REPORT ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Introduction and Institutional framework in India

 What is Disaster?
 Undesirable occurrence.
 Strikes quickly with little or no warning.
 Disruption of life and property.
 Consequence of natural forces and human activities.

 UNISDR defines Disaster as:-

“A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human material, economic
the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.”

 Disaster management cycle

It can be divided into three parts:-
1. Pre-disaster
2. During disaster
3. Post disaster

1. Pre-disaster
 Generating data and information about history of occurred disaster.
 Based on that vulnerability zoning maps are developed.
 And spreading awareness.
 Planning and preventive measures.
2. During disaster
 Rescue and Relief operation should be given highest priority.
 Construct shelter and relief camps.
 Supplying essential items like food, water, medicines, clothes, etc.
3. Post disaster
 Focus should be given on rehabilitation and recovery.
 Capacity building.

 India risk and vulnerability profile

 India is vulnerable, in varying degrees to a large number of disasters.
 More than 58.6% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of moderate to very high intensity.
 Over 40 million hectares of its land is porn to floods and river erosion.
 Close to 5700 km’s, out of 7516 km’s long coastline is prone to cyclone and tsunamis.
 68% of its cultivable area is vulnerable to droughts and its hilly areas are at risk from landslides and avalanches.
 Moreover, India is also vulnerable to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear emergencies and man-made
disasters.

 Government of India.
 August 1999:- High Power Committee on Disaster Preparedness
 Tenth five year plan (2002-2007):- Detailed chapter on disaster management act.
 Twelfth finance commission (2005-2010):- Review financial arrangements for disaster management.
 2005:- Disaster management act.
 National Disaster Management Authority. (NDMA)
 2009:-National Disaster Management Policy. (NDMP)
 2016:-National Disaster Management Policy (NDMP) was revised.
 National Disaster Management Institutional Mechanism
 Overall coordination for disaster management in India lies with the ministry of home affairs.
 Most important committee of decision making are: Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
: National Crisis management committee (NCMC).
 CCS consists of prime minister, minister of defence, minister of finances, minister of home affairs, and minister of
external.
 CCS works to analyse all over senior from national security perspective.
 NCMC works to oversee commanded control and coordination of disaster response.
 Key body of disaster management is National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is chaired by the prime
minister and members (not exceeding nine).
 NDMA works to lay down the policy guideline for the disaster management and also to coordinate the informant
and implementation of the plan throughout the country.
 National Executive Committee helps NDMA.
 NEC also coordinates with armed forces, central armed police force, and national disaster response force and
also with designated nodal ministries.
 National Institute of Disaster Management works to design develop, and implementation to training programs to
undertake research.

 State level Disaster management coordination mechanism

 NDMA coordinates with District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).
 State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) coordinates with DDMA.
 Other key bodies are Relief commissioners, Nodal Department, State emergency operation centre, state
department, line agencies and agencies with disaster management responsibilities.
 The disaster management act, 2005 through this act institutional framework and coordination mechanism was
laid down so that disaster can be affectively managed in India.
 Four levels of coordination were designed
1. National level
2. State level
3. District level
4. Local level

 National Disaster management plan, 2016 (NDMP).

 Adoption of three international agreements in 2015 having significant bearing on disaster management are:-
1. Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction.
2. Sustainable development goals 2015-2030.
3. Paris agreement on climate change.
 Four priorities for action under the Sendai framework are:-
1. Understanding disaster risk.
2. Improving disaster risk governance to manage.
3. Investing in disaster risk reduction.
4. Disaster preparedness for effective response and reconstruction.

 Evolution of Disaster management in India.

 In India the concept of disaster management has evolved from an activity based setup to approve activate
institutionalized structure from single facility domain to multitasked holders and from relief based approach to a
multi dimensional pro activity holistic approach.
 In post independence period task for managing disaster continue to rest with the relief commissioner with the
roll limited to delegation of relief material and money in affected areas.
 Later 5 year plan addressed disaster and irrigation command area development and flood council control.
 Till the end of 80’s the disaster management structure was activity based function under the relief department
and institutionalized setup was established in 90’s.The setup of disaster management sale was under the ministry
of agriculture.
  The structure for disaster management in India is at the state of evolution. The new structure is evaluating while
previous structure also continues, therefore both the structure coexists at present.
 The national disaster management authority has been established at the centre and the state disaster
management authority and district authority are gradually being formalized.

 Types of disasters.
 Disasters occurs in various forms such as:-
 Floods
 Droughts
 Landslides
 Earthquakes
 Conflicts
 Famine
 Industrial and transport accident
 Some other such occurrences
 Disaster are usually divided into two parts:-
1. Natural disaster.
2. Man-made disaster.
 However, a specific disaster may generate another disaster. Disasters are classified as primary disaster and
secondary disaster.

1. Natural disaster.
 Natural disaster is a major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the earth.
 Severe storms and floods are the most common types of natural disaster.
 Natural disaster is a naturally occurring physical phenomena which can be :-
 Geophysical
o Earthquakes
o Landslides
o Tsunamis
o Volcanic activity
 Hydrological
o Avalanches
o Flood
 Climatologically
o Extreme temperatures
o Drought
o Wildfires
 Meteorological
o Cyclones
o Storms/wave surges

2. Man-made disaster.
 A man-made disaster is a disastrous event caused directly by one or more identifiable deliberate are
negligent human actions.
 Man-made disasters are usually the result of things going wrong in our complex technological society. They
include :-
o Blackouts o House fires
o Hazardous o Radiation leaks
o Material spills o Food or water
o Air pollution o Contamination
 o Industrial chemical releases
 Examples o man-made disaster which result from human negligence error or intent include like:-
o Nuclear warfare o Global warming
o Biochemical warfare o Fires
o Nuclear explosions o Civil unrest
o Toxic emissions o Terrorism
 Bhopal, India gas tragedy in 1984, more than 500000 peoples where exposed to methane isocyanine gas and
other chemicals causing 3787 deaths.
 Air struck world trade centre in New York on 11 th Sep, 2001 is a typical example of man-made disaster.
 High risk targets:-
o Military and civilian government facilities
o International airports
o Large cities
o High profile landmarks
o Cyber-terrorism involves attacks against computers and networks done to intimidate or coerce a
government or its people for political or social objects.
o Man-made or human-instigated disaster is the result of human failure to set up appropriate disaster
management measures.

 Man/Human made disaster

 As social work students, we have to understand human made disasters and their impact on human kind and
environment which force us to take timely intervention to mitigate it.
 Human made disasters are dreadful events caused by careless human actions. The human made disasters have
been a result of human insensitivity and planning which has ended up with large number of people losing lives.
 Its impacts are environmental degradation, pollution and accidents. The challenges associated with this are
climate change, unorganized-urbanization, under-development, poverty as well as the threat of pandemics,
which will shape humanitarian assistance.
 These factors will result in increased frequency, complexity and severity of disasters.
 Types of human made disasters are:-
1. Industrial disasters 7. Dam failures
2. Chemical disasters 8. War
3. Technological disasters 9. Terrorist attacks
4. Nuclear disaster 10. Biological disasters
5. Gas leaks 11. Transportation accidents
6. Oil spills

1. Industrial disasters
 Industrial disasters are taken place in industrial setting. The history of industrial disasters speaks of mines,
factories and other industrial centres as its centres of origin. At this places volatiles materials where handed and
there may be chance for explosion resulting in loss of life and distraction of environment.
 Lighting may create national fire and gas leakage or defective equipment in industry may create human made
disaster.
 The improvements that have come upon and the increasing mechanization, chemicalization and complexity in
the industrial sector made the jobs more composite and hazardous this id led to increased threats to human life
in industries.
 If an employee encounters an accident due to occupational hazards occurs during employment can be
considered as an industrial injury.
 Industries should follow equipments managements, operational planning, diligent preparation and detailed
prevention.
 The reasons for industrial disasters are classified into three categories:-
 1. Unsafe conditions
2. Psychological reasons
3. Unsafe acts
 The unsafe acts of workers are a reason for these disasters. These acts may be the result of lack of knowledge or
skill of the workers.
 These unsafe acts can be avoided by using safe clothes or protective equipment’s, disposing the waste in the
work place in safe manner.
 Mitigation measures to combat industrial disasters are planning disaster specific strategies like hazard mapping,
land use planning and community preparedness.
 Adopt zoning strategy to be implemented to demarcate industrial with residential zone. Effective waste
management techniques should be adopted.

2. Chemical disasters
 A chemical disaster is severe and involves the chemical martial. Loos of life of many animals and plants or human
is result of chemical disaster. It also causes serious injuries; the damage to the reputation of the industry is
unchangeable. The air, water and noise pollutions are the consequences.
 Evolution of legislations and policies that are related to environment, safety of workmen at their work place,
taking care of hazardous substances etc.
 The most important catastrophe ever seen in the chemical industry in India is the disastrous Bhopal gas tragedy
(1984) which shook the whole of India.

3. Technological disaster
 Disaster caused by a malfunction of a technology structure and some human error in handling the technology are
technological disaster.
 These are more prone to involve the breakdown of systems, equipment and engineering standards that harm
people and the environment.
 Mitigations measures recommended were individuals are advised to keep routine and reduce exposure to media,
maintain measures to improve physical and mental health, seek professional help for attain emotional balance.

4. Nuclear disaster
 Though nuclear energy is clean and sustainable the impact of meltdown can be disturbing and wild rigid.
 Meltdown/radiation leak will take place in nuclear disasters and results in the discharge of radioactive material
from a nuclear facility.
 One of the most famous nuclear meltdowns was the incident occurred in 1986 at Chernobyl, Ukraine.
 The causes of nuclear disasters are mismanagement in the reactors, human errors, faulty design of reactors and
plant, violation of safety procedures, breakdown of communication and use of low duality products.
 Technical measures to be adopted to mitigate the threat of accidents and to minimize the amount of release of
radiation. High safety measures are to be maintained at the nuclear plants.
 Most explosions are human made and unintentional. Nowadays, there are reports stating that there is
illegitimate use of explosives for ideological reasons.
 At the time of explosion, one has to get oneself beneath a strong table if things are falling around and when they
stop falling, run off from the area. If one is trapped inside a building, take the stairs; watch out for damaged
floors and stairwells.
 Stay away from elevators and other electrical items as there is chance for fire to break out.
 If trapped in debris, try to seek the help of rescuers by making noises, don’t move around as it will create
problems to both the survivors and rescuers, it is advisable to use a cloth to filter the air you breathe in to protect
lungs from any pollutants in the air.

5. Gas leak
 Gas leaks are the hazards disaster and very much related to industrial and chemical disaster.
 A gas leak refers to a seep out of any types of gaseous product from the containment into any area where the gas
should not be present.
  The explosion cause fire and it destroy the vegetation of the locale of the incident and results in emission of
greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
 As soon as the people in the nearby area where gas leakage occurred must vacate the place and people should
not use flames or electrical equipments. In these ways we can reduce the risk of explosions.

6. Oil spill
 Oil spill affects the living things the eco systems and the world economy. Oil spills into water stems based and the
marine by the way of accidents of tankers, Burges, pipelines, refineries, and the storage facilities. Oil usually
spreads out rapidly across the water surface to form a thin layer called an oil slick. As the oil keeps on spreading
the layer becomes thinner and thinner and finally become a very thin layer called a sin.
 People use different kinds of tools to clean the oil spill. A big boom may be placed around a tanker as a floating
barrier to collect the leaking oil.
 Chemical dispersants and biological agents are used to break down the oil into its chemical constituents. The oil
floating on the water can be burnt.
 Using high pressure or low pressure hoses oil can be washed off from the beaches. Vacuum the spilled oil using
vacuum trucks. Shovels and road equipment can be used to clear off the oil from beach sand.

7. Dam failure
 Dam is an artificial obstruction constructed to hold water either fresh water or waste water or any liquid material
with intention of storage or control of water. The reason for failure of dams is hydraulic failure which can be
applicable to all kinds of dams.
 Dam’s failure may occur due to seepage which occur through foundation and body of dam and due to stress
develop within structures.
 The mullaperiyar dam issue between Kerala and Tamilnadu states is grounded on this matter. Other reasons for
dam failure are overflow of dam because of floods which exceeds the caring capacity of the dam.
 Planning and implementation of evacuation is the responsibility of the disaster management agency with the
local self-government. If there is a chance for flood, then pay attention to the mass media for public information
and then shift immediately to a higher place.
 Secure the house and shift essential items to an upper area. Carry important documents like identity cards,
ration cards etc and your bug-out bag. Switch off main switches to cut off power supply to one’s house, avoid
flood water to walk or move.

8. War
 War is state of conflict between society states or nation using arms. Its characteristics are extreme aerations
distraction and motility using regular or irregular military forces.
 War is not restricted to legal military targets only and can result in massive civilian or other non-combatant
suffering and casualties.
 Cyber warfare involves the actions by a nation state or international organization to attack and damage another
nation’s information systems.
 Information warfare is the application of destructive force against the computer networks that supports the four
critical infrastructures.
 In nuclear warfare, nuclear weapons are the primary tool. Unconventional warfare is an attempt to achieve
military victory through acquiescence, capitulation.
 War of aggression is a war for conquest rather than self-defence. This can be the basis of war crimes under
customary international law.
 Preventing war can be a citizen activity, educate you on the issues, foster respectful relationship between the
rival groups, open communication, organize community forums and panels to educate the public, to discuss
differing opinions for networking, advocacy etc.
 Raise money for the developing countries, expose and oppose racial discrimination, the restriction of civil
liberties and the reactions against immigrants.
9. Terrorist attacks
 An act of violation of criminal’s laws and violins against individual or against property with intention of pleasure
ransom is known as terrorism.
 It is the use of indiscriminate violence intentionally to create fear among the people to accomplish the aim of
financial, political, religious or ideological goals.
 Recent reports speaks that a few countries have an extensive record of terrorism namely Afghanistan, India, Iraq,
USA, Pakistan.
 They scare the general public by sending explosives through the mail. The best example of this in India is the
Mumbai attack in 2008 and the 9/11 attack in US (2001) by the Islamic extremist group AI-Qaeda.
 To reduce the ill-effects of terrorist attacks the general public has to depend on public, fire force and other civil
security officials for other civil security officials for directions.
 Always be conscious of emergency exits, if you see anything conspicuous or unattended baggage, inform police at
the earliest. The timely intervention can reduce the ill effects.
 Types of terrorism
o Civil disorders and protests
o Political terrorism
o Limited political terrorism
o Non-political terrorism
o Quasi terrorism
o State terrorism

10. Biological disaster

 Biological disaster is biological warfare or bio-terrorism. It is connected with the deliberate release of biological
agents, virus, or toxins in an act of terrorism.
 These biological disasters end up causing death, disability, impairment and other damages to human beings,
anthrax and smallpox are examples of it.
 The production cost of biological warfare is relatively cheaper compared to other weapons. The safety measures
are having a good first aid kit, contacting authorities, seek medical assistance, to follow official instructions,
always be prepared to improvise to protect one’s sense-organs.

11. Transportation accidents

 It can happen any time during journey. The reasons may be error in judgement technical malfunction and the
interference of animals. If these problems are encountered with mass transit vehicles then the result will be
catastrophic.
 Some of the examples of transportation accidents are rail road accident, sheep breaks, aircraft carious, space
accidents etc.
 An aviation accident is a catastrophic incidence linked with an aircraft: the aircraft has damage or structural
damage or the aircraft is missing or is completely hard to find. Is the missing of Malaysia airline in 2014, which is
still not recovered.
 Get aware about the dangers in various transportation modes. The rules of behaviour and regulations should be
published or pasted in the vehicles.
 Motivate to obey traffic rules, demonstrations should be given to the passengers about rescue services in the
vehicle, always take emergency details and blood group of people.

 Natural disaster.
 Natural disasters keep its momentum high with its frequency and complexity and affect every nation’s economy
irrespective of its standard of development. It creates greater risk to the people infra structures and public and
private assets and the effect will be higher if it occurs in densely populated habitation zones.
  Natural disasters are a phenomenon that occurs abruptly and without any prior signals.
 The effects can be mitigated through awareness and alertness, preparedness and response.
 Scientists, environmentalists and geologists confirm that natural disasters are the consequences of natural and
human activities.
 Global statistics speak that major death casualties of natural disasters are taking place in developing countries,
especially those countries lies between the area of tropic of cancer and the tropic of Capricorn.
 This is the area where poorer countries are located in the global, where the problems of disaster management is
unique, owing to the competing needs between basic necessities for people and economic progress. There they
face a threat to life, property, environment and health and its magnitude of destruction and damage caused by
the so called disaster is very high.
 Classification of natural disasters are:-
o Atmospheric disasters.
 They are those events which happened bellow the sky and above the ground. For examples:- thunder
storms, lighting, tornados, tropical cyclones, droughts, hill storms, heat waves and cool waves.
o Terrestrial disasters.
 Terrestrial disasters are believed to be done by creator and not under human control. For examples: -
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, avalanches, soil eruptions, etc.
o Aquatic disasters.
 Aquatic disasters which is related to water. For examples: - flood, tidal wave, ocean currents, storms,
tsunami, etc.
o Biological disasters.
 It is a kind of epidemics, flu or anything under medical spreads in any area. For examples: - plants and
animals as colonies, incites infestation like fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases.

 Natural disasters in India.

 Earthquakes: -
o An earthquake is the most impulsive and greatly destructive among all the disasters and the affected area of
it is very extensive.
o Earthquake occurs due to the sudden release of energy during the tectonic activities in the earth’s crust.
o Cracks are formed on surface, through which water or volatile material gush out such as molten lava and hot
spring.
 Tsunami: -
o Tsunami is the phenomenon of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occurred in the sea floor which results in
sudden dislocation of ocean water in the form of high vertical waves.
o It is a series of waves and the first may not be the largest. Most tsunamis take place near a fault line, which
falls out in massive flooding along the shoreline where they hit.
 Tropical cyclones/Hurricane: -
o Tropical cyclones are kind of rotating storm intensive low-pressure areas confined to the area lying between
30N and 30S latitude which spreads to the areas between tropic of cancer to tropic of Capricorn or the
equatorial region.
o It is caused by a combination of strong winds driving water on shore and the lower atmospheric pressure in a
tropical cyclone.
o As warm, moist air over the ocean rises up from the ocean surface, there is less air left near the surface and
this causes an area of lower air pressure below.
o Cyclones mostly develop in Bay of Bengal during the month of October and November near sunder ban delta.
 Floods: -
o Floods are natural occurrences where in area or land that is normally dry adroitly becomes submerged in
water. In simple terms flood can be defined as overflow of large quantity of water onto dry land. It is a rise of
a water level in a river channels.
o Floods are caused by have rainfall over a long time or due to other geological or metrological disasters. For
example if a dam may burst and this can cause flooding below the dams.
 o Whenever flooding takes place, there is the possibility of loss of life, hardship to people, and extensive
damage to property. This is because flooding can carry bridges, cars, houses and even people.

 Droughts: -
o Droughts are one of the scariest and deadliest natural calamities. Droughts have claimed innumerable lives in
India in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
o A drought is a period of drier than normal conditions that results in water related problems. It is the
excessive rate of evaporation.
o It is an extended period when there is shortage of water due to lack of rainfall. When little or no rain falls,
soils can dry out and plants can die.
o When rainfall is less than normal for several weeks, months, or years, the flow of streams and rivers become
turn down, water levels in lakes and reservoirs go down, and the depth of water in wells decreases.
o The irrigation commission of India has identified 67 districts in the country that are drought prone. Some of
the states that have been identified as drought prone include Rajasthan, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, northern
Karnataka, Maharashtra and western Aravallis.
 Landslides: -
o The movement of collection of rocks, derby or earth down a hill called landslide. There are multiple causes of
landslides. Causes include factors that increase in the gravitational pull which results in the effects of down
slope forces that exceed the strength of the earth materials which compose the slope.
o Another cause is the law or reduced strength of the slopes that are threshold of movement by rainfall,
snowmelt, vary in water level stream erosion, increase in ground water, earthquakes, volcanic activity,
disturbance by human activities or any other groupings of this factors.
o Three major factors make landslides more likely to occur; heavy rainfall adding weight and lubricating layers
of land, deforestation, weakening root structures, and earthquakes shaking land loose.

 Preventive measures to deal with natural disasters: -

 Preventive measures are those activities which one tries to stop from happening or any action which reduces the
negative effect of an incident. In natural disasters some of the possible interventions were:
o Detection and warning system
o Emergency exit (evacuation)
o Control/reporting centres
o Reliable communication system
o Training and rehearsals in: rescue, first aid, control plan, hazards and risk reduction, planning, books,
pamphlets, videos/CDs.
 Training and rehearsals can be done of :
o Instructors
o Volunteers
o Community
o Professionals: - ambulance personnel, police, defence, medical, nursing, engineers.

 Social work interventions after major natural disasters

 If a person is not able to deal with his/her normal mode because of some traumatic event, he/she is said be in
psychological crisis. Psychological crisis cannot be forecasted and a crisis for an individual may not be a crisis for
another person.
 In case of natural calamities, everyone is affected by the crisis, irrespective of gender, profession and possession
of assets/wealth.
 While dealing with crisis, one should bear following things in mind; a traumatised person/ therapist is not in a
position to be a supporter for the needy people, so he/she has to pay attention to themselves and others too.
 During crisis one may lose insight and may be chance to get disorganized, in that situation the social
workers/counsellors/therapists need to make clarity about their way of thinking. In crisis people may be unable
to evaluate priorities, so the social workers can maintain a checklist for analyzing work process.
  Crisis management is the best avenue where interdisciplinary work becomes successful, for this the social
workers need to work collaboratively and collectively. An apt example is the role of multidisciplinary team in
disaster management.
 At the time of emergency, the social worker has to work with the needy persons and has to break the principle of
confidentiality for providing emergency support to the victims. The social workers have to work till the needs and
resources are met by the victims.

 Crisis intervention.
 The goal of crisis intervention is to help the patient to deal with the trauma. The goal is to help the patient cope
to the new situation. The goal; is to return the patient to the earlier level of functioning.
 These goals are met by inviting the patient to talk about his or her experiences, get some viewpoint on the event,
sort at the related feelings, and solve problem about how to manage his or her problems.
 In the first meeting itself the social worker has to collect basic information about the where about, medical
condition and social support system needed for the victims.
 Based on the assessment the social worker has to set short and long term goals and at the termination phase
he/she has to make the patient capable to make a plan that the victim has to follow in his/her daily life.
 If the patient/victim is a child or not in a mental state to do the plan on his own, the social workers has to assign
the task to the adult in charge of the custody of the person. He/she has to arrange referrals if needed for the
client and with that they terminate their relationship.

 Issues concerned with disaster management

 Some of issues concerned with disaster management are: -
o Current policies and strategies of intervention in the form of relief measures by the government,
o Financial implications,
o Structural mechanisms for implementation of relief and rehabilitation,
o Contingency action plan etc.

 Current policies and strategies

o Notwithstanding the importance of the issue of disaster management it does not find any mention in any of
the three lists included in the 7 th schedule of the constitution of India.
o However, for all practical purposes, it is a state subject. Lately, the constitutional review committee has
recommended that the subject of disaster management be included in the concurrent list of the constitution.
o Above and beyond, there is no specific legislation to give an appropriate legal framework for disaster
management and the existing codes/regulations are not imposed firmly and the adoption of various
standards and guidelines is not obligatory.
o In view of this, it is essential to review the existing laws/codes/regulations relating to various dimensions of
disaster management and developed a suitable device for their stringent enforcement rather through
legislation as recommended by the high powered committee on disaster management.
o Besides, there is no integrated programme for disaster management. What we have is a collection of several
schemes and programmes that aim at reducing the susceptibility of people to disasters. Some of those
scheme programmes are: -
1. Integrated rural development programme,
2. Drought prone area programme,
3. Integrated wastelands development programme,
4. Desert development programme,
5. Flood control programmes,
6. National afforestation and eco-development programme,
7. Accelerated rural water supply programme,
8. Indira awas yojana,
9. National agricultural insurance scheme,
10. Crop insurance scheme,
 11. Sampoorna grameen rozgar yojana,
12. Disaster risk management programme,
o Ruler poorer are the main target group of most of this schemes or programmes hence they may be called
pro-poor schemes or programmes. In India until reticently disaster management was not theoretically linked
with developmental planning it was only in a 10 th 5 year plan, it was included into the planning process and
suppurate chapter on disaster management was included.

 Structural mechanisms
o For implementation of relief and rehabilitation have been well established since independence. This
mechanics have proved to be strong and effective as response, relief and rehabilitation are consented.
o The ministry of home affairs is the nodal ministry at the national level, foe all matters concerning disaster
management. The central relief commissioner in a ministry of home affairs is a nodal officer to coordinate
relief operations for natural disasters.
o It receives information relating to forecasting/warning of a natural calamity from India meteorological
department or from central water commission of ministry of water resources on a continuing basis.
o Each ministry/department/organization nominates their nodal officer to the crisis management group
chaired by central relief commissioner.
o The nodal officer is responsible for preparing sector action plan, emergency support function, and plan for
managing disasters.

 Contingency action plan

o The government of India has formulated a national contingency action plan for dealing with contingency
arising in the week of natural disasters. It faceplates the launching of relief operations immediately the plan
identify the incentivise required to be taken by various central ministries or departments in the week of
natural disasters.
o Lay down the procedures and determines the curser points in a administrative masonry.

 Financial implication
o The policies of funding for provision of relief assistance to those affected by natural calamity are clearly laid
down. These are revived by the finance commission every 5 years.
o The finance commission makes recommendation regarding the division of tax and non-tax revenues between
the central and the state governments.
o Generally, a national committee with representatives of states as members sets the norms for relief
assistance.
o Different states have specific gnomes to be recommended by the state level committee under the chief
secretary where calamity or is of such proportion that the funds available in calamity relief fund will not be
sufficient for the provision of relief.
o The district level is the key level for disaster management and relief activities. The collector is the chief
administrator in the district.
o He is the central point in the preparation of district plans in directing, supervising and monitoring calamities
for relief. A draft policy has accordingly been formulated and is expected to be put in place shortly.
o Policy mandates that the central government will, in conjunction with the state governments, seek to ensure
that such a coordination mechanism is laid down through an appropriate chain of command so that
mobilization of resources is facilitated.
o The bored features of the draft national policy on disaster management are: -
1. A holistic and pro-active approach for prevention, mitigation and preparedness will be adopted for
disaster management.
2. Each ministry/department of the central/state government will set apart an appropriate quantum of
funds under the plan for specific schemes/projects addressing vulnerability, reduction and preparedness.
3. Where there is a shelf of projects, projects addressing mitigation will be given priority.
4. Each project in a hazard prone area will have mitigation as an essential term of reference.
 5. Community involvement and awareness generation, particularly that of the vulnerable segments of
population and women has been emphasized as necessary for sustainable disaster risk reduction.
6. There will be close interaction with the corporate sector, non-governmental organisations and the media
in the national efforts for disaster prevention/vulnerability reduction.
7. Institutional structures/appropriate chain of command will be built up and appropriate training imparted
to disaster managers at various levels to ensure coordinated and quick response at all levels and
developments of inter-state arrangements for sharing of resources during emergencies.
8. A culture of planning and preparedness is to be inculcated at all levels for capacity building measures.
9. Standard operating procedures and disaster management plans at state and district levels as well as by
relevant central government departments for handling specific disasters will be lay down.
10. Construction designs must correspond to the requirements as laid down in relevant Indian standards.
11. All lifeline buildings in seismic zones 3,4, and 5 hospitals, railway stations, airports/airports control
towers, fire station buildings, bus-stands, major administrative centres will need to be evaluated and if
necessary, retro-fitted.
12. The existing relief orders in the states will be revised to develop them into disaster management
codes/manuals for institutionalizing the planning process with particular attention to mitigation and
preparedness.

 Tenth plan formulation

o The tenth five year plan prepared in the backdrop of odisa super cyclone, Gujarat earthquake and end of
international decade of national disaster reduction for the first time recognized disaster management as a
development issue.
o The plan document not only included a suppurate chapter on disaster management it made an number of
important prescription to main stream disaster rescue reduction into the process of development.
o At a operational level plan made a number of very important prescription as given bellow: -
1. Institutional arrangements for disaster response should be streamlined by an integrated approach
involving civilian and military resources, setting up a modern permanent national command centre or
operations room with abundant communications and data links to all state capitals.
2. Disaster prevention and preparedness should be built into development planning by introducing a
rigorous process of vulnerability analysis and risk assessment.
3. A national culture of prevention should be developed by introducing disaster management in school
curriculum.
4. Community level initiatives for disaster preparedness should be encouraged by involving people at the
grassroots, particularly those who are more vulnerable, for better preparedness and response.
5. Appropriate zones regulations, design standards, building codes and performance/specifications should
be developed for safe constructions.
6. All developments schemes in vulnerable areas should include a disaster mitigation analysis, whereby the
feasibility of a project is assessed with respect to vulnerability of the area.
7. Disaster mitigation components should be built into all developments should be built into all
development projects, financed under the plan, as part of approved project costs.

 Early warning systems in disaster preparedness.

 It is quite difficult to predict a very few types of disasters as they strike suddenly. But in practice it is generally
observed that many of the nation’s quite often are not geared up to disaster preparedness, though it being a
recurrent event.
 The occurrence of disasters cannot be fully stopped, but the devastation caused by the disasters can definitely be
averted, mitigated to a larger extent by paying attention to the early warning systems sounded out by nature and
also by usage of technology backed alerts by the practicing experts in this area.
 Early warning systems have gained momentum and are now a day’s prominently considered to be the core
component of comprehensive disaster preparedness plans and also involves a broader spectrum of stake holders.
 Early warning systems (EWS).
 o Is defined as “a process which looks at putting together the capacities needed for the generation and
dissemination of the much reliable and timely information as a warning to be acted upon by the
communities/organizations for the possible occurrence of the disasters”.
o The early warning systems is essentially an interplay among an array of elements which aims at facilitating
communication to initiate prompt response to protect and aid those in need.
o An affective early warning systems has to posses the following characteristic: -
 Based on sound and scientific technical known-how
 People centred.
 Clear delivery systems with simple communication.
 Multi sector co-ordination.
 Pertinent to the communities to which it is intended.
o The way to improve effectiveness can be undertaken by critical analyses to determine what early warning can
realistically achieve and what is outside its purview.
o It is in this context let us examining the early warning systems which can be helpful in tacking the disasters
and also in devising the models of disaster preparedness, its advantages and limitations.
o The following 4 basic elements are arsenicals to early warning systems to functions affectingly.
 Knowledge of risks: Enables one to the baseline understanding about risks and priorities at a given level.
 Monitoring: Is the follow-up activity to keep abreast on how those risks and vulnerabilities play over the
time periods.
 Response capability: Aims at reducing risk once trends are spotted and announced through pre-season
mitigation activities, evacuation or duck and cover reflexes, depending on the lead time of a warning.
 Warning communication: sends the monitoring into actionable modes to understand by those that need
and are prepared, to hear it.

 Elements of early warning system.

o The following four are the elements of early warning systems:
1. Risk knowledge
2. Monitoring and warning
3. Dissemination and communication
4. Response capability

 Agencies for forecasting.

o Cyclone – Indian Meteorological Department
o Tsunami – Indian National Centre for Oceanic information services.
o Floods – central water commission.
o Earthquakes – Indian meteorological department.

 Disaster cause a havoc usually breaking the normal life but with the help of early warning systems the magnitude
of the lose can be effectively mitigated. Early warning system defers based on the various type of the disasters.
 Simply put early warning system is a warning before happening of disasters.
 Quite a number of government and other agencies are involved in issuing disaster alerts based on the
information from deployment of information from deployment of technical knowhow ranging from satellite
operations to radars, remote sensing equipment etc.
 The success of any early warning system is dependent on its effective communication to administrators and
users with real time, reliable and timely information to enable prompt interventions.

 A case study on Bhopal disaster.

 In 1984 Bhopal the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, India witness was versed man-made disaster.
 It is referred to a Bhopal gas tragedy. It was a gas leak incident at the union carbide India limited.
  A prestige plan in Bhopal consequently a large number of people lose their lives and property. In Bhopal gas
tragedy more than 5, 00,000 people were exposed to methyl isolates gas and other chemicals.
 The gas and other chemical spread over the habitation in and around the plant. There were total of 303787
deaths due to the gas leakage and it caused 558125 injuries.
 It is argued that relax management and overdue maintenance created a situation where pipe maintenance
caused a black flow of water into a methyl isolates gas tank which caused the disaster.
 Civil and criminal cases filed against union carbide corporation and seven implies including the former chair man
was convicted of causing death by negligence and to a fine of about $2000 each. The gas leak started
approximate at 2am and spreads over the surrounding whiten no time.
 The initial effects of the exposed were coughing, eye irritation, and suffocation, burring in the respiratory track,
helplessness, breathlessness, stomach pains and vomiting.

 Kerala disaster.
 On 16 August 2018, severe floods affected the south Indian state Kerala, due to unusually high rainfall during
the monsoon season. It was the worst flood in Kerala in nearly a century. 
 Over 483 people died, and 140 are missing. About a million people were evacuated, mainly
from Chengannur, Pandanad, Edanad, Aranmula, Kozhencherry, Ayiroor, Ranni, Pandalam, Kuttanad, Malappura
m, Aluva, Chalakudy, Thrissur, Thiruvalla, Eraviperoor, Vallamkulam, North Paravur, Chellanam, Vypin
Island and Palakkad.
 All 14 districts of the state were placed on red alert. According to the Kerala government, one-sixth of the total
population of Kerala had been directly affected by the floods and related incidents.
 The Indian government had declared it a Level 3 Calamity, or "calamity of a severe nature". It is the worst flood in
Kerala after the great flood of 99 that took place in 1924.
 Thirty-four out of the fifty-five dams within the state were opened, for the first time in history. All five overflow
gates of the Idukki Dam were opened at the same time, and for the first time in 26 years 5 gates of
the Malampuzha dam of Palakkad were opened.
 Heavy rains in Wayanad and Idukki have caused severe landslides and have left the hilly districts isolated. The
situation was regularly monitored by the National Crisis Management Committee, which also coordinated the
rescue and relief operations.
 On 12 August, Cochin International Airport, India's fourth busiest in terms of international traffic, and the busiest
in the state suspended all operations until 29 August, following runway flooding.
 All schools throughout the state except Sainik School Kazhakootam have been closed, and tourists have been
dissuaded or banned from some districts due to safety concerns.
 Kochi Metro was closed briefly on 16 August, and later offered free service to aid those affected by the
flooding. Due to heavy rain and rising water levels the southern railway had suspended train services on the
Thiruvananthapuram-Kottayam-Ernakulam and Ernakulam-Shoranur-Palakkad sections.
 Being instructed by ISRO the Cabinet Secretary, senior officers of Defense Services, NDRF, NDMA and secretaries
of Civilian Ministries conducted meetings with Kerala Chief Secretary. Following the decisions taken during these
meetings, the Centre launched massive rescue and relief operations.
 In one of the largest rescue operations 40 helicopters, 31 aircraft, 182 teams for rescue, 18 medical teams of
defense forces, 90 teams of NDRF and 3 companies of Central Armed Police Forces were pressed into service
along with over 500 boats and necessary rescue equipments.

 Disaster management in India.

 Disaster management is essentially a developmental problem and thus any preparedness and mitigation planning
will have to taken up in keeping in mind the environmental concerns that the country is facing today.
 Natural or man-made disasters disrupt growth and wipe out the hard earned fruits of conscientious
developmental efforts, often pushing nations, in pursuit for development, back by a century.
 The high powered committee on disaster management was earlier constituted in august 1999.
  The mandate of the high powered committee was to prepare disaster management plans at national, state and
district level and also suggest strengthening of existing arrangements.
 The ministry of home affairs in the central government is the new nodal ministry for disaster management.
 In additional, disaster management is deemed states have initiated efforts to strengthen their agencies
responsible for disaster management.
 Orissa state disaster mitigation authority and Gujarat state disaster management authority were constituted after
two major disasters that the respective states experienced.
 The new approach proceeds from the conviction that development cannot be sustainable unless disaster
mitigation is built into the development process.
 Mitigation has to be multi-disciplinary spanning across all sectors of development. The new policy also emanates
from the belief that investments in mitigation are much more cost effective than expenditure on relief and
rehabilitation.
 Disaster management occupies an important place in this country’s policy framework as it is the poor and the
under privileged who are the worst affected on account of calamities/disasters.
 The approach has been translated into a national disaster framework covering institutional mechanisms, disaster
prevention strategy, early warning system, disaster mitigation, preparedness and response and human resource
development.
 The expected inputs, areas of intervention and agencies to be involved at the national, state and district levels
have been identified and listed in the roadmap.
 Critics of India’s disaster management plan argues that lessons are learnt at great cost in India, as the knowledge
attained from previous disasters is seldom reflected in the overall policy framework or in planning.

 Disaster risk reduction strategies.

 Disaster risk reduction is a systematic and scientific approach for identifying assessing and reducing the risk of
disasters in particular areas.
 Disaster risk reduction explains application of policy, strategies and practices that minimise hazards,
vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society.
 The conceptual framework of elements considered with the possibilities to minimise vulnerabilities and disaster
risks throughout a society, to avoid or to limit the adverse impacts of hazards, within the broad context of
sustainable development.

 Aims and concept of disaster risk reduction.

o The aim of disaster risk reduction is to diminish socio-economic vulnerabilities to disaster and dealing with
the environmental hazards and threats.
o Besides the disaster risk reduction targets to minimise the damages caused by the natural hazards, as well as
man-made disasters.
o The concepts of disaster risk reduction are practice of reducing disaster risks by means of systematic efforts
and intervention to analyse and reduce factors of disasters.
o The examples of disaster risk reduction are reducing expose to hazard threads, diminishing venerability of
people, sustaining natural resources, environment and management improving preparedness of the
community and establishing early warring related to earthquakes, floods, droughts, and cyclones.

 Concept of disaster risk reduction strategies: -

o A disaster risk reduction strategies is to help the community to become more resilient to hazards and thus
reduce the lightly hood that their development may be under mind by one or more disasters.
o It explains the relationship between disaster risk reduction interventions, development programming and a
focus on building resilience based on density of disaster.
o Examples of disaster risk reduction strategies are related to improving preparedness for inimical events,
minimising exposure to hazards and threats, reducing vulnerability to people and existing resources, strategic
management for land and environment.

 Aim and scope of disaster risk reduction strategies.

 o The aim of disaster risk reduction strategies is to reduce risk and prevent new risk. Empower sustainability,
including the country responsibility to prevent and mitigate the disaster risks and engagement of the whole
society and government institutions.
o The scope of disaster risk reduction strategies is significantly expanded and focused on the natural risks and
environmental and technological related risks in India.
o Disaster risk reduction strategy also protects nature and resources for human being.

 Formula for disaster risk reduction: -

o Reduce vulnerabilities + Understand hazards = Reduce disaster risks.
 The international strategy for disaster reduction is a system to support global disaster risk reduction movement.
 Besides, this system has developed culture of prevention for sustainable development in the society. Prevention
is an essential component in disaster risk reduction strategies.

 Process of disaster risk reduction.

o It begins with prevention and mitigation followed by preparedness prediction, warning and evacuation
adaptation emergency response recovery and monitoring.

 Prevention and mitigation.

o A prevention plan reduces the risk of disaster and minimizes the loss of human beings and recourses in the
disaster prone area.
o Prevention and disaster plan ensure the sustainable results in vulnerable mapping areas. The community and
target people involvement is needed in prevention process. Mitigation is an effective activity to reduce the ill-
effects of disaster.
o Vulnerability analyses, hazards mapping, flood plan mapping, and public education are supportive for
effective mitigation process in disaster risk reduction.

 Preparedness.
o Preparedness aims to reduce the risk in the location of disaster risk areas and to involve in communication,
information, and warring system.
o Preparedness planning is aimed to establish a capacity to respond situations that affect a country or region
by putting in place preparedness measures.
o Some examples are early warning system, vulnerability assessment in disaster prone areas and capacity
buildings in hazard mapping and disaster awareness programmes.

 Prediction, warning and evacuation.

o Disaster brings great damages, destruction and devastation of human beings as well as natural resources. The
process of prediction and warning system prevent economic losses and diminish damages in the community.
o Prediction and warning communicates alertness on floods, wildfires and so on.
o Early warning is a systematic collection and analyses of information in identification of emergency and crisis
in disaster prone area.

 Adaptation.
o The community has to follow adaptation process to accommodate their livelihood and crisis situation.

 Emergency response.
o It gives immediate response and assistance to the people who under hazardous situation and risks after
disaster occur.
o The emergency response plan elicits risk assessments and scenarios of emergency. Besides emergency
response is more during and after disaster period. First aid kit, safety medical care, drinking water, food, and
shelter are included in emergency response disaster management.

 Recovery.
 o Recovery decisions and actions are very important in the process of disaster risk reduction. The disaster
recovery is to enable process to follow set of action, procedures to relieve from the risks.
o Recovery action supports to restore and resilience of the affected communities. Recovery process is an
opportunity to develop and apply disaster risk reduction measures.

 Monitory.
o After recovery monitoring systems are needed to monitor ongoing activities for resilience.

 Strategies of disaster risk reduction.

o This aspect suggests some key strategies according to Indian content.

 Preparing hazards mapping.

o Conducting mapping activities relating to earthquake areas, flooding areas, drought areas, and landslides,
tsunami, and mapping severer environmental degradation.

 Identification of vulnerability.
o It is another strategy in disaster risk reduction. This strategy identifies disaster prone areas, risks of the
disaster and support of the community, need of stakeholders and coordination from the disaster
management authorities.

 Education on disaster risk reduction.

o It imparts many known how techniques to save the people and resources from the risks of disaster.
Education of disaster risk reduction brings attitude and behavioural changes among the people with
behavioural changes among the people with vulnerability in disaster areas.
o The steps are important in educating disaster risk reduction. Those are: -
1. Understand window of opportunity.
2. Hear the hazards and vulnerabilities.
3. Identify the period.
4. Act and implementation.

 Prevention and mitigation.

o It is one of the pre-cautionary strategies to prevent hazards in disaster prone areas. Preparedness plan
prevents damages from the wildfires and lessening the natural hazards in the forest and hilly areas.
o While adopting strategies of prevention and mitigation, it reduces the frequency of events, intensity and
impacts of threats and hazards.

 Capacity development of community.

o Capacity building of a community is a way for sustainability in community resilience and restoration of
recourses in disasters prone area.
o The national and state disaster management authority have to conduct evidence=based training programmes
to the community, committees and implementing partners related to disaster management.

 Advocacy
o Disaster management related advocacy to be started from the community to policy levels.
o The advocacy strategy is influencing the issues on social, political, economic and environment contributions.
o An advocacy strategy supports to strengthen and rectify the disaster policy for the welfare of the society.

 Awareness campaigning.
o This strategy creates mass awareness about disaster and its implications.
o The disaster management knowledge is increased while conducting awareness campaigning activities among
public.
  Community education programmes.
o Community education should be appropriate to native and disaster prone areas.
o Besides community education programme promotes resilience and new systems in disaster risk reduction.

 Networking.
o Networking is a key strategy in disaster risk reduction for mobilizing recourse and taping the recourses from
local to global levels.

 Conceptual framework for disaster risk reduction strategies.

o Disaster risk reduction strategies an Indian context model. The model begins at the risk assessment
community level both scientific information and information by the community at the local level is gathered.
o Dialogues and discussion: - experts discuss about disaster management, participation of various stakeholders
in disaster risk reduction.
o Action and act on disaster risk reduction: - action by the government or national disaster management
authority or state disaster management authorities. People follow the action for remedial and reduction
measures.

 Approaches for disaster risk reduction.

o Disaster seriously disrupts human life, livelihood, economic system, political scenario in the society.
o Based on the experience and learning then we try to understand the fivefold approach in disaster risk
reduction.
1. Political approach
2. Socio-educational approach
3. Technical approach
4. Development approach
5. Humanitarian approach

1. Political approach.
 The political approach creates political wheel in prevention of disaster risk and welfare of people after disaster
events.
 Besides, the political approach is path to reframe the national disaster policy, to develop new policy and
amendments based on the disaster prone areas.
 This approach ensures allocation of sufficient resources in prevention of disasters and recovery phase.

2. Technical approach.
 This approach is prating science and technology. Early warning devices, systems that are developed through
technical approach and this approach guides and facilitates in assessment of risks and hazards, monitoring,
mitigation process, identifying disaster prone vulnerable areas through mapping.

3. Socio educational approach

 This approach creates responsibilities and commitments of the community in disaster risk reduction.
 The socio educational approach imparts community based education and disaster prone areas, creating
awareness, skill development for safety and resilience of the community.

4. Development approach.
 This approach tries to integrate policy, legislative measures with support of technology.
 The development approach covers developmental planning and welfare programs with long term vision.
 Examples are establishment of infrastructure, equipment development, promoting afforestation, satellite
development to share information to the global level.
  The national disaster management authority and state disaster management authorities are adopting
development approach in disaster risk reduction.
 The public private partnership is to be added to strengthen developmental approach.

5. Humanitarian approach.
 This approach is to save community people of response and recovery.
 The community participation is needed with humanitarian touch without any caste, race, gender and colour etc.
While implementing any disaster management schemes.
 Micro level strategies in disaster risk reduction.
o The micro level strategies are very effective and save number of lives and environment resources positively.
o The strategies followed at the level of individual, group, family, community, and society.
o Some micro level strategies are illustrated here: -
 Ranking and prioritising the forms of disaster in disaster prone areas. The examples are flood areas, land
sliding areas, zone for wildfires and zone of high-level pollution.
 Assessing the range of disaster and establishing disaster rescue volunteer teams for providing essential
services and rescue works.
 Organizing sensitisation meetings for all segments of the people such as children, adolescents, women,
senior citizens.
 Arranging workshops on mitigation activity to train and equip community people and all during and after
disaster.
 Recognising, prioritising and planning the first line disaster and basic root causes of disaster with support
of the state disaster management authorities. The examples are construction of check dams to prevent
flood damages, tree plantation against climate change and pollutions.
 Strengthening community resources community chest to manage the funds and expenses in prevention
efforts, mitigation plans, immediate response works and rehabilitation activities according to disaster
events.
 Ensuring resources in the way of human and financial for human protection and sustainable
environment.
 Forming and strengthening the teams under disaster management such as early warning team, search
and rescue team, team for providing basic needs, medical care team, relief and rehabilitation team and
team for counselling.

 Disaster risk reduction and sustainable development goals.

o Disaster is a universal threat to the lives and affect to livelihood of the people.
o The sustainable development goals are having greater platform to adopt and implement disaster risk
reduction strategies to prevent and mitigate its impact.
o Moreover, sustainable development goals recognise urgent needs to minimise the disaster risks through
concrete strategies.
o Besides, Sendai framework is having specific scope and opportunities to attain sustainable development
goals activities.
o The goals 9 and 13 are more relevant in disaster risk reduction strategies towards sustainable development.
o These goals are concentrating vulnerability of the poor and reduce exposures to the hazards and disaster
events.
o The sustainable development goal 9 is pertaining to promote resilient infrastructures including sustainable
industrialisation.
o Some infrastructure are laying down surface roads for barrier free transportation; installation of electric and
solar power for power supply; improving communication through communications for dissemination
purpose; and establishment for dissemination purpose; and establishment of water supply networks for safe
drinking water to the disaster prone areas.
o When failures occur in these infrastructures it can interrupt vital services and creates threats to
environmental sustainability.
o Similarly, sustainable development goal 13 is strongly concentrating on climate change and its ill effects.
 o This goal illustrates to take urgent and necessary actions against climate change.
o Most of the evidences and reality have expressed relationship between climate change and risks of disaster
at global level.
o However, these sustainable development goals 9 and 13 targets timely intervention, following disaster risk
measures, strategic planning to combat disasters impact in the disaster prone regions.
o The Sendai framework is having clear vision to adopt disaster risk reduction strategies at national level.

 Guiding principles for implementing disaster risk reduction strategies.

o Identification: identifying vulnerable groups and areas through mapping
o Formation: forming various committees in the process of disaster management.
o Capacity building: strengthening various stakeholders and community through comprehensive training
programmes.
o Planning: preparing clear blue print on need assessment, objectives, programme planning, intervention
strategies, resources and time period.
o Implementation: taking actions and implementing programmes based on disaster implications.
o Intervention: doing timely intervention based on the community and area context.
o Decentralisation: decentralising powers, roles and responsibility from the disaster management authority to
community level.
o Coordination: bringing effective coordination with various networking organisations and systems.
o Community participation: ensuring community participation in all the phases of disaster management.
o Partnership: establishing public private partnership in disaster related activities.

 Stakeholders in disaster relief management.

 In India the central, state and district authorities are considered as responsible platforms for disaster
management.
 In addition to the services of stipulated authorities, other stakeholders like police and trained forces participation
is necessary.
 In additional to the civil administration’s initiative we need services from specially trained forces in mitigation
and post response operations.
 To meet such gaps and for efficient disaster management practices the disaster management act 2005, section
44 (1) insisted on establishing national disaster response force.
 NDRF teams comprise skilful staff, experts in various trades and equipped with advanced tools for strenuous
operations.
 Prime responsibility of these forces is to safeguard the country from external threats and secondary functions
include assisting the civil administration in maintaining law and order, disaster management and in emergencies
on purposeful requests.

 Armed forces: as a stake holder.

o Conveniently the armed forces or deployed then the circumstances are afford to the copping capacity at civil
administration.
o Relying on their immense potentialities, dexterity, competence and training, bring them to the top of the
responders list.
o Notable services have been rendered by the armed forces in dealing adverse situations. Usually their
contribution is seen in after disaster in providing facilities like transportation, medical, communication,
search and rescue operation etc.
o A special emphasis lay on preparing them in other than war operations, where disaster as an important
constituent.
o There is a steep increase in the incidences of nature calamities across the world and India is prone to all
types of disaster due to its geographical location and formation.
 o Their contribution is seen in all the man-made and natural disaster in the recent past. Disaster management
plan have to focus on the involvement in emergency services in smoother and quicker way.

 National disaster response force.

o The United Nations adopted the yokohama strategy plan and the hyogo framework for action to address
disasters effectively. Even India had witnessed severe disasters in that particular point of time compelled it to
come out with a comprehensive legal instrument the disaster management act 2005.
o The act also mandated to constitute national disaster response force for effective disaster management.
o In view of that in 2006 national disaster relief force was formed, initially with eight battalions and now
formed, initially with eight battalions and now it has reached to twelve with 1149 well trained persons in
each battalion.
o The force was involved in non disaster roles prior to 2008, but later the force was declared as a committed
strength for disaster management under the commanding control of director general national disaster relief
force.
o Major objectives of national disaster relief force include providing trained disaster response activities,
proactive role and deployment in crisis situations and training SDMA and enhancing capacities of
communities.

 National disaster relief force battalions across the country

o This 12 national disaster relief force battalions were established in different sports closer to the most
Vulnerable area to reach immediately. Getting into a case study: -
o Assam: - heavy downpour in Assam in 2017 affected more than 10000 people in around 17 districts.
Immediate deployment of national disaster relief force had saved nearly 94 persons and evacuated 8000
people.

 Para military forces.

o In addition to the services of the armed forces the Para military forces under the control of government of
India are also deployed in the emergencies.
o Some of the important Para military forces in India are: -
 Border security force.
 Central reserve police force.
 Central industrial security force.
 Indo Tibet border police.
 Railway protection force.
 Assam rifles.
 National security guard.
 Coast guard.
 Rapid action force.
 Territorial Army.

 Role of armed forces in disaster management.

o As a secondary function they are deployed to assist civil authorities in crisis situations.
o Due to increasing number of incidences of natural and man-made disasters in the country their services are
essential.
o The ministry of defence is responsible for the search and rescue operations and for providing
communications, transportation and rehabilitation, engineering, power and medical services.
o The legal instruments and policy on disaster management and insisted on mainstreaming disaster
management plans with development plans.
o Usually the armed forces are considered as prime responders because of their intrinsic potency: discipline,
commitment, well-trained and organized, extremely motivated, non-political and unprejudiced temperament
and ability to work in unfavourable circumstance.
o The defence ministry synchronizes its action with MHA with the assistance of disaster crisis management
group.
 o The defence ministry also coordinate the Army, Navy and air force for response operations.

 Defence crisis management group.

o The DCMG has to play multiple roles in surveillance, analysing, formulating plan, strategic estimation and
coordinating.
o Furtherance of these plans shall be taken up by the concerned services. Organogram of the armed forces
depicts its systematically positioned units to enable the force for adaptation and effective functioning.
o Coordinating, controlling and deploying different stakeholders. Working round the clock from the operation
centre.
o Cooperating the state governments and civil authorities from alerts to relief interventions.

 Some typical capabilities of the armed forces in responding to disasters.

o Army:-
 Study, exploration and damage appraisals.
 Providing infrastructure for control rooms.
 Involving in SAR and assisting in providing necessary relief services.
 Transport and delivery of material.
 Maintaining necessary services.
 Re-establishment of infrastructure for all modes of transport.
 Health and sanitation.
 Coordinating the local authority for provision of basic amenities.
 Detection of explosives and deactivating them.
 Maintaining law and order.
 Awareness generation and mock drills.
 CBRN response.
o Navy: -
 Assistance in setup infrastructure facilities for control and coordination.
 Surveillance watch in the disaster affected spots.
 Deployment of relief squads.
 Transport and delivery of material.
 Maintaining necessary services.
 Re-establishment of infrastructure for all modes transport.
 Health and sanitation.
 Coordinating the local authority for provision of basic amenities.
 Assisting in deep diving task.
o Air force: -
 Investigation for rapid assessments.
 Air transport of trained relief personnel and essential material.
 Air droppings.
 Air evacuating fatalities deserted people.
o The forces in the post disaster response should coordinate with the civil authority to serve the affected with
integrity.
o The initial phase of intervention shall be focused on addressing the immediate needs and saving lives.
o The next phase focused on coordinating with the other stakeholders for a synergy in interventions.
o Emphasis lay on reconstruction and rehabilitation aspects for a smooth civilian order in the affected areas.

 The role of defence forces in various stages of disaster management.

o Preparatory phase refers to pre-disaster interventions which include forecasting, caution, preventive
measures and contingency plan and checklist for possible disasters. Focus on establishment of suitable
infrastructure for forecasting and warning systems conducting mock drills.
o The emergency phase begins with warning of a disaster, immediate relief assistance to the affected and
continues until the situation reaches to a satisfactory level.
o The rehabilitation phase insists on restoring necessary services, transport and communication systems.
 o The reconstruction phase is an enduring, looking into building resilient communities and structures.

 Assistance
o Infrastructure for command and control: providing communication systems and deploying trained personnel.
o Medical aid: instantaneous health care provisions for saving number of lives.
o Transporting relief material: the forces are well equipped with necessary transporting vehicles; those
available facilities can be used for transportation of relief material.
o Establishing relief camps: to setup and maintain relief camps and assisting the government and non
government organization in establishing relief camps.
o Constructing and repairing bridges and roads: the trained engineers undertake the necessary steps in
restoring damaged facilities due to disasters.
o Maintaining necessary services.
o Evacuation.
o SAR search and rescue.

 Emergency support functions.

o Transport. (transporting relief material and provision of vehicles)
o Communications. (Establishing and maintaining communication. Systems like radio and warning systems,
dissemination of necessary information)
o Public works. ( Constructing temporary roads and buildings and assisting state and district authorities in
restoration )
o Fire fighting. ( Rescue and searching, extinguish fire )
o Information and planning. (preparing own contingency plans and studying the NDMA and SDMA plans)
o Mass care. (establishing and maintaining camps and temporary shelters)
o Resource support. (provision of necessary resources)
o Health and medical. (providing psycho-social support, stress and trauma care, immediate medical assistance,
focusing on epidemics and referrals)
o Search and rescue. (SAR operations for saving lives and disposal of corpses.)
o Hazardous materials. ( identification and disposal of hazardous material)
o Food and water. (provision of food and drinking water)
o Energy. (provision of necessary power supply, generators, solar on immediate usage)
o Military support.
o Public information (gathering information from forecasting agencies and control rooms and disseminating to
the public for early alerts, as a proactive measure)
o Volunteers and donations (motivating volunteers, NSS, NCC and civil society in response activities and
mobilizing donations)
o Law enforcement. ( maintaining law and order, until the situation normalizes, especially during man-made
disasters)
o Animal services. (rescue animals as a part of response operations)

 Community capacity building

o The capacity building exercises are essential in sustainable development.
o They improve the abilities resources and utilizing them in a proper way and for a purpose to face any crisis
situation.

 Enhancing capacities of other stakeholders.

o Not only focusing on communities, we need to concentrate on enhancing capacities of the other agencies
involved in disaster management activities.
o Providing appropriate inputs through trainings would make them experts.
o Training is for imparting knowledge and improving skills but also to bring attitudinal change among
stakeholders.
o Trainings are for buildings self development, self reliant and empowered institutions.
 o They develop team spirit and helps in identifying grey areas in the process of planning and execution.
o Integration of other parties is an essential task in disaster management where many stakeholders and
agencies are involved.

 State government
 The state governments play a crucial role on prevention, mitigation and relief and rehabilitation of disaster.
 The act mandates to establish SDMA and constitute SEC for planning and implementation of DM plans.
 The chief minister of the state with other nominated members in SDMA and sectary with other members in sec
operates the two important structures.
 Each state has to establish a trained SDRF for conducting rescue and capacity building programmes at the
community level.

 Disaster management act, 2005

 The Disaster Management Act, 2005 was enacted on 26th December, 2005 this will permit the States also to have
their own legislation on disaster management.
 SALIENT FEAUTURES
• The Act comprises 79 sections and 11 chapters
• Defines Disaster and disaster management in its new concept
• It provides institutional mechanism for monitoring and implementation of plans
• Ensures measures by various wings of the Government for the prevention and mitigation of disasters.
• The State Governments have been advised to amend their Relief Codes
• The Act provides for a National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
• The State governments shall create State Disaster Management Authorities and District Disaster Management
Authorities
• There shall be a Disaster Response Fund and Disaster Mitigation Fund at national, state and district levels.

 NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY (NDMA)

• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under the Prime Minister with nine more members for laying
down the policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management.
• The Authority will be assisted by a National Executive Committee (NEC) of Secretaries to Central Government.
• The National Authority to recommend guidelines for the minimum standards of relief.

 State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) to be chaired by Chief Minister

• One of the members may be designated as the Vice-Chairperson of the State Authority by the Chief Minister.
• The State Authority may constitute an Advisory Committee of experts.
• The State Authority shall be responsible for laying down the policies and plans for disaster management in the
State.
• The State Authority shall recommend guidelines for providing minimum standards of relief.
• The State Authority will be assisted by the State Executive Committee.

 National policy on disaster management 2009

 The Disaster Management Act, 2009 was enacted on 22nd October, 2009.
 The Disaster Management Act, 2009 consists arrangement of power, prevention, risk and finance for Disaster
Management.
 This will have the advantage that it will permit the States also to have their own legislation on disaster
management.

 Approach and Objectives Approach

o Community based DM,
o Capacity development in all spheres.
o Consolidation of past initiatives and best practices.
o Cooperation with agencies at National and International levels.
 The objectives of the National Policy on Disaster Management are:
o Promoting a culture of prevention, preparedness and resilience at all levels through knowledge, innovation
and education.

 Institutional and Legal Arrangements

o The Act provides for establishment of NDMA
o Pending enactment of the law NDMA was established by an executive Order on 30-5-2009; headed by Prime
Minister.
o Vice-chairperson and Members notified on 28-9-2009.
o NDMA presently working on development of policies, guidelines and plans.
o NDMA is assisted by National Executive Committee National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

 Functions of NDMA
o Lay down policies on Disaster Management
o Approve the National plan.
o Lay down guidelines to be followed by State Authorities in drawing up state plans.
o Coordinate enforcement and implementation of policies and plans.
o Lay down broad policies and guidelines for NIDM.
o Recommend guidelines for minimum standards of relief.
o Recommend relief in the payment of loans or for grant of fresh loans in case of disasters of severe
magnitude.

 State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)

o Each State/UT to constitute SDMA headed by Chief Minister/Lt Governor, as the case may be. District
Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)
o States to establish DDMA for every district headed by District Magistrate.

 National Executive Committee (NEC):

o The NEC is the executive committee of the NDMA.
o The NEC comprises the Chairman, Union Home Secretary & various other ministries Secretary.

 National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM)

o The NIDM in partnership with other research institutions and function within the broad policies and
guidelines laid down by the NDMA.
o Some other Armed Forces like Central Paramilitary Forces, State Police Forces and Fire Services, Civil Defense
and Home Guards, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service
Scheme (NSS) and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) are help in serious disaster situations.

 Financial Arrangements
o Present funding mechanism for disaster relief (CRF/NCCF) to continue.
o Act provides for constitution of Disaster Response Fund and Disaster Mitigation Fund at National, State and
District level.
o Each Department of Central and State Governments to make provision in annual budgets for implementation
of District Plan.
o Provides penalties for obstruction, false claims, misappropriation, false warnings etc.

 Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness Mitigation & Capacity Building

o Detailed evaluation & retrofitting of lifeline buildings.
o Construction of multipurpose cyclone shelters.
o Capacity building of all stakeholders. Preparedness and Response
o Development of fully trained and equipped specialist response teams.
o Strengthening of civil defense set up to supplement local response and relief efforts.
 o Development of Standard Operating Procedures by all relevant Ministries/Departments at Central, State and
District level.

 Techno-Legal Regime
o Land Use Planning
o Safe Construction Practices.

 Response.
o Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): SOPs will be prescribed for activities like search and rescue, medical
assistance and casualty management, evacuation, restoration of essential services and communication at
disaster sites.
o Levels of Disasters: Response is depends on levels of disasters.
o Information and Media Partnership
 Relief & Rehabilitation
o State Governments to establish pre-contract arrangements for immediate mobilization of resources.
o Central Government will also facilitate mobilization of resources when requested by State Governments.

 Reconstruction and Recovery

o Phase involved in Reconstruction and Recovery
o Owner Driven Reconstruction
o Speedy Reconstruction

 Capacity Development
o A strategic approach to capacity development can be done by following ways
o Training of Artisans
o DM Education in School
o Training of Communities
o Training of Other Groups
o Professional Technical Education

 Knowledge Management Awareness Generation –

o People living in areas that are vulnerable to hazards will be sensitized to the hazards which they face as well
as methodologies for mitigating the risk.
o Wide dissemination of safe construction practices and dos’ and don’ts for various hazards will be undertaken
through mass media, information, education and communication materials.
o Public education on disaster risk management will be made an integral part of the school and university
curricula.

 National Roadmap
o National Disaster Management Framework drawn up in 2002; further refined in 2004
o It covers institutional mechanism; legal and policy framework; disaster prevention strategy; early warning
systems; disaster mitigation, preparedness and response; human resource development.
o States advised to draw up similar Roadmaps