​Disaster and Disaster Management

Disaster and Disaster Management can be considered as the two sides of the same coin. Disasters are not new to mankind where it can be natural or human made. Whereas, Disaster Management means countering disasters by increasing preparedness through policy, programme and exercises. Recently, released National Disaster Risk Index points out that Delhi: most vulnerable UT, Maharashtra: most vulnerable State.

Disaster as a Phenomenon

Disaster Management Act, 2005, defines “disaster” as catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or man-made causes, or by accident or negligence which results in substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of, property, or damage to, or degradation of, environment, and is of such a nature or magnitude as to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area.

Classification of Disasters

• As per the National Disaster Management Policy, 2009, the State governments have to provide disaster relief from their respective State Disaster Response Funds (SDRFs).
• And, only for a “calamity of severe nature”, additional assistance be provided from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
• There is, however, no provision in the law or rules for the government to designate a disaster as a “national calamity”.
• When a calamity is declared to be of “rare severity”/”severe nature”, support to the state government is provided at the national level. The Centre also considers additional assistance from the NDRF.

Governmental Agencies to Mitigate Disaster

1. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): NDMA is headed by the Prime Minister, and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) headed by respective Chief Ministers.It is the apex body, which is mandated to lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for Disaster Management to ensure timely and effective response to disasters.
2. State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA): The SDMA is established in the State under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister with 8 other members under section 14 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. It is the apex body for disaster management in the State.
3. National Executive Committee (NEC): The NEC is responsible for assisting NDMA in execution of various functions for disaster management. The secretary of the ministry which is responsible for disaster management is the chairperson of NEC. The secretaries in the ministries of agriculture atomic energy, defence, drinking water supply, environment, finance (expenditure), health, power, rural development, science and technology, space, telecommunication, urban development, water resources and the Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff of the Chiefs of Staff Committee will be the members of the NEC.
4. National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF): The DM Act, 2005 calls upon the central government to constitute the NDRF for meeting any threatening disaster situation or disaster. The amount collected from National Calamity Contingent Duty (NCCD) is transferred to the NDRF.
5. National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NIDM): NIDM provides Capacity Building support to various National and State level agencies in the field of Disaster Management & Disaster Risk Reduction. The Institute's vision is to create a Disaster Resilient India by building the capacity at all levels for disaster prevention and preparedness.

Funding the NDRF & SDRF

• The NDRF is funded through a National Calamity Contingent Duty levied on pan-masala, chewing tobacco and cigarettes, and with budgetary provisions as and when needed.
• The SDRF corpus is contributed by the Union government and the respective State governments in a 75:25 ratio for ‘general’ category States and 90:10 for ‘special’ category States.
• The allocation of the SDRF for each State is done by the Finance Commission, and the Centre contributes its specified share each financial year.

Government Policies on Disaster Management

The Disaster Management Act

The Disaster Management Act, 2005 marks the institutionalization of paradigm shift in disaster management in India, from a relief-centric approach to one of proactive prevention, mitigation and preparedness.

• This act envisages a three-tier Disaster Management structure in India at the National, State and the District levels.
• Under the act, the NDMA, SDMA, NEC, NDRF, NIDM and disaster related funds were established.

National Policy on Disaster Management

The National Policy, 2009 suggests a multi-pronged approach for disaster risk reduction and mitigation consisting of the following:

• Integrating risk reduction measures into all development projects
• Initiating mitigation projects in identified high priority areas through joint efforts of the Central and State Governments
• Encouraging and assisting State level mitigation projects
• Paying attention to indigenous knowledge on disaster and coping mechanisms
• Giving due weightage to the protection of heritage structures

Disaster Management Cycle

A holistic and integrated approach will be evolved towards disaster management with emphasis on building strategic partnerships at various levels. The themes underpinning the policy are (this policy is under preparatory stage):

• Community based DM, including last mile integration of the policy, plans and execution.
• Capacity development in all spheres.
• Consolidation of past initiatives and best practices.
• Cooperation with agencies at national and international levels.
• Multi-sectoral synergy.

• The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) is an international document which was adopted by UN member states between 14th and 18th of March 2015 at the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan and endorsed by the UN General Assembly in June 2015.

• It is the successor agreement to the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005–2015), which had been the most encompassing international accord to date on disaster risk reduction.
• This framework sets universal principles, an all-inclusive framework with feasible targets, and a legally-based mechanism for disaster risk reduction.
• This framework calls for adopting integrated and inclusive institutional procedures for preventing susceptibility to catastrophe, augmenting preparedness for response and recovery.
• India and UN’s Office for Disaster Risk Reduction signed a Statement of Cooperation (SoC) of the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk (SFDRR). It was ratified during the 2nd day of the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) 2016 held in New Delhi.

Sendai Framework sets Four Specific Priorities for Action

• Understanding disaster risk;
• Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk;
• Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience;
• Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.