The Annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise (AJHE) is a result of the directive from the Hon’ble Prime Minister, promulgated during the Combined Commanders’ Conference in 2015. Since its inception in 2015, the AJHE, named CHAKRAVAT, has evolved into a multi-agency endeavor involving all three services, paramilitary forces, various disaster response organizations, NGOs, academic institutions, and international organizations. The 2023 edition is expected to further synergize efforts at the national level among all stakeholders and witness participation from eight countries in the Indian Ocean Region.
Conducted in rotation by the Indian Army, Indian Navy (IN), and Indian Air Force (IAF) since 2016, the 2023 edition is hosted by the Indian Navy in Goa from October 9 to October 11, 2023. The exercise aims to develop collective and coordinated effective response mechanisms to address humanitarian crises and natural disasters, aligning with India’s inclusive vision for the oceans – SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region). Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations are a key component of the Indian Navy’s Benign Role, especially as climate change increases the vulnerability of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to natural disasters.
The three-day AJHE-23 includes a seminar, a Table-Top Exercise, and a Multi-Agency Capability Demonstration. Various national agencies, including the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Coast Guard, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), National Remote Sensing Agencies (NRSA), and others, will participate. Topics discussed during the seminar include Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction, Disaster Response in IOR, and NGO Collaboration in Disaster Reduction and Response.
The exercise’s logo signifies joint and integrated action by all participating agencies, representing a unified approach to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.