing in technology-enabled controls, and embedding risk intelligence into capital allocation and growth decisions. Those that proactively anticipate, quantify, and respond to emerging risks will be better positioned to protect value and sustain long-term growth.
During the event, FICCI-EY report – ‘Risk Outlook – A Compass to India’s Risk Landscape for Indian Businesses’, was released during the event. The report captures insights from industry leaders across sectors on emerging and evolving risks, providing an India-centric perspective to help enterprises navigate uncertainty and build resilience.