Odisha Government Receives SKOCH Award for Effective Implementation of DAMPS
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has been honored with the prestigious SKOCH Award for its successful implementation of the Disaster Assistance Monitoring and Payment System (DAMPS). The DAMPS platform plays a crucial role in facilitating prompt payment of ex-gratia to the next of kin of individuals who lose their lives in disasters and natural calamities.
Designed and developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), DAMPS serves as a digital platform for online processing, monitoring, and disbursement of ex-gratia payments to the families of disaster victims. Recognizing the significant impact of DAMPS on streamlining relief efforts, Additional Special Relief Commissioner Padmanav Behera and Deputy Secretary Biswanath Sahoo accepted the award on behalf of Additional Chief Secretary and Special Relief Commissioner Satyabrat Sahu at a ceremony held in New Delhi.
Biswanath Sahoo highlighted that the DAMPS project was a key initiative championed by Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena and credited all stakeholders for their contributions to its successful implementation. Launched on June 10, 2020, DAMPS was introduced to ensure that the state government could swiftly provide disaster assistance to eligible citizens without unnecessary delays or bureaucratic hurdles.
In addition to expediting the release of ex-gratia payments, DAMPS has also played a crucial role in alleviating the administrative burden on district collectors, sub-collectors, and tehsildars. By digitizing and streamlining the relief distribution process, DAMPS has emerged as a vital tool in Odisha’s disaster management efforts, underscoring the state government’s commitment to leveraging technology for the welfare of its citizens.
