Disaster Management

Sakshi Education

I. Introduction:

1. India's Vulnerability to Natural Disasters:

A.Unique Geo-Climatic Conditions:
Experts point out that the unique geo-climatic conditions have made the Indian sub-continent most vulnerable to natural disasters. Droughts, floods, cyclones, landslides and earthquakes have been recurrent phenomena.

B.Major Part of India|s Landmass Vulnerable to Natural Disasters:
About 54 per cent of India|s landmass was vulnerable to earthquakes, 40 million hectares to floods, 8,000 km of the country|s coastline to cyclones and 68 per cent of its geographic area was vulnerable to drought.

C.Highest Recorded Rainfall in Mumbai and other Cities:
In July/August 2005, Mumbai received the highest recorded rainfall in 95 years. The deluge led to the total collapse of almost all essential services. Much of the damage was due to the failure of the drainage system and the flooding of areas. Similarly, unprecedented heavy rainfall was recorded in the southern parts of India in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, cities like Bangalore and Chennai also came to a standstill.

D.Indiscriminate Construction of Buildings Cause for Flooding of Cities:
Experts feel that the main reason behind the flooding of cities is due to the indiscriminate construction of buildings blocking the water channels.

E.Each Year 2 Per Cent of the GDP is Lost in Disaster Management:
India|s Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee pointed out that each year the Government is losing 2 per cent of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in disaster management in the form of relief and rehabilitation package. In order to overcome this loss, the new Disaster Management and Mitigation Policy of the Government will lay stress on how the future disasters can be prevented from happening through proper warning systems.

2. Natural Disasters Responsible for Displacing More People Than Wars:
According to a study conducted by the Institute of Environment and Human Security, natural disasters displace more people than wars. More than 10 million people are displaced each year by natural disasters. Victims of natural disasters migrate to other parts of the same country or to other countries. It is estimated that by the year 2015, the world could have up to 50 million environmental refugees.

3. Disaster Management:
Experts point out that disaster management is like a military operation where speed, accuracy, technological sophistication, communication and motivation of the people involved are very important. Therefore combat preparedness has to be there.

4. Requirements for Coping with Disasters:

A.Commitment by Administrative Members at All Levels:
Human and functional commitments by administration members at all levels to meet public requirements.

B.Advance Warning Systems:
Competent and technically effective advance warning systems.

C.Permanent Institutions to Deal with Disaster Management:
Permanent institutions and mechanisms to deal with disaster management.

D.Comprehensive Operational Procedures:
Comprehensive procedures and operational steps to deal with natural disasters similar to the operational procedures to deal with war, conflict or insurgency situations.

5. Armed Forces are Central to Disaster Management:

A.Prime Agency for Disaster Relief:
Analysts point out that the Armed Forces are central to any disaster management organisation. The Armed Forces serve as the primary agency for disaster relief in the form of men, material and specialist equipment. Apart from a cadre of disciplined personnel, the Army has the organisation, the geographical spread and the equipment to handle natural disasters.

B.Assistance by the Armed Forces Should be Requisitioned Only for Special Purposes:
Military analysts, however, point out that assistance by the Armed Forces should be requisitioned only when it becomes absolutely necessary, and even then only for such special purposes which cannot be handled by the State Government.

6. Need for a Disaster Management System:

A.Basics of Disaster Management:
a. prevention b. damage limitation c. relief and rehabilitation.

B.Well Structured Disaster Management Organisation:
There is need to tackle the natural disasters on a long term as well as short term basis, according to experts. In order to make disaster management effective the Centre and the States have to coordinate meaningfully. A well structured Disaster Management Organisation with clearly defined responsibilities is needed.

II. National Disaster Management Bill 2005:

1. Bill Passed by the Parliament:
On December 12, 2005, the Disaster Management Bill was approved by the Parliament with the Lok Sabha unanimously passing the legislation that has been prepared after the tsunami struck peninsular India on December 26, 2004.

2. Salient Features of the Bill:
A. Aim:
Swiftly tackling natural calamities and man-made disasters. The Bill envisages institutions at Central, State and local levels, a national institute for disaster management and a national disaster response force.

B. Setting up the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA):
Seven-Member Body to Provide Institutional Mechanism to Deal with Natural Disasters:
In July 2005, Centre constituted the seven-member NDMA under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister to provide requisite institutional mechanism to deal with natural as well as man-made calamities, including chemical, biological or nuclear disasters. Gen. N.C. Vij, the former Chief of the Indian Army was appointed as the Vice-Chairman of the NDMA.

C.Mandated to Lay Down Plans and Policies for Disaster Management:
The NDMA has been mandated to lay down plans and policies for disaster management. It will formulate guidelines to be followed by various central ministries and departments and the states.

D. State and District-Level Disaster Management Agencies:
The Bill seeks to establish state disaster authorities under the chairmanship of Chief Ministers and district disaster authorities under the chairmanship of District Magistrates. The zila parishad chairman will be the co-chairman of the district disaster management authority along with the district Collector.

E. National Disaster Response Force:
A National Disaster Response Force will be set up to tackle situations arising from different types of disasters with the state-of-the-art gadgets. The Centre had earmarked eight battalions from the Central paramilitary forces for this purpose. The States have been asked to make provision for battalions from their forces.

F. Involving 30 Lakh Representatives from Local Bodies:
The Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil pointed out that the responsibility for implementing the disaster management plan would involve 30 lakh representatives from local bodies.

G. Gives Legal Framework for Disaster Management:
Analysts point out that the Bill will change the way disaster management is handled in the country by giving the exercise a legal framework. So far, disaster management was done through an executive order. As the National Disaster Management Bill comes into effect, the various agencies do not have to wait for an executive order to act since they will have a legally laid down procedure to follow.

H. Proposes to Create two Separate Corpuses:
The Bill proposes to create two separate corpuses with two components. While one part will immediately disburse funds for relief without waiting for sanction, the second will be used to work on long-term disaster mitigation projects.

I. Provides Legal immunity to Government Officials:
The Bill provides legal immunity to government officials involved in the disaster management.