An Indian Forest Service Officer holding a doctorate in Himalayan Geo-tectonics from Delhi University and earned an MBA with specialization in disaster management from University of Hull, United Kingdom. A Gold Medalist of Delhi University carried out post-doctorate research in “Sustainable Rural Development for Disaster Mitigation”. Authored/ co-authored eleven books related to disaster management, rural development, forest fire management, forestry and earth science. Also published several research papers, articles and designed policies, training modules, plans/ and awareness material, primarily on disaster management. Also contributed in research and teaching as supervisor and examiner of several Ph. D./ M. Phil./ Dissertation thesis and resource person for various Universities and Academic Institutions related to the field of disaster management and allied topics.
Over thirty six years of extensive experience in the field of disaster risk management, rural development, forestry and allied sectors, including disaster risk reduction, disaster response and recovery planning, climate change adaptation, forestry and environment, rural development, forest fire management; institutional networking; training and awareness generation in rural development and disaster management; disaster risk reduction mainstreaming and its management in the agriculture sector; disaster risk mitigation with an enhancement of sustainable development policies at national and state levels and interagency coordination.
Wide-ranging experience also encompasses of working internationally, nationally and at the provincial level as Head of National Institute of Disaster Management and SAARC Disaster Management Centre; Special Secretary, Department of Disaster Management, Government of Bihar and in-charge of Forest Fire Division, Government of India helped to gain a wider understanding of various issues related to Disaster Management at multiple levels. The post-doctorate research work at National Centre of Disaster Management, IIPA, New Delhi enabled to get better understanding and insights of the underlying issues in dealing with the disasters at the local level in a rural conglomeration set-up and also guided in formulating more appropriate and innovative approach of mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into development planning.