National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) member M. Shashishar Reddy, who holds the rank of Union minister of state, has said that the National Cyclone Disaster Management Institute (NCDMI) will be established as an exclusive institutional set up in a coastal state. This assumes significance owing to India's vulnerability to cyclones. Most often, cyclones turn destructive because of torrential rain, gales and storm surges. While only about eight per cent of the country's area is cyclone-prone, an estimated 32 crores people are vulnerable and this accounts for almost one-third of the country's total population. This initiative assumes significance with India emerging as a major economic power and a lot of economic activity happening along the coast line, besides one-third of the population vulnerable to cyclones. Mr Reddy told this correspondent, "It was the desire of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi that India should acquire the aircraftprobing of cyclones capability. Somehow, it could not happen. Now, with this initiative, it would be realising the cherished dream of late Rajiv Gandhi." Mr Reddy said, "We have capability for land, ocean and space-based observations but lack the capability for special observations from the cyclone-core environment. This can be possible by aircraft-probing of cyclones facility. Availability of such critical observations will significantly reduce up to 30 per cent in track, intensity and landfall errors." The proposed NCDMI will bridge the gap in the integration of disaster-related technical support of all the concerned departments/ministries of the Central government with those of states/Union Territories and local authorities. "The climate change and the resultant sea-level rise can significantly increase the vulnerability of the coastal population," he added. The NCDMI will involve stakeholders from the government and community.