National Disaster Management Scenario

In recent years, due to population growth,industrialization and urbanization, development in disaster prone areas, environmental imbalance, climate change, etc., there has been a sharp increase in the vulnerability and damage caused by disasters, which has serious effects especially on social- It is affecting the economically weaker sections.Every dollar spent on disaster management can prevent about $3 in damage from a disaster. This is the reason that in recent years there has been a radical change in the disaster  management policy in India and the  has  is is on  efficient management of disasters in place of relief focused policy.

Under disaster management, in the pre-disaster phase, the emphasis is on capacity building and preparedness to prevent, prevent,reduce the impact etc. of disasters. Whereas in the post-disaster phase, the emphasis is on action,relief and rehabilitation, reconstruction and restoration of normalcy. For this the Disaster Management Act,2005 has been passed. In which there is a  provision for the preparation of plans for disaster management at the central, state and district level hierarchical. The plans will be updated annually. All  the Ministries and Departments of the Government  of India will prepare their respective plans in  accordance with the National Plan. A holistic and integrated  approach towards disaster management has been  adopted in this Act.

Features of Disaster Management Act, 2005

• Disaster is defined in the Act asa great calamity, accident, calamity or grave occurrence in any area due to natural or man-made causes or by        accident or negligence resulting in great loss of life or human suffering. or damage or loss of property or damage or degradation to the environment and its nature or consequence is such that it is beyond the capacity of the community of the affected area to cope.

• The Act provides for the establishment of a National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).In addition, provision has also been made for the constitution of a National Executive Committee (NEC).

• According to this, a State Office at the State level management authority and disaster management

• There will be a State Executive Committee in the coordination and monitoring body 

• District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)at the district level, which will act asthe District Planning Coordination and Implementation Body for disaster management and as per the guidelines laid down by the National Authority and the State Authority. Will take all measures for the purpose of disaster  management in the district as per

• A total of 39 specific powers  and functions have also been defined  in the Act.

• Provision has been made in the Act to prepare a system of plans at the national, state and district level. 

• The National Disaster Plan will be prepared by the NEC in view of the national policy andin consultation with the State Governments and expert bodies and organisations and will be approved  by the NDMA. 

• The State Disaster Management  Plan will be prepared by NDMA. The  District Disaster Plan will be prepared by the District Authority.

• The Act provides for the formation of the National  Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM). 

• Arrangements have been made for the establishment  of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Its  control will be vested in NDMA.

• The National Disaster Response Fund will be available to the NEC under the Act and the National Disaster Mitigation Fund will be applied by the NDMA.

• Every Ministry and Department of the Government of India will make provision in the budget for disaster management  plans. Uniform funds will be set up at the state  and district levels.