The Corporate Disaster Resource Network (CDRN) was launched by J K Sinha, Member, NDMA. The CDRN is an initiative by Aidmatrix and Civil Society Organisations partners (CSO) who launched this at aconference on Combating Climate Change for Disaster Reduction and Sustainable Business with Climate Friendly Private Sector Initiatives" in New Delhi. Also present for the launch were Vinod Menon, Member National Disaster Management Association, Governor Scott McCallum, CEO Aidmatrix and Soumitra Ghosh, President CSO Partners.

Addressing the innaugral Vinod Menon, Member, NDMA highlighted the past learnings from the Tusnami and the recent floods of Bihar, highlight the valuable need for an information system for companies to leverage.

CDRN, a logistics, administrative and financial coordination toolas part of the National Disaster Management Authority, Corporate Task Force, is an initiative by Aidmatrix and CSO Partners that helps Corporates know, how they can help disaster struck people by providing real time information on products and services needed during emergencies.

Addressing the delegates after the launch, J. K. Sinha said, "In the recent past there has been an increase in the frequency at which disaster has struck people all across the world. And in the absence of a system that can help in forecasting or prevent man and material loss, CDRN would help in building an effective channel through which resources could be directed during times of crisis, with the help of Public Private Partnership (PPP)."

It is common knowledge today that an increasing number of business enterprises are laying more and more emphasis on their role as a corporate citizen. And this concept gains even more significance during times of disaster, providing business houses with an opportunity to highlight supplies for local governments and also togive back to the society when it really matters through their business.

"CDRN acts as a platform where companies are shown the specificneeds and they can actually choose the manner in which they can help. Relief agencies that are working in the disaster struck areas through the CDRN update the system with real time demands that arise during times of crisis. Corporates who are willing to donate during these times can thus know how they can help by donating what is actually needed. This system was put to use during Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Gustavo that had hit the US shores recently and had worked really well and in India it can help in providing much needed help on time", said Governor Scott James McCallum, CEO Aidmatrix.

Virinder Sharma from DFID emphasised on the climage change adaptation and disaster risk reduction over laping points where there is a need to address incentives, institutions and instruments. He further highlighted the challenges that constrain the convergence agenda to work towards regional models and resilient communities.