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DisasterManagementinIndia:
Classification,PoliciesandotherDetails
byPujaMondalEssay

DisasterManagementinIndia:Classification,Policiesandother
Details!
Lossesduetodisastershaveshowngrowingtrendintermsoflivesand
propertythroughouttheworldduetourbanization,increasingpopulation
andincreasingdegradationofenvironment.Theglobaleffortstomanage
disastersarenotmatchedwiththefrequencyandmagnitudeofdisasters.
However,forthelast15yearsorsosomenewthinkingondisaster
managementhasemergedatgloballevelwhichpleadsforaproactiveand
preventiveapproachandintegratesdisastermanagementwithongoing
developmentactivitiesthatissustainabledevelopment.
AccordingtoWorldDisasterReport2009,hydrometeorologicalevent,
linkedtoclimatechangefloods,storms,heatwavesanddroughttogether
accountedfornearly60percentofDisasterReliefEmergencyFund(DREF).
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InMyanmaralone,cycloneNargisclaimedsome1,38,000liveslastyears.
EarthquakeinChinasSichuanProvincekilledsome88,000people,affected
46millionpeopleamajorUSflood11millionandadroughtinThailand10
million.Buttherewerefewerdisastersworldwidein2008thaninanyother
yearoftheprecedingdecade326naturaland259technologicaldisasters.

IndiasDisasterProfile:
TheIndiansubcontinentisamongtheworldsmostdisasterproneareas.
Almost85%ofIndiasareaisvulnerabletooneormultiplehazard.Ofthe28
statesand7unionterritories,22aredisasterprone.
ItisvulnerabletowindstormsspawnedintheBayofBengalandthe
ArabianSea,earthquakescausedbyactivecrustalmovementinthe
Himalayanmountains,floodsbroughtbymonsoons,anddroughtsinthe
countrysaridandsemiaridareas.
Almost57%ofthelandisvulnerabletoearthquake(highseismiczoneslll
V),68%todrought,8%tocyclonesand12%tofloods.Indiahasalsobecome
muchmorevulnerabletotsunamissincethe2004IndianOceantsunami.
Earthquakes:
Oftheearthquakeproneareas,12%ispronetoverysevereearthquakes,
18%tosevereearthquakesand25%todamageableearthquakes.Thebiggest
quakesoccurintheAndamanandNicobarIslands,Kutch,Himachalandthe
NorthEast.TheHimalayanregionsareparticularlypronetoearthquakes.
ThelasttwomajorearthquakesshookGujaratinJanuary2001andJammu
andKashmirinOctober2005.Manysmallerscalequakesoccurredinother
partsofIndiain2006.All7NorthEaststatesofIndiaAssam,Arunachal
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Pradesh,Nagaland,Manipur,Mizoram,TripuraandMeghalayaAndaman
&NicobarIslandsandpartsof6otherstatesintheNorth/NorthWest
(JammuandKashmir,Uttaranchal,andBihar)andWest(Gujarat),arein
SeismicZoneV.
Floods:
About30millionpeopleareaffectedannually.FloodsintheIndoGangetic
Brahmaputraplainsareanannualfeature.Onanaverage,afewhundred
livesarelost,millionsarerenderedhomelessandseveralhectaresofcrops
aredamagedeveryyear.
Nearly75%ofthetotalrainfalloccursoverashortmonsoonseason(June
September).40millionhectares,or12%ofIndianland,isconsideredprone
tofloods.Floodsareaperennialphenomenoninatleast5statesAssam,
Bihar,Orissa,UttarPradeshandWestBengal.
Onaccountofclimatechange,floodshavealsooccurredinrecentyearsin
areasthatarenormallynotfloodprone.In2006,droughtpronepartsof
Rajasthanexperiencedfloods.
Droughts:
About50millionpeopleareaffectedannuallybydrought.Ofapproximately
90millionhectaresofrainfedareas,about40millionhectaresareproneto
scantyornorain.Rainfallispoorinninemeteorologicalsubdivisionsoutof
36subdivision(eachmeteorologicalsubdivisioncoversageographicareaof
morethantenrevenuedistrictsinIndia).
InIndiaannually33%areareceiverainfalllessthan750mm(lowrainfall
area)and35%areareceivebetween750to1125mmrainfallMedium
rainfall)andonly32percentfallsinthehighrainfall(>1126mm)zone.
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Cyclones:
About8%ofthelandisvulnerabletocyclonesofwhichcoastalareas
experiencetwoorthreetropicalcyclonesofvaryingintensityeachyear.
Cyclonicactivitiesontheeastcoastaremoreseverethanonthewestcoast.
TheIndiancontinentisconsideredtobetheworstcycloneaffectedpartof
theworld,asaresultoflowdepthoceanbedtopographyandcoastal
configuration.Theprincipalthreatsfromacycloneareintheformofgales
andstrongwindstorrentialrainandhightidalwaves/stormsurges.
Mostcasualtiesarecausedduetocoastalinundationbytidalwavesand
stormsurges.CyclonestypicallystriketheEastCoastofIndia,alongtheBay
ofBengal,i.e.thestatesofWestBengal,Orissa,AndhraPradeshandTamil
Nadu,butalsopartsofMaharashtraandGujaratattheArabianSeaWest
Coast.
Landslides:
LandslidesoccurinthehillyregionssuchastheHimalayas,NorthEast
India,theNilgiris,andEasternandWesternGhats.LandslidesinIndiaare
anotherrecurrentphenomenon.Landslideproneareaslargelycorrespond
toearthquakeproneareas,i.e.NorthwestandNorthEast,wherethe
incidenceoflandslidesisthehighest.
Droughts:
Droughtisanotherrecurrentphenomenonwhichresultsinwidespread
adverseimpactonvulnerablepeopleslivelihoodsandyoungchildrens
nutritionstatus.IttypicallystrikesaridareasofRajasthan(chronically)and
Gujaratstates.
DroughtisnotuncommonincertaindistrictsofUttarPradesh,Madhya
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Pradesh,Orissa,AndhraPradesh,etc.Althoughaslowonsetemergency,and
toanextentpredictableemergency,droughthascausedseveresufferingin
theaffectedareasinrecentyears,includingeffectsonpoverty,hunger,and
unemployment.
ColdWaves:
ColdwavesarerecurrentphenomenoninNorthIndia.Hundredsifnot
thousandsofpeopledieofcoldandrelateddiseaseseveryyear,mostofthem
frompoorurbanareasinnorthernpartsofthecountry.AccordingtoIndias
TenthFiveYearPlan,naturaldisastershaveaffectednearly6%ofthe
populationand24%ofdeathsinAsiacausedbydisastershaveoccurredin
India.
Between1996and2001,2%ofnationalGDPwaslostbecauseofnatural
disasters,andnearly12%ofGovernmentrevenuewasspentonrelief,
rehabilitationandreconstructionduringthesameperiod.AsperaWorld
Bankstudyin2003,naturaldisastersposeamajorimpedimentonthepath
ofeconomicdevelopmentinIndia

ClassificationofDisasters:
Theclassificationofdisasterdiffersasperthecriterionofclassification.For
example,onthebasisoftheirorigin,theyareclassifiedasnaturaland
manmade.Ifwetakeintoaccounttheirseverity,theymaybeclassifiedas
manorandminordisasters.
However,ahighpoweredcommitteeconstitutedinAug.1999bythe
GovernmentofIndia,undertheChairmanshipofJ.C.Pantadoptedoriginas
thecriterionfortheclassificationofdisaster.
Thefundamentaltaskofthecommitteewastopreparecomprehensive
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modelplansfordisastermanagementatdistrict,stateandnationallevel.
Thecommitteehasidentified30disastersandcategoriestheminthe
followingfivegroups.
1.WaterandClimateDisaster:
Suchasflood,cyclones,hailstorms,cloudburst,heatandcoldwaves,snow
avalanches,droughts,seaerosion,thunderandlightning.
2.GeologicalDisaster:
Suchaslandslidesandmudflows,earthquakes,minefires,damfailuresand
generalfires.
3.BiologicalDisaster:
Suchasepidemics,pestattacks,cattleepidemicandfoodpoisoning.
4.NuclearandIndustrialDisaster:
Suchaschemicalandindustrialdisastersandnuclearaccidents.
5.AccidentalDisaster:
Suchasurbanandforestfires,oilspill,minefloodingincidents,collapseof
hugebuildingstructures,bombblasts,air,roadandrailmishaps,boat
capsizingandstampededuringcongregations.
Atcentrallevel,anadministrativeministryhasbeenidentifiedasnodal
agencyforeachdisastertocoordinatetheactivitiesofdisastermanagement
operationsatdifferentlevels.

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DisasterManagementANewApproach:
DisasterManagementisanefforttoinquireintotheprocessofahazard
turningtodisastertoidentifyitscausesandrectifythesamethroughpublic
policy.Thereforedisastermanagementisapolicyissueconcernedwith
minimizingandpreventingthedamagingimpactofanaturalormanmade
hazard.
Someofthepolicyandadministrativefactorsrelevanttodisaster
managementaresuchaspoorandweakorovercrowdedbuildingsin
earthquakepronezone,poorlanduseplanninginfloodproneareas,
inadequateandfaultylawsregulatingvariousprocessesandfacilities,
generallowriskperceptiontowardsamongpeopleetc.
Theabovedescriptionofdisastermanagementunderlinesthedifference
betweenthehazardandthedisaster.Ahazardisanaturalormanmade
damagingeventwhichisbeyondtheeffectivecontrolofhumanbeing,
whereasthedisasteristhesumtotalofconsequencesofnaturalhazarddue
tovulnerabilityofpeopleorregionssubjecttohazard.
Thussamenaturalhazardmayproducedifferentamountofdisastrous
impactondifferentgroupofpeopleorregions.Thenewapproachtodisaster
managementevolvedgraduallyin1990sbeginningwiththedeclarationof
19902000byUNGeneralAssemblyastheInternationalDecadeofNatural
DisasterReduction.
ThemajordisasterssuchastsunamiinAsiain2004,HurricaneKatrinain
U.S.in2005andMuzaffarabadEarthquakein2005andunderlinedthe
importanceofthenewapproachacrosstheworld.TheUnitedNationReport
titledLivingwithriskclaimsthatthoughtherehasbeendeclineinthe
numberoflossestohumanlivesfromdisastertheoccurrenceofdisasteris
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rising.
TheYakohamaStrategyfordisastermanagementwasrenewedattheworld
conferenceonDisasterReductionheldatHyogo(Japan)inJan.2005.The
conferencelaidemphasisonsomecrucialbutneglectedaspectsofdisaster
managementsuchasgovernanceandpolicyframework,riskidentification
andearlywarning,knowledgemanagement,reducingriskfactorsand
preparednessforeffectiveresponseandrecovery.
TheHyogoconferenceadoptedtheframeworkofAction,20052015called
BuildingtheResilienceofNationsandCommunitiestoDisaster.
AspanicsweptacrossIndiaseasterncoastintheaftermathofthemassive
8.6magnitudeearthquakeofftheIndonesiancoaston12April,2012,the
NationalDisasterManagementAuthority(NDMA)setoffthebiggest
disasterdrillthecountryhasseensincethebodywascreated.
Thealertbroughtbackmemoriesofthedevastatingtsunamiof2004,in
which2.4lakhpeoplewerekilledworldwide.Beforethat,amongthemajor
quakesIndiahasseenwastheoneonApril4,1905,an8.25rockerthathit
theKangraregioninHimachal.Ithadkilledaround20,000people.Then
thereweretwoverylargemagnitudeearthquakesinBihar(1934)andAssam
(1950).
Throughtheseearthquakesandtheauthoritiesresponsetothose,aquake
philosophyhasbeenevolvingcontinuously.Tilltheendoflastcentury,the
essentialadministrativeapproachwas,Earthquakescannotbepredicted.
ThisattitudeexperiencedathawsometimeafterthedisastrousBhuj
earthquakeofmagnitude8.0onJanuary26,2001.Theadministration
startedconsideringhowtosavelivesandmanagedisaster.Variousstate
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governmentswererequestedtosetupadisastermanagementoffice.Atthe
GovernmentofIndialevel,twoinstitutesweresetupinNewDelhithe
NationalInstituteofDisasterManagement(NIDM)andtheNational
DisasterManagementAuthority(NDMA).Theaimwastomitigatethe
damagepotentialofnaturaldisastersinfuture.
Foronce,thesubjectofdisastermanagementhadbeentakenseriouslyat
thegovernmentallevel.However,subsequentearthquakesprovedthatthe
organisationswerenotabletocheckdisasters.AfterBhuj,thereweretwo
majorseismiceventstheAndaman(Sumatran)earthquakecumtsunami
of26December,2004,andtheKashmirearthquakeofOctober8,2005.
Thedisastermanagementbodieswerenotabletodoanythingtoprevent
deaths.Evenamoderateearthquakeofmagnitude6.8onSeptember18,
2011,inSikkimwasadisaster.Mostdisastermanagementplanshavethus
farfocusedonthepostseismicperiodofrescue,rehabilitationand
reconstruction(RRR).Inatypicalscenario,seismicshakingofmoderateto
largeearthquakeslasts3545seconds.
Ifthattimeisdividedintothreepartsof1215seconds,thenduringthefirst
part,disastermanagersarehighlyexcitedwatchingtheterrainshake.
Duringthesecondpart,theyareinawetoseethecollapseofstructures.The
thirdparthasthemneartears,seeingthehorrificdeathsanddestruction.
Aftertheshakingstops,theyrushtoaffectedsiteswithstretchers,medicine,
rescueequipment,etc.Allthisamountstorescue,notprevention.Tragically,
thisisallthatdisastermanagementisaboutatpresent.Thereisnoactivity
duringthepreseismicandcoseismicperiod.
Theproblemhasattainedseveredimensions.TheGeologicalSurveyofIndia
(GSI),inareportpresentedtotheUttarakhandGovernmentinJuly2007,
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observedthattheprobabilityofoccurrenceofalargemagnitudeearthquake
morethanmagnitude8.0inUttarakhandwasashighas0.98%.
Inseismologicallexicon,onemaysaythatasthemagnitudeofthe
probabilisticallypredictedearthquakeisverylarge,thestatementisequally
applicabletoHimachalPradesh.Suchanearthquakecouldseverelyaffectan
areaofabout200kmradiusormore.
Itcouldbesaidthattheprobabilityofoccurrenceofalargemagnitude
earthquakeintheconglomerateofUttarakhandandHimachalisashighas
0.98%.
PlaninAdvance:
Undersuchunforeseenconditions,ourmanagersneedtoplansome
activitiesduringthepreseismicperiodandalsodiscusswhatshouldbe
doneduringthecoseismicperiod.Takeeverysectionofsocietyin
confidenceandexplaintothemthelimitsofearthquakepredictionandhow
theadministrationplanstoovercometheodds.
Itisafactthatthesubjectofearthquakepredictionhasnotreached
perfection.Itisdifficulttopredictearthquakes.Ontheotherhand,ifthe
administrationpredictsanearthquake,anditdoesnotoccur,the
administrationhastofacepubliccriticism.
Thebestwayfordisastermanagementofficesistocreateseismicawareness,
informpeopleaboutreliableseismicprecursorseventsandindicatorsthat
maybenotedaheadofanimpendingearthquake.

NationalDisasterManagementAct2005:
NationalDisasterManagementAct,2005defineseventsthatcause
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substantiallessoflife,prosperityandenvironment.Itread,Disastermeans
catastrophe,mishap,calamityorgraveoccurrenceinanyarea,arisingfrom
natureormanmadecauses,orbyaccidentornegligencewhichresultin
substantiallossoflife,ofhumansufferingordamageto,anddestructionof
property,ordamageto,ordegradationofenvironment,andisofsuch
natureormagnitudeastobebeyondthecopingcapacityofthecommunity
ofaffectedareas.
About60percentoflandmassinIndiaispronetoearthquakesofvarious
intensities,over40millionhectaresispronetofloods,about8percentof
thetotalareaispronetocyclonesand68percentofareaissusceptibleto
drought.
DisastermanagementAct,2005definesDisasterManagementas,a
continuouscycleandintegratedprocessofplanning,organizing,
coordinatingandimplementing,coordinatingandimplementingmeasures
whicharenecessaryorexpedientfor
(i)Preventionofdangerorthreatofanydisaster
(ii)Mitigationorreductionofriskofanydisasteroritsseverityor
consequences
(iii)Capacitybuilding
(iv)Preparednesstodealwithanydisaster
(v)Promptresponsetoanythreateningdisastersituationordisaster
(vi)Assessingtheseverityormagnitudeofeffectsofanydisaster
(vii)Evacuation,rescueandrelief
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(viii)RehabilitationandReconstruction.DisasterManagementAmendment
Bill,2006aimsatbroadeningthemeaningofDisasterinDisaster
ManagementAct.
MainProvisionsofNationalDisasterManagementAct,2005:
TheActprovidesforthreetiermechanismforDisasterManagementthat
includesNationalDisasterManagementAuthority,StateDisaster
ManagementAuthorityandDistrictDisasterManagementAuthority.
NationalDisasterManagementAuthority:
ItschairpersonisthePrimeMinister.Notmorethannineothermembers
canbethere.ViceChairpersonsisappointedfromamongstmembersbythe
Chairperson.ExecutiveCommitteeischairedbytheSecretaryofthe
MinistryentrustedwiththeworkoftheDisasterManagement.
StateDisasterManagementAuthority:
ItsChairpersonistheChiefMinisteroftheconcernedState.Othermembers
notexceedingeightarethere.Andinaddition,ChairpersonoftheState
ExecutiveCommittee(whoisChiefSecretary)isalsoincluded.Vice
ChairpersonisappointedbyChair
personsfromamongstmembers.
ChairpersonoftheStateExecutiveCommitteeistheChiefExecutiveOfficer.
StateExecutiveCommitteeischairedbytheStateChiefSecretary.
NationalDisasterResponseFund:
TobeconstitutedbytheCentralGovernmentforemergencyresponse,relief
andrehabilitation.

NationalDisasterManagementFund:
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TobeconstitutedbytheCentralGovernmentfortheprojectsexclusivelyof
mitigation.
UnderConstitutionalPosition,UnionListincludes:
AtomicEnergy,Railwaysetc.StateListincludesPublicOrder,Public
Health,Agriculture,Wateretc.ConcurrentListincludesEnvironment,
SocialSecurity,preventionoftheextensionfromoneStatetoanotherof
infectiousorcontagiousdiseases,etc.
ThroughStateLegislativeEnactmentssomefunctionhasbeengiventolocal
governmentalso,moresoafter73rdand74thConstitutionalAmendment
Act.
UnionGovernment:
Supportiveroleisthereinmattersofresearchanddevelopment,finances,
etc.ThereisCabinedCommitteeonManagementAct,2005providesforthe
NationalDisasterManagementAuthorityunderPrimeMinistersalready
functional.AcommitteeofUniongovernmentlooksafterissueoffinancial
supportfromNationalCalamitycontingencyFund.
ThereisCentralReliefFund.BiologicalandChemicalEmergenciesare
coordinatedbyCabinetcommitteeonsecurity.NationalCrisisManagement
byCabinetCommitteeonSecurity.
NationalCrisisManagementcommittee(NCMC)isheadedbytheCabinet
Secretary.UnionMinistrieslookingafterdisastersare:MinistryofHome
AffairsnaturalandmanmadeDisastersMinistryofAgriculture
Drought,MinistryofCivilAviationAirAccidentsMinistryofRailways
RailwayAccidentsMinistryofEnvironmentChemicalDisasterMinistry
ofHealthBiologicalDisastersDepartmentofAtomicEnergyNuclear
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Accidentsetc.CrisisManagementGroup(CMG)ischairedbyCentralRelief
CommissionerintheMinistryofHomeAffairs.
StateGovernment:
PrimaryresponsibilityofreliefoperationsisoftheStates.NationalDisaster
ManagementAct,2005providesforthestateDisasterManagement
AuthorityundertheChiefMinister.Attoppoliticallevel,thereis,normally
CabinetCommitteeonNaturalCalamitiesundertheChiefMinister.
ThereareCrisisManagementCommitteeschairedbytheChiefSecretaries.
ReliefcommissionersfunctionariesofStateRevenueDepartmentare
used.TheylookafterissuesofNaturalDisasters.
TheyworkunderCrisisManagementcommitteeheadedbytheChief
Secretary.StateRevenueSecretariesalsohavesomeresponsibilities.Overall
responsibilityattheDistrictLevel,restswiththeDistrictCollector/District
magistrate.
DistrictCollector/DistrictMagistrates:
NationalDisasterManagementAct,2005providesforthedistrictDisaster
ManagementAuthorityunderhis/herchairpersonships(cochairpersonsis
electedmemberoflocalauthority).Overallcoordinationbetweenvarious
departmentsatdistrictlevelisachieved.
UnderGeneralFinancialRules/RevenueCodes,therearepowerstodraw
money.Iftherearearmedforcesunitsavailablelocally,theirassistancecan
berequested.Coordinationwithcivilsocietyisachieved.

Institutions:
TheDisasterManagementAct2005hasprovidedthelegalandinstitutional
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frameworkfordisastermanagementinIndiaatthenational,stateand
districtlevels.InthefederalpolityofIndiatheprimaryresponsibilityof
disastermanagementvestswiththeStateGovernments.
TheCentralGovernmentlaysdownpoliciesandguidelinesandprovides
technical,financialandlogisticsupportwhilethedistrictadministration
carriesoutmostoftheoperationsincollaborationwithcentralandstate
levelagencies.
IntheCentralGovernmentthereareexistinginstitutionsandmechanisms
fordisastermanagementwhilenewdedicatedinstitutionshavebeencreated
undertheDisasterManagementActof2005.
TheCabinetCommitteeonManagementofNaturalCalamities(CCMNC)
overseesallaspectsrelatingtothemanagementofnaturalcalamities
includingassessmentofthesituationandidentificationofmeasuresand
programmesconsiderednecessarytoreduceitsimpact,monitorandsuggest
longtermmeasuresforpreventionofsuchcalamities,formulateand
recommendprogrammesforpublicawarenessforbuildingupsocietys
resiliencetothem.
TheCabinetCommitteeonSecurity.(CCS)dealswiththemattersrelatingto
nuclear,biologicalandchemicalemergencies
TheNationalCrisisManagementCommittee(NCMC)undertheCabinet
SecretaryoverseestheCommand,ControlandCoordinationofthedisaster
response.TheDisasterManagementAct,2005hascreatednewinstitutions
atthenational,state,districtandlocallevels.Thenewinstitutional
frameworkfordisastermanagementinthecountryisasunder:

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TheNationalDisasterManagementAuthority(NDMA)underthe
ChairmanshipofthePrimeMinisteristheapexbodyresponsibleforlaying
downpolicies,plansandguidelinesfordisastermanagementandfor
coordinatingtheirenforcementandimplementationthroughoutthe
country.
ThepoliciesandguidelineswillassisttheCentralMinistries,State
Governmentsanddistrictadministrationtoformulatetheirrespectiveplans
andprogrammes.NDMAhasthepowertoapprovetheNationalPlansand
thePlansoftherespectiveMinistriesandDepartmentsofGovernmentof
India.Thegeneralsuperintendence,directionandcontrolofNational
DisasterResponseForce(NDRF)arevestedinandwillbeexercisedbythe
NDMA.
TheNationalExecutiveCommittee(NEC)ismandatedtoassisttheNDMA
inthedischargeofitsfunctionsandfurtherensurecomplianceofthe
directionsissuedbytheCentralGovernment.TheNECcomprisesofthe
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UnionHomeSecretaryastheChairperson,andtheSecretariestotheGOIin
theMinistries/DepartmentsofAgriculture,AtomicEnergy,Defence,
DrinkingWaterSupply,EnvironmentandForests,Finance(Expenditure),
Health,Power,RuralDevelopment,ScienceandTechnology,Space,
Telecommunications,UrbanDevelopment,WaterResourcesandtheChief
oftheIntegratedDefenceStaffoftheChiefsofStaffCommitteeasmembers.
SecretariesintheMinistryofExternalAffairs,EarthSciences,Human
ResourceDevelopment,Mines,Shipping,RoadTransport&Highwaysand
Secretary,NDMAarespecialinviteestothemeetingsoftheNEC.
TheNationalExecutiveCommitteeisresponsibletopreparetheNational
PlanandcoordinateandmonitortheimplementationoftheNationalPolicy
andtheguidelinesissuedbyNDMA.
TheMinistryofHomeAffairs(MHA)intheCentralGovernmenthasthe
overallresponsibilityfordisastermanagementinthecountry.Forafew
specifictypesofdisasterstheconcernedMinistrieshavethenodal
responsibilitiesformanagementofthedisasters,asunder:
Drought

MinistryofAgriculture

Epidemics&
MinistryofHealthand
Biological
FamilyWelfareMinistryof
Disasters
Environment&Forests
Chemical
MinistryofAtomicEnergy
DisastersNuclear MinistryofCivilAviation
DisastersAir
MinistryofRailways
Accidents
Railway
Accidents
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TheNationalInstituteofDisasterManagement(NIDM)hasthemandatefor
humanresourcedevelopmentandcapacitybuildingfordisaster
managementwithinthebroadpoliciesandguidelineslaiddownbythe
NDMA.
NIDMisrequiredtodesign,developandimplementtrainingprogrammes,
undertakeresearch,formulateandimplementacomprehensivehuman
resourcedevelopmentplan,provideassistanceinnationalpolicy
formulation,assistotherresearchandtraininginstitutes,stategovernments
andotherorganizationsforsuccessfullydischargingtheirresponsibilities,
developeducationalmaterialsfordisseminationandpromoteawareness
amongstakeholdersinadditiontoundertakeanyotherfunctionasassigned
toitbytheCentralGovernment.
TheNationalDisasterResponseForce(NDRF)isthespecializedforcefor
disasterresponsewhichworksundertheoverallsupervisionandcontrolof
theNDMA.
AttheStateLeveltheStateDisasterManagementAuthority(SDMA),
headedbytheChiefMinister,laysdownpoliciesandplansfordisaster
managementintheState.Itisalsoresponsibletocoordinatethe
implementationoftheStatePlan,recommendprovisionoffundsfor
mitigationandpreparednessmeasuresandreviewthedevelopmentalplans
ofthedifferentdepartmentsoftheStatetoensureintegrationofprevention,
preparednessandmitigationmeasures.
TheStateDisasterManagementDepartment(DMD)whichismostly
positionedintheRevenueandreliefDepartmentisthenodalauthority.In
thedistrictleveltheDistrictDisasterManagementAuthority(DDMA)is
headedbytheDistrictMagistrate,withtheelectedrepresentativeofthelocal
authorityastheCoChairperson.
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DDMAistheplanning,coordinatingandimplementingbodyfordisaster
managementatdistrictlevel.Itwill,interaliapreparetheDistrictDisaster
ManagementPlanandmonitortheimplementationoftheNationaland
StatePoliciesandtheNational,StateandtheDistrictPlans.
DDMAwillalsoensurethattheguidelinesforprevention,mitigation,
preparednessandresponsemeasureslaiddownbytheNDMAandthe
SDMAarefollowedbyalldepartmentsoftheStateGovernmentatthe
districtlevelandthelocalauthoritiesinthedistrict.
TheLocalAuthoritiesboththerurallocalselfgoverninginstitutions
(PanchayatiRajInstitutions)andurbanlocalbodies(Municipalities,
CantonmentBoardsandTownPlanningAuthorities)Thesebodieswill
ensurecapacitybuildingoftheirofficersandemployeesformanaging
disasters,carryoutrelief,rehabilitationandreconstructionactivitiesinthe
affectedareasandwillprepareDMPlansinconsonancewithguidelinesof
theNDMA,SDMAsandDDMAs.

NationalPolicyonDisasterManagement2009:
(a)TheNationalPolicyonDisasterManagementwasapprovedbythe
GovernmentinNovember2009.Thiscomprehensivepolicydocumentlays
downpoliciesoneveryaspectofholisticmanagementofdisastersinthe
country.
SalientFeaturesofIndiasNationalPolicyonDisasterManagement:Indias
NationalPolicyonDisasterManagementwasapprovedbytheUnion
CabinetofIndiaon22ndOctober,2009withtheaimtominimizethelosses
tolives,livelihoodsandproperty,causedbynaturalormanmadedisasters
withavisiontobuildasafe&DisasterresilientIndiabydevelopinga
holistic,proactive,integrated,Multidisasterorientedandtechnologydriven
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strategy.
WiththisnationalPolicyinplaceinIndia,aholisticandintegratedapproach
willbeevolvedtowardsdisastermanagementwithemphasisonbuilding
strategicpartnershipsatvariouslevels.
ThethemesunderpinningthepolicyincludeCommunitybasedDisaster
Management,Capacitydevelopmentinallspheres,Consolidationofpast
initiativesandbestpracticesandCooperationwithagenciesatNationaland
Internationallevelswithmultisectoralsynergy.
(b)ThePolicyisalsointendedtopromoteacultureofprevention,
preparednessandresilienceatalllevelsthroughknowledge,innovationand
education.Itencouragesmitigationmeasuresbasedonenvironmental
sustainability.
Itseekstomainstreamdisastermanagementintothedevelopmental
planningprocessandprovidesforInstitutionalandFinancialarrangements
atnational,State,andDistrictlevelsforDisasterPrevention,Mitigation,
PreparednessandResponseasitensuresadequatebudgetingfordisaster
mitigationactivitiesinallMinistriesandDepartments.
(c)StatePoliciesonDisasterManagement%TheStatesofMadhyaPradesh,
Gujarat,KeralahaveformulatedStateDisasterManagementPolicies.Tamil
Nadu,Chattisgarh,Uttranchal,Meghalaya,Bihar,Rajasthan,Delhi,Orissa
andWestBengalhaveprepareddraftpolicies.
(d)StateReliefCodes/DMCodes:ManyStateshavemanualsandcodesfor
managementofdrought,floodsetc.Nowmanystatesareintheprocessof
changingtheirStateReliefcodesintoDisasterManagementManuals.

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AMatterofConcern:
YokhamaDeclarationexposedthateconomiclosswasincreasingdueto
variousdisasters.TheintergovernmentalPanelonthatworldwidethe
frequencyandmagnitudeofalltypesofnaturaldisastersareincreasing.
Increasingtendencyofdroughtsinsomeareasmorevulnerabilityofforest
fires.
Disastersaffect:one,astheyderaildevelopmentprocess.Two,affects
resourceavailabilityforfuturedevelopment.Merenarrowapproach
temporaryreliefandinvolvesmorecost.ThereisneedtolinkDisaster
managementandDevelopment,reliefandreconstruction.
Somedisasterssayfloodhavemuchpostdisastercomplication.Man
madeinhumanedisastersincrease.PlannedDevelopmentfinancefor
DisasterManagementPlans.Thenthereistargetedrevenuedifficult
eliminationissue.Overexploitationofnaturalresourcesisleadingtowards
environmentaldegradation.
Thatmayleadtonationincreasesmuchbutpublicsafetycommonsenseand
awarenessincommunitylacks.Inmanyinstancelackofpreparednessis
convertinghazardsintodisasters.Flawsinintelligencearecausingsome
disasters,say,terrorism,strikes,socialtensions,etc.
PublicHealthinfrastructureisinadequatebuthealthhazardsincrease.
WomenandChildrenareusuallymostaffectedduringdisasters.More
attentionisneededtobegiventothisissue.Evencampmanaging
Committeelacksufficientnumberofwomen,totakecareofwomen,inrelief
andrehabilitationApprehensionsofmisuseofscienceandtechnological
advancementsexist.Droughtaffectsruralareasmoreandwatersupply
infrastructureremainsweakinruralareas.
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Asnormalproceduresaredifficulttofollow,duetourgencycorruption
problemsarethere.IneffectivenessinwatermanagementPoliciescreates
problemsindroughtmanagementandfloodrelief.StudyandResearchin
DisasterManagementisstilldeficient.Infact,thereisneedtointroducethe
DisastermanagementandPublicAdministration.
Traditionally,eveninlegalframework,meaningofdisasterhasbeentaken
narrowly.EnforcementofPublicSafetyRegulationsisnoteffectiveLow
incomeandPovertycreatesproblemsinmattersofpreparedness.
Professionalskillsforfieldmachineryinmattersofdisastermanagement
stilllack.
StilltherearedeficienciesintakinguptheissueofGeographical
InformationSystem(GlS)asaplanscheme.Communityparticipationin
vulnerabilityanalysislacks.Mediauseforbringingmassawarenessisnot
paidsufficientattention.DigitaldisseminationofinformationbyDisaster
ManagementAuthoritiesisstillinadequate.
Muchgapexistsbetweendisasterresearchandcommunitycapacity
building.ThereareinstancesofpolicymakerslackingtheDisaster
Managementexperience.Potentialofexservicemenavailableinbetween
countryisnotusedwell.InternationalorbilateralcooperationinDisaster
managementisnotuptothemark.

Whatcanbedone?
Lifecycleofcrisismanagementcanbebroadlydividedinthreephasespre
crisis,duringcrisisandpostcrisis.SustainableDevelopmentpreparedness
canreducehazard.Thereisneedtolinkdisastermanagementand
developmentplans.Plannedimprovementinlegalframeworkinneeded.
Bringingcommunityconsciousnesswillhelp.Shorttermandlongterms
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planningneedintegration.Moreeffectiveinternationalcooperationanduse
ofitisneedfordisasterwarningsystem.
As,normally,communityresponseisthefirstincaseofdisaster,thereis
needforcommunitycapacitybuilding.PolicyofEmergencyOperation
Centers(EOC)atnational,stateanddistrictlevelshouldbeeffectively
implemented.
SubjectofDisastermanagementisnotmentionedspecifically,inanyofthe
threelistsoftheSeventhScheduleoftheconstitution.NationalCommission
oftheConstitution(NCRWC)suggesteditsinclusioninConcurrentList.
BestPracticesguidelinesshouldbelaiddown.
MeaningofDisasterinNationalDisasterManagementAct,2005isnarrow
itshouldbebroadened.Capacitybuildinginlocalgovernmentisneeded.In
Japanlocalgovernmentshavearoletoplayinsuchmatters.
2ndARCrecommends,inlargercities(saywithpopulation,exceeding2.5
million)theMayor,assistedbytheCommissioneroftheMunicipal
CorporationandthePoliceCommissionershouldbedirectlyresponsiblefor
Crisismanagement.
InitiativesCalamityreliefFund(CRF)exists,Variousrelatedrulesexist,
say,HazardousWaste(managementandHandlingRules)1989,TheOzone
DepletingSubstances(Regulationandcontrol)Rules,2000etc.
NationalInstituteofDisasterManagementissetupatDelhi.,CoastalZone
Regulations,BuildingCodes,FireSafetyRulesetc.someStateshavegone
forStateDisasterManagementActs,say:Act,2003,BiharDisaster
managementAct,2004,UttrakhandDisasterMitigation,Managementand
PreventionAct,2005UttarPradeshDisasterManagementAct,2005etc.
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UttarakhandhassetupaseparatedepartmentofDisasterManagement.
VulnerabilityAtlasofIndiawasbroughtin1998.SeismicZoneofIndiahas
beenstandardized.Oflate,FiveYearPlanninghadbeengivinghighpriority
tosuchissues.NationalBuildingCode3wasbroughtin2005.
IndiaDisasterResourcesnetworkDisasterManagementAwebenabled
centralizeddatabase.StandardOperatingProcedures(SOP)aretherewhich
guidetheoperationsincaseofcrisis.CivilDefenceActwasbroughtin1968
andCivilDefenceRegulations,1968exist.
SAARCDisasterManagementCentreitwassetupinOctober2006.Itisin
thepremisesofNationalInstituteofDisasterManagement,NewDelhi.

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