Disaster And Disaster Management in India

Disaster:

A catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence from natural or man-made causes which is beyond the coping capacity of the affected community.

http://ndma.gov.in

NDMA is the apex body with a mandate to lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for DM to ensure timely and effective response to disasters.

·         National Disaster Management comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

·         NDMA was proposed under the NDM Act, 2005

·         National Disaster Management Authority is chaired by the PM

o   SDMA headed by CMs

o   DDMA headed by DMs

·         Objective: To build a safer and disaster resilient India by developing a holistic, pro-active, multi-disaster and technology driven strategy effort of all government agencies and NGOs

·         According to the World Band study India loses up to 2% of its GDP due to Natural Disasters

·         The 10^th Five Year Plan initiated the process of shift from relief and response centric DM to prevention, mitigation and preparedness as means to revert or more effective handling of the disasters

·         12^th Five Year Plan Aims:

o   Strengthening communication network and setting up an early warning system (using science and technology)

o   Capacity building

o   Streamlining plans and programmes

o   A holistic and integrated approach with emphasis on prevention, mitigation and preparedness

o   Informed decision making – Information and Communication Technology.

·         Capacity Building:

o   Identification of existing resources or resources to be acquired or created.

o   Organization and training of personnel and coordination for effective management of disasters.

·         Keywords: Prevention, Mitigation, Capacity Building, Preparedness, Prompt Response, Assessing the security or magnitude of effects of any disaster, Evacuation rescue and relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction.

·         Objectives of the National Policy on Disaster Management:

o   Prevention, preparedness resilience at all levels through knowledge, innovation and education.

o   Encouraging mitigation measures based on technology wisdom and environmental planning process

o   Mainstreaming DM in developmental planning process

o   Establishing institutional and techno-legal framework to create an enabling regulatory environmental and a compliance regime

·         58.6% of the landmass in India is prone to earthquakes of moderate to very high intensity.

·         40 million hectares (12% 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% of cultivable area is prone to drought and hilly areas and at the risk of landslides and avalanches

·         CBRN: Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear vulnerabilities also exist

·         NDRF: National Disaster Response Forces

·         NGOs, SHGs, Red Cross.

·         R&D: Regional and international collaboration.

Recent: Earthquake in Pakistan, Uttaranchal floods, Collapse of buildings, Philin cyclone.