Disaster Management Act in India

India is vulnerable, in varying degrees, to a large number of natural as well as man-made disasters. 58.6 percent of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of moderate to very high intensity; over 40 million hectares (12 percent of land) is prone to floods and river erosion; of the 7,516 km long coastline, close to 5,700 km is prone to cyclones and tsunamis; 68 percent of the cultivable area is vulnerable to drought and hilly areas are at risk from landslides and avalanches.

  • Vulnerability to disasters/ emergencies of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) origin also exists.
  • Heightened vulnerabilities to disaster risks can be related to expanding population, urbanization and industrialization, development within high-risk zones, environmental degradation and climate change.
  • In the context of human vulnerability to disasters, the economically and socially weaker segments of the population are the ones that are most seriously affected.
  • Within the vulnerable groups, elderly persons, women, children – especially women rendered destitute and children orphaned on account of disasters and the differently-abled persons are exposed to higher risks.
  • Devastations during Kerala Floods in 2018 and Chennai Floods in 2015 were eye-opening for the institutions regarding preparedness for the disaster situation.

 Disaster Management Act, 2005:

  •   Which envisaged the creation of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister, State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) headed by the Chief Ministers, and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) headed by the Collector or District Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner as the case may be, to spearhead and adopt a holistic and integrated approach to DM.
  •   There will be a paradigm shift, from the erstwhile relief-centric response to proactive prevention, mitigation, and preparedness-driven approach for conserving developmental gains and also to minimize losses of life, livelihoods, and property.
  •   The Act lays down institutional, legal, financial, and coordination mechanisms at the national, state, district, and local levels. These institutions are not parallel structures and will work in close harmony.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA):

  • The NDMA, as the apex body for disaster management, is headed by the Prime Minister and has the responsibility for laying down policies, plans and guidelines for DM (and coordinating their enforcement and implementation for ensuring a timely and effective response to disasters) .
  •   The guidelines will assist the Central Ministries, Departments, and States to formulate their respective DM plans. It will approve the National Disaster Management and DM plans of the Central Ministries/Departments.
  •   It will take such other measures as it may consider necessary, for the prevention of disasters, or mitigation, or preparedness, and capacity building, for dealing with a threatening disaster situation or disaster.
  •   Central ministries/ departments and State Governments will extend necessary cooperation and assistance to NDMA for carrying out its mandate. It will oversee the provision and application of funds for mitigation and preparedness measures.
  •   NDMA has the power to authorize the Departments or authorities concerned, to make emergency procurement of provisions or materials for rescue and relief in a threatening disaster situation or disaster.
  •   The general superintendence, direction, and control of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are vested in and will be exercised by the NDMA.
  •   The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) works within the framework of broad policies and guidelines laid down by NDMA.     

Approach:

  •   Holistic
  •   Integrated
  •   Community based DM, including last mile integration of the policy, plans and execution.
  •   ­Capacity development in all spheres. ­
  •   Consolidation of past initiatives and best practices.
  •   ­Cooperation with agencies at national and international levels.
  • ­ Multi-sectoral synergy.

Objectives:

  •   Promoting a culture of prevention, preparedness and resilience at all levels through knowledge, innovation and education.
  •   ­ Encouraging mitigation measures based on technology, traditional wisdom and environmental sustainability. ­
  •   Mainstreaming disaster management into the developmental planning process.
  •   ­ Establishing institutional and techno-legal frameworks to create an enabling regulatory environment and a compliance regime. ­
  •   Ensuring efficient mechanism for identification, assessment and monitoring of disaster risks. ­ Developing contemporary forecasting and early warning systems backed by responsive and failsafe communication with information technology support.
  •   ­ Promoting a productive partnership with the media to create awareness and contributing towards capacity development.
  •   ­ Ensuring efficient response and relief with a caring approach towards the needs of the vulnerable sections of the society.
  •   ­ Undertaking reconstruction as an opportunity to build disaster resilient structures and habitat for ensuring safer living. ­
  • Promoting productive and proactive partnership with media in disaster management.
  • The NDMA is mandated to deal with all types of disasters, natural or man-made.
  • NDMA may, however, formulate guidelines and facilitate training and preparedness activities in respect of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) emergencies.

 

Existing Institutional Arrangements:      

  •   Cabinet Committee on Management of Natural Calamities (CCMNC) and the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)
  •   High Level Committee (HLC)
  •   Central Government
  •   Central Ministries and Departments
  •   National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC)
  •   State Governments
  •   District Administration
  •   Management of Disasters impacting more than one State                        

Other Important Institutional Arrangements:

  •   Armed Forces
  •   Central Para Military Forces
  •   State Police Forces and Fire Services
  •   Civil Defence and Home Guards
  •   State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)
  •   Role of National Cadet Corps (NCC)
  •   National Service Scheme (NSS)
  •   Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS)

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation:

Unlike man-made disasters, natural hazards like floods, earthquakes, and cyclones cannot be avoided. However, with mitigation measures along with proper planning of developmental work in the risk-prone area, these hazards can be prevented from turning into disasters.

  •   Building mitigation measures into all development projects.
  •   ­ Initiating of national level mitigation projects by the NDMA, in high priority areas, with the help of the Central Ministries and Departments concerned and the States.
  •   ­ Encouraging and assisting State level mitigation projects in accordance with the guidelines. ­
  • Indigenous knowledge on disaster and coping mechanisms adopted by various States will be given due weightage with special focus on protection of heritage structures.
  • The increasing use of GIS, remote sensing, and applications of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in DM, has made it imperative to set up a mechanism for sharing thematic and spatial data through a designated electronic clearinghouse.
  • The NSDI has been set up by the Survey of India, to collect, compile, analyse and prepare value-added maps for use by various agencies in the field of DM; for the management of natural resources, industrial applications, etc.
  • A two-way interoperable link will be established between NSDI and the National Disaster Emergency Communication network proposed in the Policy for easy and quick sharing.
  • The program designed to have spatial and non-spatial databases in a secure environment under the NDEM will derive the data sets through NSDI for addressing the information needs for disaster management.

Way forward:

  •   States/UTs have to accord the highest priority to building up their own DM capabilities.
  •   Forecasting and Early Warning Systems.
  •   Last-mile connectivity at the disaster site for control and conduct of rescue and relief operations
  •   Strengthening of the Emergency Operations Centres.
  •   Medical Preparedness and Mass Casualty Management
  •   Training, Simulation, and Mock Drills
  •   Community-Based Disaster Preparedness
  •   Stakeholders’ Participation
  •   Corporate Social Responsibility
  •   Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
  • Media Partnership
  • Compliance Regime
  • Safe Construction Practices

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