National Disaster Management Act 2005
The National Disaster Management Act was enacted in 2005. It brings about a paradigm shift in India’s Disaster Management where it shifted to preparedness, prevention and planning from earlier response and relief centric approach. The Act provides for the establishment of (a) NDMA under PM, (b) SDMA under CMs, (c) DDMA, (d) constitution of different executive committees at National and State level, (e) NIDM for capacity building, (f) NDRF for response purpose have been setup aegis of this act. The act also stipulates the provisions for financial mechanism such as creation of funds for response, National Disaster Mitigation Resource/Fund. It also specifies various roles need to be played by local bodies in Disaster Management. Act also provides that there shall be no discrimination of grounds of sex, caste, community, decent, religion in providing compensation and relief.
💡 “The Decade 1990-2000 was watershed in the development for the Disaster Management Strategy”. Comment.
💡 Critically examine the challenges in Disaster Management Strategies over last couple of decade.
National Disaster Management Plan 2016
This has been aligned broadly with the goals and priorities set out in the Sendai Framework of Disaster Risk Reduction. The plan incorporates 5 thematic areas of action.
- Understanding the Risk.
- Inter agency cooperation.
- Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction with regards to structural measures.
- Investing in non structural measures for preparedness and mitigation.
- Capacity development
NDMP provides framework and direction to government agencies in all phases of Disaster Management Cycle. The plan also highlights that the disaster risk reduction will be achieved by main streaming the requirements into developmental plan. The plan identifies major activities such as early warning, information dissemination, medical care, fuel, transportation, search and rescue, evacuation, etc. To serve as a checklist for agencies to respond to disaster. It also provides generalized framework for recovery and offers flexibility to access a situation and built back better. It also provides for horizontal and vertical integration among all the agencies and departments of the government.
National Policy on Disaster Management 2009
It envisages a safe and disaster resilient India. It aims to do so by developing a holistic, proactive, multi disaster oriented and technology driven strategy through a culture of prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response. The policy covers all aspects of disaster management including institutional and legal arrangements, financial arrangements, disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness, techno legal regime, response, relief and rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery, capacity development, knowledge management, R&D. The issue of equity and inclusiveness has been given due consideration in the policy. It addresses the concerns of all sections of the society with regards to relief and rehabilitation.
PM’s 10 point agenda
It includes
- Ensuring Development projects viz., airports, roads, canals, hospitals, schools, bridges are built to appropriate disaster resilient centers and contribute to resilience of community they seek to serve. Building a coalition to support disaster resilient infrastructure.
- Working towards risk coverage for all starting from poor households to small and medium enterprises to MNCs.
- Encouraging greater involvement of women in Disaster Risk Management.
- Investing in Risk Mapping globally for all the hazards.
- Leveraging technology to enhance efficiency of our disaster risk management efforts.
- Developing a network of Universities to work on Disaster issues.
- Utilizing the opportunities provided by social media and mobile technologies.
- Building on local capacities and investing in community mitigation measures.
- Ensuring the opportunity to learn from a disaster is not wasted. Establishing a facility for technical support to post disaster reconstruction of houses.
- Bringing about greater cohesion in international responses to disaster.
National Action Plan on Climate Change 2008
The plan identifies 8 core national missions. Emphasizing the overriding priority of maintaining high economic growth rate to raise living standards. The plan identifies measures that promote our development objectives while also yielding co benefits for addressing the climate change effectively. The 8 missions are
- National Solar Mission
- National Mission on Sustainable Habitat
- National Mission on Enhanced Energy efficiency
- National Mission for sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem
- National Water Mission
- National Mission for Green India
- National Mission for sustainable agriculture
- National Mission for Strategic Knowledge on Climate Change.
Constitutional Framework for Disaster Management : There is no mention of Disaster Management in Constitution. It is neither in any of the 3 lists. It is present in residuary list. But Public Order and Public health is under State list and need to be taken care. NCRWC said that Disaster Management and emergency need to be in concurrent list