New Delhi, Jul 30 (IANS): The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has invited nominations for the 'Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar' for excellence in the field of disaster management.

The online process of applications for the award is open and nominations of individuals and institutions can be uploaded at "www.dmawards.ndma.gov.in" up to August 31.

These awards are announced on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on January 23 every year.

The Central government instituted Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskaar to recognise the excellent work done by individuals and institutions in the field of disaster management.

In addition to a certificate, these awards carry a cash award of Rs 51 lakh for an institution and Rs 5 lakh for an individual.

An individual can apply for the award as well as nominate another person or institution, the Home Ministry said. "The nominated individual or institution should have worked in any area of disaster management like prevention, mitigation, preparedness, rescue, response, relief, rehabilitation, research, innovation or early warning in India."

The Ministry said, as many organisations and individuals are working silently on mitigation and preparedness so that the impact of future disasters can be minimized, there is a need to recognise the efforts of individuals and organisations who have been working assiduously to alleviate human suffering caused by disasters.