disaster management in india_ classification, policies and other details

2/18/2015 DisasterManagementinIndia:Classification,PoliciesandotherDetails

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DisasterManagementinIndia:Classification,PoliciesandotherDetailsbyPujaMondalEssay

DisasterManagementinIndia:Classification,PoliciesandotherDetails!

Lossesduetodisastershaveshowngrowingtrendintermsoflivesandpropertythroughouttheworldduetourbanization,increasingpopulationandincreasingdegradationofenvironment.Theglobaleffortstomanagedisastersarenotmatchedwiththefrequencyandmagnitudeofdisasters.

However,forthelast15yearsorsosomenewthinkingondisastermanagementhasemergedatgloballevelwhichpleadsforaproactiveandpreventiveapproachandintegratesdisastermanagementwithongoingdevelopmentactivitiesthatissustainabledevelopment.

AccordingtoWorldDisasterReport2009,hydrometeorologicalevent,linkedtoclimatechangefloods,storms,heatwavesanddroughttogetheraccountedfornearly60percentofDisasterReliefEmergencyFund(DREF).



InMyanmaralone,cycloneNargisclaimedsome1,38,000liveslastyears.

EarthquakeinChinasSichuanProvincekilledsome88,000people,affected46millionpeopleamajorUSflood11millionandadroughtinThailand10million.Buttherewerefewerdisastersworldwidein2008thaninanyotheryearoftheprecedingdecade326naturaland259technologicaldisasters.

IndiasDisasterProfile:

TheIndiansubcontinentisamongtheworldsmostdisasterproneareas.Almost85%ofIndiasareaisvulnerabletooneormultiplehazard.Ofthe28statesand7unionterritories,22aredisasterprone.

ItisvulnerabletowindstormsspawnedintheBayofBengalandtheArabianSea,earthquakescausedbyactivecrustalmovementintheHimalayanmountains,floodsbroughtbymonsoons,anddroughtsinthecountrysaridandsemiaridareas.

Almost57%ofthelandisvulnerabletoearthquake(highseismiczoneslllV),68%todrought,8%tocyclonesand12%tofloods.Indiahasalsobecomemuchmorevulnerabletotsunamissincethe2004IndianOceantsunami.

Earthquakes:

Oftheearthquakeproneareas,12%ispronetoverysevereearthquakes,18%tosevereearthquakesand25%todamageableearthquakes.ThebiggestquakesoccurintheAndamanandNicobarIslands,Kutch,HimachalandtheNorthEast.TheHimalayanregionsareparticularlypronetoearthquakes.

ThelasttwomajorearthquakesshookGujaratinJanuary2001andJammuandKashmirinOctober2005.ManysmallerscalequakesoccurredinotherpartsofIndiain2006.All7NorthEaststatesofIndiaAssam,Arunachal



Pradesh,Nagaland,Manipur,Mizoram,TripuraandMeghalayaAndaman&NicobarIslandsandpartsof6otherstatesintheNorth/NorthWest(JammuandKashmir,Uttaranchal,andBihar)andWest(Gujarat),areinSeismicZoneV.

Floods:

About30millionpeopleareaffectedannually.FloodsintheIndoGangeticBrahmaputraplainsareanannualfeature.Onanaverage,afewhundredlivesarelost,millionsarerenderedhomelessandseveralhectaresofcropsaredamagedeveryyear.

Nearly75%ofthetotalrainfalloccursoverashortmonsoonseason(JuneSeptember).40millionhectares,or12%ofIndianland,isconsideredpronetofloods.Floodsareaperennialphenomenoninatleast5statesAssam,Bihar,Orissa,UttarPradeshandWestBengal.

Onaccountofclimatechange,floodshavealsooccurredinrecentyearsinareasthatarenormallynotfloodprone.In2006,droughtpronepartsofRajasthanexperiencedfloods.

Droughts:

About50millionpeopleareaffectedannuallybydrought.Ofapproximately90millionhectaresofrainfedareas,about40millionhectaresarepronetoscantyornorain.Rainfallispoorinninemeteorologicalsubdivisionsoutof36subdivision(eachmeteorologicalsubdivisioncoversageographicareaofmorethantenrevenuedistrictsinIndia).

InIndiaannually33%areareceiverainfalllessthan750mm(lowrainfallarea)and35%areareceivebetween750to1125mmrainfallMediumrainfall)andonly32percentfallsinthehighrainfall(>1126mm)zone.



Cyclones:

About8%ofthelandisvulnerabletocyclonesofwhichcoastalareasexperiencetwoorthreetropicalcyclonesofvaryingintensityeachyear.Cyclonicactivitiesontheeastcoastaremoreseverethanonthewestcoast.

TheIndiancontinentisconsideredtobetheworstcycloneaffectedpartoftheworld,asaresultoflowdepthoceanbedtopographyandcoastalconfiguration.Theprincipalthreatsfromacycloneareintheformofgalesandstrongwindstorrentialrainandhightidalwaves/stormsurges.

Mostcasualtiesarecausedduetocoastalinundationbytidalwavesandstormsurges.CyclonestypicallystriketheEastCoastofIndia,alongtheBayofBengal,i.e.thestatesofWestBengal,Orissa,AndhraPradeshandTamilNadu,butalsopartsofMaharashtraandGujaratattheArabianSeaWestCoast.

Landslides:

LandslidesoccurinthehillyregionssuchastheHimalayas,NorthEastIndia,theNilgiris,andEasternandWesternGhats.LandslidesinIndiaareanotherrecurrentphenomenon.Landslideproneareaslargelycorrespondtoearthquakeproneareas,i.e.NorthwestandNorthEast,wheretheincidenceoflandslidesisthehighest.

Droughts:

Droughtisanotherrecurrentphenomenonwhichresultsinwidespreadadverseimpactonvulnerablepeopleslivelihoodsandyoungchildrensnutritionstatus.IttypicallystrikesaridareasofRajasthan(chronically)andGujaratstates.

DroughtisnotuncommonincertaindistrictsofUttarPradesh,Madhya



Pradesh,Orissa,AndhraPradesh,etc.Althoughaslowonsetemergency,andtoanextentpredictableemergency,droughthascausedseveresufferingintheaffectedareasinrecentyears,includingeffectsonpoverty,hunger,andunemployment.

ColdWaves:

ColdwavesarerecurrentphenomenoninNorthIndia.Hundredsifnotthousandsofpeopledieofcoldandrelateddiseaseseveryyear,mostofthemfrompoorurbanareasinnorthernpartsofthecountry.AccordingtoIndiasTenthFiveYearPlan,naturaldisastershaveaffectednearly6%ofthepopulationand24%ofdeathsinAsiacausedbydisastershaveoccurredinIndia.

Between1996and2001,2%ofnationalGDPwaslostbecauseofnaturaldisasters,andnearly12%ofGovernmentrevenuewasspentonrelief,rehabilitationandreconstructionduringthesameperiod.AsperaWorldBankstudyin2003,naturaldisastersposeamajorimpedimentonthepathofeconomicdevelopmentinIndia

ClassificationofDisasters:

Theclassificationofdisasterdiffersasperthecriterionofclassification.Forexample,onthebasisoftheirorigin,theyareclassifiedasnaturalandmanmade.Ifwetakeintoaccounttheirseverity,theymaybeclassifiedasmanorandminordisasters.

However,ahighpoweredcommitteeconstitutedinAug.1999bytheGovernmentofIndia,undertheChairmanshipofJ.C.Pantadoptedoriginasthecriterionfortheclassificationofdisaster.

Thefundamentaltaskofthecommitteewastopreparecomprehensive



modelplansfordisastermanagementatdistrict,stateandnationallevel.Thecommitteehasidentified30disastersandcategoriestheminthefollowingfivegroups.

1.WaterandClimateDisaster:

Suchasflood,cyclones,hailstorms,cloudburst,heatandcoldwaves,snowavalanches,droughts,seaerosion,thunderandlightning.

2.GeologicalDisaster:

Suchaslandslidesandmudflows,earthquakes,minefires,damfailuresandgeneralfires.

3.BiologicalDisaster:

Suchasepidemics,pestattacks,cattleepidemicandfoodpoisoning.

4.NuclearandIndustrialDisaster:

Suchaschemicalandindustrialdisastersandnuclearaccidents.

5.AccidentalDisaster:

Suchasurbanandforestfires,oilspill,minefloodingincidents,collapseofhugebuildingstructures,bombblasts,air,roadandrailmishaps,boatcapsizingandstampededuringcongregations.

Atcentrallevel,anadministrativeministryhasbeenidentifiedasnodalagencyforeachdisastertocoordinatetheactivitiesofdisastermanagementoperationsatdifferentlevels.



DisasterManagementANewApproach:

DisasterManagementisanefforttoinquireintotheprocessofahazardturningtodisastertoidentifyitscausesandrectifythesamethroughpublicpolicy.Thereforedisastermanagementisapolicyissueconcernedwithminimizingandpreventingthedamagingimpactofanaturalormanmadehazard.

Someofthepolicyandadministrativefactorsrelevanttodisastermanagementaresuchaspoorandweakorovercrowdedbuildingsinearthquakepronezone,poorlanduseplanninginfloodproneareas,inadequateandfaultylawsregulatingvariousprocessesandfacilities,generallowriskperceptiontowardsamongpeopleetc.

Theabovedescriptionofdisastermanagementunderlinesthedifferencebetweenthehazardandthedisaster.Ahazardisanaturalormanmadedamagingeventwhichisbeyondtheeffectivecontrolofhumanbeing,whereasthedisasteristhesumtotalofconsequencesofnaturalhazardduetovulnerabilityofpeopleorregionssubjecttohazard.

Thussamenaturalhazardmayproducedifferentamountofdisastrousimpactondifferentgroupofpeopleorregions.Thenewapproachtodisastermanagementevolvedgraduallyin1990sbeginningwiththedeclarationof19902000byUNGeneralAssemblyastheInternationalDecadeofNaturalDisasterReduction.

ThemajordisasterssuchastsunamiinAsiain2004,HurricaneKatrinainU.S.in2005andMuzaffarabadEarthquakein2005andunderlinedtheimportanceofthenewapproachacrosstheworld.TheUnitedNationReporttitledLivingwithriskclaimsthatthoughtherehasbeendeclineinthenumberoflossestohumanlivesfromdisastertheoccurrenceofdisasteris



rising.

TheYakohamaStrategyfordisastermanagementwasrenewedattheworldconferenceonDisasterReductionheldatHyogo(Japan)inJan.2005.Theconferencelaidemphasisonsomecrucialbutneglectedaspectsofdisastermanagementsuchasgovernanceandpolicyframework,riskidentificationandearlywarning,knowledgemanagement,reducingriskfactorsandpreparednessforeffectiveresponseandrecovery.

TheHyogoconferenceadoptedtheframeworkofAction,20052015calledBuildingtheResilienceofNationsandCommunitiestoDisaster.

AspanicsweptacrossIndiaseasterncoastintheaftermathofthemassive8.6magnitudeearthquakeofftheIndonesiancoaston12April,2012,theNationalDisasterManagementAuthority(NDMA)setoffthebiggestdisasterdrillthecountryhasseensincethebodywascreated.

Thealertbroughtbackmemoriesofthedevastatingtsunamiof2004,inwhich2.4lakhpeoplewerekilledworldwide.Beforethat,amongthemajorquakesIndiahasseenwastheoneonApril4,1905,an8.25rockerthathittheKangraregioninHimachal.Ithadkilledaround20,000people.ThenthereweretwoverylargemagnitudeearthquakesinBihar(1934)andAssam(1950).

Throughtheseearthquakesandtheauthoritiesresponsetothose,aquakephilosophyhasbeenevolvingcontinuously.Tilltheendoflastcentury,theessentialadministrativeapproachwas,Earthquakescannotbepredicted.

ThisattitudeexperiencedathawsometimeafterthedisastrousBhujearthquakeofmagnitude8.0onJanuary26,2001.Theadministrationstartedconsideringhowtosavelivesandmanagedisaster.Variousstate



governmentswererequestedtosetupadisastermanagementoffice.AttheGovernmentofIndialevel,twoinstitutesweresetupinNewDelhitheNationalInstituteofDisasterManagement(NIDM)andtheNationalDisasterManagementAuthority(NDMA).Theaimwastomitigatethedamagepotentialofnaturaldisastersinfuture.

Foronce,thesubjectofdisastermanagementhadbeentakenseriouslyatthegovernmentallevel.However,subsequentearthquakesprovedthattheorganisationswerenotabletocheckdisasters.AfterBhuj,thereweretwomajorseismiceventstheAndaman(Sumatran)earthquakecumtsunamiof26December,2004,andtheKashmirearthquakeofOctober8,2005.

Thedisastermanagementbodieswerenotabletodoanythingtopreventdeaths.Evenamoderateearthquakeofmagnitude6.8onSeptember18,2011,inSikkimwasadisaster.Mostdisastermanagementplanshavethusfarfocusedonthepostseismicperiodofrescue,rehabilitationandreconstruction(RRR).Inatypicalscenario,seismicshakingofmoderatetolargeearthquakeslasts3545seconds.

Ifthattimeisdividedintothreepartsof1215seconds,thenduringthefirstpart,disastermanagersarehighlyexcitedwatchingtheterrainshake.Duringthesecondpart,theyareinawetoseethecollapseofstructures.Thethirdparthasthemneartears,seeingthehorrificdeathsanddestruction.

Aftertheshakingstops,theyrushtoaffectedsiteswithstretchers,medicine,rescueequipment,etc.Allthisamountstorescue,notprevention.Tragically,thisisallthatdisastermanagementisaboutatpresent.Thereisnoactivityduringthepreseismicandcoseismicperiod.

Theproblemhasattainedseveredimensions.TheGeologicalSurveyofIndia(GSI),inareportpresentedtotheUttarakhandGovernmentinJuly2007,


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observedthattheprobabilityofoccurrenceofalargemagnitudeearthquakemorethanmagnitude8.0inUttarakhandwasashighas0.98%.

Inseismologicallexicon,onemaysaythatasthemagnitudeoftheprobabilisticallypredictedearthquakeisverylarge,thestatementisequallyapplicabletoHimachalPradesh.Suchanearthquakecouldseverelyaffectanareaofabout200kmradiusormore.

ItcouldbesaidthattheprobabilityofoccurrenceofalargemagnitudeearthquakeintheconglomerateofUttarakhandandHimachalisashighas0.98%.

PlaninAdvance:

Undersuchunforeseenconditions,ourmanagersneedtoplansomeactivitiesduringthepreseismicperiodandalsodiscusswhatshouldbedoneduringthecoseismicperiod.Takeeverysectionofsocietyinconfidenceandexplaintothemthelimitsofearthquakepredictionandhowtheadministrationplanstoovercometheodds.

Itisafactthatthesubjectofearthquakepredictionhasnotreachedperfection.Itisdifficulttopredictearthquakes.Ontheotherhand,iftheadministrationpredictsanearthquake,anditdoesnotoccur,theadministrationhastofacepubliccriticism.

Thebestwayfordisastermanagementofficesistocreateseismicawareness,informpeopleaboutreliableseismicprecursorseventsandindicatorsthatmaybenotedaheadofanimpendingearthquake.

NationalDisasterManagementAct2005:

NationalDisasterManagementAct,2005defineseventsthatcause



substantiallessoflife,prosperityandenvironment.Itread,Disastermeanscatastrophe,mishap,calamityorgraveoccurrenceinanyarea,arisingfromnatureormanmadecauses,orbyaccidentornegligencewhichresultinsubstantiallossoflife,ofhumansufferingordamageto,anddestructionofproperty,ordamageto,ordegradationofenvironment,andisofsuchnatureormagnitudeastobebeyondthecopingcapacityofthecommunityofaffectedareas.

About60percentoflandmassinIndiaispronetoearthquakesofvariousintensities,over40millionhectaresispronetofloods,about8percentofthetotalareaispronetocyclonesand68percentofareaissusceptibletodrought.

DisastermanagementAct,2005definesDisasterManagementas,acontinuouscycleandintegratedprocessofplanning,organizing,coordinatingandimplementing,coordinatingandimplementingmeasureswhicharenecessaryorexpedientfor

(i)Preventionofdangerorthreatofanydisaster

(ii)Mitigationorreductionofriskofanydisasteroritsseverityorconsequences

(iii)Capacitybuilding

(iv)Preparednesstodealwithanydisaster

(v)Promptresponsetoanythreateningdisastersituationordisaster

(vi)Assessingtheseverityormagnitudeofeffectsofanydisaster

(vii)Evacuation,rescueandrelief



(viii)RehabilitationandReconstruction.DisasterManagementAmendmentBill,2006aimsatbroadeningthemeaningofDisasterinDisasterManagementAct.

MainProvisionsofNationalDisasterManagementAct,2005:

TheActprovidesforthreetiermechanismforDisasterManagementthatincludesNationalDisasterManagementAuthority,StateDisasterManagementAuthorityandDistrictDisasterManagementAuthority.

NationalDisasterManagementAuthority:

ItschairpersonisthePrimeMinister.Notmorethannineothermemberscanbethere.ViceChairpersonsisappointedfromamongstmembersbytheChairperson.ExecutiveCommitteeischairedbytheSecretaryoftheMinistryentrustedwiththeworkoftheDisasterManagement.

StateDisasterManagementAuthority:

ItsChairpersonistheChiefMinisteroftheconcernedState.Othermembersnotexceedingeightarethere.Andinaddition,ChairpersonoftheStateExecutiveCommittee(whoisChiefSecretary)isalsoincluded.ViceChairpersonisappointedbyChairpersonsfromamongstmembers.ChairpersonoftheStateExecutiveCommitteeistheChiefExecutiveOfficer.StateExecutiveCommitteeischairedbytheStateChiefSecretary.

NationalDisasterResponseFund:

TobeconstitutedbytheCentralGovernmentforemergencyresponse,reliefandrehabilitation.

NationalDisasterManagementFund:



TobeconstitutedbytheCentralGovernmentfortheprojectsexclusivelyofmitigation.

UnderConstitutionalPosition,UnionListincludes:

AtomicEnergy,Railwaysetc.StateListincludesPublicOrder,PublicHealth,Agriculture,Wateretc.ConcurrentListincludesEnvironment,SocialSecurity,preventionoftheextensionfromoneStatetoanotherofinfectiousorcontagiousdiseases,etc.

ThroughStateLegislativeEnactmentssomefunctionhasbeengiventolocalgovernmentalso,moresoafter73rdand74thConstitutionalAmendmentAct.

UnionGovernment:

Supportiveroleisthereinmattersofresearchanddevelopment,finances,etc.ThereisCabinedCommitteeonManagementAct,2005providesfortheNationalDisasterManagementAuthorityunderPrimeMinistersalreadyfunctional.AcommitteeofUniongovernmentlooksafterissueoffinancialsupportfromNationalCalamitycontingencyFund.

ThereisCentralReliefFund.BiologicalandChemicalEmergenciesarecoordinatedbyCabinetcommitteeonsecurity.NationalCrisisManagementbyCabinetCommitteeonSecurity.

NationalCrisisManagementcommittee(NCMC)isheadedbytheCabinetSecretary.UnionMinistrieslookingafterdisastersare:MinistryofHomeAffairsnaturalandmanmadeDisastersMinistryofAgricultureDrought,MinistryofCivilAviationAirAccidentsMinistryofRailwaysRailwayAccidentsMinistryofEnvironmentChemicalDisasterMinistryofHealthBiologicalDisastersDepartmentofAtomicEnergyNuclear



Accidentsetc.CrisisManagementGroup(CMG)ischairedbyCentralReliefCommissionerintheMinistryofHomeAffairs.

StateGovernment:

PrimaryresponsibilityofreliefoperationsisoftheStates.NationalDisasterManagementAct,2005providesforthestateDisasterManagementAuthorityundertheChiefMinister.Attoppoliticallevel,thereis,normallyCabinetCommitteeonNaturalCalamitiesundertheChiefMinister.

ThereareCrisisManagementCommitteeschairedbytheChiefSecretaries.ReliefcommissionersfunctionariesofStateRevenueDepartmentareused.TheylookafterissuesofNaturalDisasters.

TheyworkunderCrisisManagementcommitteeheadedbytheChiefSecretary.StateRevenueSecretariesalsohavesomeresponsibilities.OverallresponsibilityattheDistrictLevel,restswiththeDistrictCollector/Districtmagistrate.

DistrictCollector/DistrictMagistrates:

NationalDisasterManagementAct,2005providesforthedistrictDisasterManagementAuthorityunderhis/herchairpersonships(cochairpersonsiselectedmemberoflocalauthority).Overallcoordinationbetweenvariousdepartmentsatdistrictlevelisachieved.

UnderGeneralFinancialRules/RevenueCodes,therearepowerstodrawmoney.Iftherearearmedforcesunitsavailablelocally,theirassistancecanberequested.Coordinationwithcivilsocietyisachieved.

Institutions:

TheDisasterManagementAct2005hasprovidedthelegalandinstitutional



frameworkfordisastermanagementinIndiaatthenational,stateanddistrictlevels.InthefederalpolityofIndiatheprimaryresponsibilityofdisastermanagementvestswiththeStateGovernments.

TheCentralGovernmentlaysdownpoliciesandguidelinesandprovidestechnical,financialandlogisticsupportwhilethedistrictadministrationcarriesoutmostoftheoperationsincollaborationwithcentralandstatelevelagencies.

IntheCentralGovernmentthereareexistinginstitutionsandmechanismsfordisastermanagementwhilenewdedicatedinstitutionshavebeencreatedundertheDisasterManagementActof2005.

TheCabinetCommitteeonManagementofNaturalCalamities(CCMNC)overseesallaspectsrelatingtothemanagementofnaturalcalamitiesincludingassessmentofthesituationandidentificationofmeasuresandprogrammesconsiderednecessarytoreduceitsimpact,monitorandsuggestlongtermmeasuresforpreventionofsuchcalamities,formulateandrecommendprogrammesforpublicawarenessforbuildingupsocietysresiliencetothem.

TheCabinetCommitteeonSecurity.(CCS)dealswiththemattersrelatingtonuclear,biologicalandchemicalemergencies

TheNationalCrisisManagementCommittee(NCMC)undertheCabinetSecretaryoverseestheCommand,ControlandCoordinationofthedisasterresponse.TheDisasterManagementAct,2005hascreatednewinstitutionsatthenational,state,districtandlocallevels.Thenewinstitutionalframeworkfordisastermanagementinthecountryisasunder:



TheNationalDisasterManagementAuthority(NDMA)undertheChairmanshipofthePrimeMinisteristheapexbodyresponsibleforlayingdownpolicies,plansandguidelinesfordisastermanagementandforcoordinatingtheirenforcementandimplementationthroughoutthecountry.

ThepoliciesandguidelineswillassisttheCentralMinistries,StateGovernmentsanddistrictadministrationtoformulatetheirrespectiveplansandprogrammes.NDMAhasthepowertoapprovetheNationalPlansandthePlansoftherespectiveMinistriesandDepartmentsofGovernmentofIndia.Thegeneralsuperintendence,directionandcontrolofNationalDisasterResponseForce(NDRF)arevestedinandwillbeexercisedbytheNDMA.

TheNationalExecutiveCommittee(NEC)ismandatedtoassisttheNDMAinthedischargeofitsfunctionsandfurtherensurecomplianceofthedirectionsissuedbytheCentralGovernment.TheNECcomprisesofthe



UnionHomeSecretaryastheChairperson,andtheSecretariestotheGOIintheMinistries/DepartmentsofAgriculture,AtomicEnergy,Defence,DrinkingWaterSupply,EnvironmentandForests,Finance(Expenditure),Health,Power,RuralDevelopment,ScienceandTechnology,Space,Telecommunications,UrbanDevelopment,WaterResourcesandtheChiefoftheIntegratedDefenceStaffoftheChiefsofStaffCommitteeasmembers.

SecretariesintheMinistryofExternalAffairs,EarthSciences,HumanResourceDevelopment,Mines,Shipping,RoadTransport&HighwaysandSecretary,NDMAarespecialinviteestothemeetingsoftheNEC.

TheNationalExecutiveCommitteeisresponsibletopreparetheNationalPlanandcoordinateandmonitortheimplementationoftheNationalPolicyandtheguidelinesissuedbyNDMA.

TheMinistryofHomeAffairs(MHA)intheCentralGovernmenthastheoverallresponsibilityfordisastermanagementinthecountry.ForafewspecifictypesofdisasterstheconcernedMinistrieshavethenodalresponsibilitiesformanagementofthedisasters,asunder:

Drought MinistryofAgriculture

Epidemics&BiologicalDisastersChemicalDisastersNuclearDisastersAirAccidentsRailwayAccidents

MinistryofHealthandFamilyWelfareMinistryofEnvironment&ForestsMinistryofAtomicEnergyMinistryofCivilAviationMinistryofRailways



TheNationalInstituteofDisasterManagement(NIDM)hasthemandateforhumanresourcedevelopmentandcapacitybuildingfordisastermanagementwithinthebroadpoliciesandguidelineslaiddownbytheNDMA.

NIDMisrequiredtodesign,developandimplementtrainingprogrammes,undertakeresearch,formulateandimplementacomprehensivehumanresourcedevelopmentplan,provideassistanceinnationalpolicyformulation,assistotherresearchandtraininginstitutes,stategovernmentsandotherorganizationsforsuccessfullydischargingtheirresponsibilities,developeducationalmaterialsfordisseminationandpromoteawarenessamongstakeholdersinadditiontoundertakeanyotherfunctionasassignedtoitbytheCentralGovernment.

TheNationalDisasterResponseForce(NDRF)isthespecializedforcefordisasterresponsewhichworksundertheoverallsupervisionandcontroloftheNDMA.

AttheStateLeveltheStateDisasterManagementAuthority(SDMA),headedbytheChiefMinister,laysdownpoliciesandplansfordisastermanagementintheState.ItisalsoresponsibletocoordinatetheimplementationoftheStatePlan,recommendprovisionoffundsformitigationandpreparednessmeasuresandreviewthedevelopmentalplansofthedifferentdepartmentsoftheStatetoensureintegrationofprevention,preparednessandmitigationmeasures.

TheStateDisasterManagementDepartment(DMD)whichismostlypositionedintheRevenueandreliefDepartmentisthenodalauthority.InthedistrictleveltheDistrictDisasterManagementAuthority(DDMA)isheadedbytheDistrictMagistrate,withtheelectedrepresentativeofthelocalauthorityastheCoChairperson.



DDMAistheplanning,coordinatingandimplementingbodyfordisastermanagementatdistrictlevel.Itwill,interaliapreparetheDistrictDisasterManagementPlanandmonitortheimplementationoftheNationalandStatePoliciesandtheNational,StateandtheDistrictPlans.

DDMAwillalsoensurethattheguidelinesforprevention,mitigation,preparednessandresponsemeasureslaiddownbytheNDMAandtheSDMAarefollowedbyalldepartmentsoftheStateGovernmentatthedistrictlevelandthelocalauthoritiesinthedistrict.

TheLocalAuthoritiesboththerurallocalselfgoverninginstitutions(PanchayatiRajInstitutions)andurbanlocalbodies(Municipalities,CantonmentBoardsandTownPlanningAuthorities)Thesebodieswillensurecapacitybuildingoftheirofficersandemployeesformanagingdisasters,carryoutrelief,rehabilitationandreconstructionactivitiesintheaffectedareasandwillprepareDMPlansinconsonancewithguidelinesoftheNDMA,SDMAsandDDMAs.

NationalPolicyonDisasterManagement2009:

(a)TheNationalPolicyonDisasterManagementwasapprovedbytheGovernmentinNovember2009.Thiscomprehensivepolicydocumentlaysdownpoliciesoneveryaspectofholisticmanagementofdisastersinthecountry.

SalientFeaturesofIndiasNationalPolicyonDisasterManagement:IndiasNationalPolicyonDisasterManagementwasapprovedbytheUnionCabinetofIndiaon22ndOctober,2009withtheaimtominimizethelossestolives,livelihoodsandproperty,causedbynaturalormanmadedisasterswithavisiontobuildasafe&DisasterresilientIndiabydevelopingaholistic,proactive,integrated,Multidisasterorientedandtechnologydriven



strategy.

WiththisnationalPolicyinplaceinIndia,aholisticandintegratedapproachwillbeevolvedtowardsdisastermanagementwithemphasisonbuildingstrategicpartnershipsatvariouslevels.

ThethemesunderpinningthepolicyincludeCommunitybasedDisasterManagement,Capacitydevelopmentinallspheres,ConsolidationofpastinitiativesandbestpracticesandCooperationwithagenciesatNationalandInternationallevelswithmultisectoralsynergy.

(b)ThePolicyisalsointendedtopromoteacultureofprevention,preparednessandresilienceatalllevelsthroughknowledge,innovationandeducation.Itencouragesmitigationmeasuresbasedonenvironmentalsustainability.

ItseekstomainstreamdisastermanagementintothedevelopmentalplanningprocessandprovidesforInstitutionalandFinancialarrangementsatnational,State,andDistrictlevelsforDisasterPrevention,Mitigation,PreparednessandResponseasitensuresadequatebudgetingfordisastermitigationactivitiesinallMinistriesandDepartments.

(c)StatePoliciesonDisasterManagement%TheStatesofMadhyaPradesh,Gujarat,KeralahaveformulatedStateDisasterManagementPolicies.TamilNadu,Chattisgarh,Uttranchal,Meghalaya,Bihar,Rajasthan,Delhi,OrissaandWestBengalhaveprepareddraftpolicies.

(d)StateReliefCodes/DMCodes:ManyStateshavemanualsandcodesformanagementofdrought,floodsetc.NowmanystatesareintheprocessofchangingtheirStateReliefcodesintoDisasterManagementManuals.



AMatterofConcern:

YokhamaDeclarationexposedthateconomiclosswasincreasingduetovariousdisasters.TheintergovernmentalPanelonthatworldwidethefrequencyandmagnitudeofalltypesofnaturaldisastersareincreasing.Increasingtendencyofdroughtsinsomeareasmorevulnerabilityofforestfires.

Disastersaffect:one,astheyderaildevelopmentprocess.Two,affectsresourceavailabilityforfuturedevelopment.Merenarrowapproachtemporaryreliefandinvolvesmorecost.ThereisneedtolinkDisastermanagementandDevelopment,reliefandreconstruction.

Somedisasterssayfloodhavemuchpostdisastercomplication.Manmadeinhumanedisastersincrease.PlannedDevelopmentfinanceforDisasterManagementPlans.Thenthereistargetedrevenuedifficulteliminationissue.Overexploitationofnaturalresourcesisleadingtowardsenvironmentaldegradation.

Thatmayleadtonationincreasesmuchbutpublicsafetycommonsenseandawarenessincommunitylacks.Inmanyinstancelackofpreparednessisconvertinghazardsintodisasters.Flawsinintelligencearecausingsomedisasters,say,terrorism,strikes,socialtensions,etc.

PublicHealthinfrastructureisinadequatebuthealthhazardsincrease.WomenandChildrenareusuallymostaffectedduringdisasters.Moreattentionisneededtobegiventothisissue.EvencampmanagingCommitteelacksufficientnumberofwomen,totakecareofwomen,inreliefandrehabilitationApprehensionsofmisuseofscienceandtechnologicaladvancementsexist.Droughtaffectsruralareasmoreandwatersupplyinfrastructureremainsweakinruralareas.



Asnormalproceduresaredifficulttofollow,duetourgencycorruptionproblemsarethere.IneffectivenessinwatermanagementPoliciescreatesproblemsindroughtmanagementandfloodrelief.StudyandResearchinDisasterManagementisstilldeficient.Infact,thereisneedtointroducetheDisastermanagementandPublicAdministration.

Traditionally,eveninlegalframework,meaningofdisasterhasbeentakennarrowly.EnforcementofPublicSafetyRegulationsisnoteffectiveLowincomeandPovertycreatesproblemsinmattersofpreparedness.Professionalskillsforfieldmachineryinmattersofdisastermanagementstilllack.

StilltherearedeficienciesintakinguptheissueofGeographicalInformationSystem(GlS)asaplanscheme.Communityparticipationinvulnerabilityanalysislacks.Mediauseforbringingmassawarenessisnotpaidsufficientattention.DigitaldisseminationofinformationbyDisasterManagementAuthoritiesisstillinadequate.

Muchgapexistsbetweendisasterresearchandcommunitycapacitybuilding.ThereareinstancesofpolicymakerslackingtheDisasterManagementexperience.Potentialofexservicemenavailableinbetweencountryisnotusedwell.InternationalorbilateralcooperationinDisastermanagementisnotuptothemark.

Whatcanbedone?

Lifecycleofcrisismanagementcanbebroadlydividedinthreephasesprecrisis,duringcrisisandpostcrisis.SustainableDevelopmentpreparednesscanreducehazard.Thereisneedtolinkdisastermanagementanddevelopmentplans.Plannedimprovementinlegalframeworkinneeded.

Bringingcommunityconsciousnesswillhelp.Shorttermandlongterms



planningneedintegration.Moreeffectiveinternationalcooperationanduseofitisneedfordisasterwarningsystem.

As,normally,communityresponseisthefirstincaseofdisaster,thereisneedforcommunitycapacitybuilding.PolicyofEmergencyOperationCenters(EOC)atnational,stateanddistrictlevelshouldbeeffectivelyimplemented.

SubjectofDisastermanagementisnotmentionedspecifically,inanyofthethreelistsoftheSeventhScheduleoftheconstitution.NationalCommissionoftheConstitution(NCRWC)suggesteditsinclusioninConcurrentList.BestPracticesguidelinesshouldbelaiddown.

MeaningofDisasterinNationalDisasterManagementAct,2005isnarrowitshouldbebroadened.Capacitybuildinginlocalgovernmentisneeded.InJapanlocalgovernmentshavearoletoplayinsuchmatters.

2ndARCrecommends,inlargercities(saywithpopulation,exceeding2.5million)theMayor,assistedbytheCommissioneroftheMunicipalCorporationandthePoliceCommissionershouldbedirectlyresponsibleforCrisismanagement.

InitiativesCalamityreliefFund(CRF)exists,Variousrelatedrulesexist,say,HazardousWaste(managementandHandlingRules)1989,TheOzoneDepletingSubstances(Regulationandcontrol)Rules,2000etc.

NationalInstituteofDisasterManagementissetupatDelhi.,CoastalZoneRegulations,BuildingCodes,FireSafetyRulesetc.someStateshavegoneforStateDisasterManagementActs,say:Act,2003,BiharDisastermanagementAct,2004,UttrakhandDisasterMitigation,ManagementandPreventionAct,2005UttarPradeshDisasterManagementAct,2005etc.



UttarakhandhassetupaseparatedepartmentofDisasterManagement.

VulnerabilityAtlasofIndiawasbroughtin1998.SeismicZoneofIndiahasbeenstandardized.Oflate,FiveYearPlanninghadbeengivinghighprioritytosuchissues.NationalBuildingCode3wasbroughtin2005.

IndiaDisasterResourcesnetworkDisasterManagementAwebenabledcentralizeddatabase.StandardOperatingProcedures(SOP)aretherewhichguidetheoperationsincaseofcrisis.CivilDefenceActwasbroughtin1968andCivilDefenceRegulations,1968exist.

SAARCDisasterManagementCentreitwassetupinOctober2006.ItisinthepremisesofNationalInstituteofDisasterManagement,NewDelhi.

disaster management in india_ classification, policies and other details

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