The revamped NDMA has finally got three members (Secretary rank) having professional track-record and expertise in disaster management. They are; Lt Gen (Rtd) N C Marwah, D N Sharma and Kamal Kishore. As many as 82 applicants were in the race for the posts. As 'Indianmandarins' had carried the news on December 22 formal order regarding the appointment has been issued yesterday by the MHA. D N Sharma served as Director of Health, Safety and Environment Group at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre whereas Kamal Kishore had served as seasoned disaster reduction expert at UNDP as adviser. Sharma has been with NDMA for several years drafting guidelines for safety in radiation- related areas. PM Naredra Modi was committed for NDMA to have expert professionals in disaster management. Previously, NDMA was considered to serve as "parking lot" for politicians and retired bureaucrats. PM Narendra Modi is the ex-officio chairperson of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The last NDMA had a Vice-Chairman with the rank of Union Cabinet Minister and nine other members. This time, the government has appointed only four members, besides a Vice-Chairman.