The presentation will highlight the proposed idea of Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), to set up a nodal agency for disaster preparedness and surveillance in Odisha, India in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), India. The presentation will elaborate on the proposed plan and its objectives thereby defining the roles that other states, partners and government may play its functioning. The roles and responsibilities of the proposed strategic unit will be presented to seek suggestions bring up the unit. It will also focus upon various challenges and roadblocks in establishing such an institute.