Monday, January 24 2005 20:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: With the destruction caused by tsunami fresh in mind, Government has decided to dedicate this year to disaster awareness.

"While the last year was declared as Scientific Awareness Year, this year will be dedicated to disaster awareness," Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters today (Jan 24, 2005).

"The tsunami disaster has made the world realise that the civil society, especially in the lesser developed world, should be cognisant of disasters, both natural and man made," Sibal said.

The countries should respond by putting in place models on disasters and developing warning systems to tell people on likelihood of any disaster striking them, he said.