First India Disaster Management Congress:
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) had organized the First India Disaster Management Congress in Vigyan Bhavan New Delhi on 29-30 November 2006. Dr. Manmohan Singh Prime Minister of India inaugurated the Congress. More than 1200 hundred delegates from all over the country attended and 350 technical papers were presented in 18 Thematic Sessions organized around Thematic Clusters. This was the largest knowledge conference on disaster management ever held in this part of the world.
Encouraged by the resounding success of the First India Disaster Management Congress, NIDM has decided to organize the Second India Disaster Management Congress in New Delhi on 4-6 November, 2009 on an even larger scale. The Congress shall be held in Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi and a total of 26 Technical Sessions are proposed to be organized in around 13 Thematic Clusters. The Second India Disaster Management Congress is expected to bring together 1500 scientists, scholars and practitioners working on different aspects of disaster risk reduction and management across the world.
Second India Disaster Management Congress:
The second India Disaster Management Congress will be held in New Delhi on 4 November 2009. The three day Congress is expected to bring together 1500 scientists, scholars and practitioners working on different aspects of disaster risk reduction and management across the world. Each Thematic Session shall have a minimum of six paper presentations.
A number of issues pertaining to disaster risk reduction, management, emergency response and various cross cutting issues during disaster events will be the focus of discussion in this congress. A total of 28 Technical/ Thematic Sessions are proposed to be organized in around 13 Thematic Clusters namely: Geological disasters (Earthquake, Landslide and Avalanche), Hydro Meteorological Disasters ( Flood, Cyclone, Drought), Man Made Disasters ( Industrial and Chemical, Nuclear Emergencies & Road Accidents), Science & Technology ( Early Warning and Disaster Communication, Geo-Information System), Social and Economic Issues (Gender, children and Financing Disaster Management), Disaster, Development and Governance (Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction in Development and Involvement of Communities, Civil Society and NGOs in Disaster Management), Education, Training and Capacity Building for Disaster Management, Disaster Response ( Role of Armed Forces, NDRF, Police and Civil Defense and Incident Command System), Emergency Health Management ( Public Health Emergencies and Mass Causality Management, Psycho-social Care and Pandemics), Emerging Issues and Concerns ( Climate Change and Urban Risk Management), Corporate Sector in Disaster Management, Role of Media in Disaster Management and Post Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction: International Experiences and Best Practices.
The congress will have participants from various Government and Non-governmental, international organizations, research and academic institutions which are concerned with various issues related to disaster management. International experts have been invited as guest’s speaker from across the globe namely Ms. Kit Miyamoto, President & CEO, Miyamoto International Inc., California, Prof. Hiroyuki Maeda, Deptt. Of Civil & Envt. Engg., National University Corporation, Kitami Institute of Technology, Japan, Dr. Vernon Singhroy from Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Natural recources, Canada, Dr. Suzanne Lacasse, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Prof. Dr. Roslan Zainal Abidin, Director International Research Centre on Disaster Prevention, Malaysia, Seyed Amir Shamsnia, Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Iran, Mr. Debanjan Upadhyay, International Institute of Geo-information Science & Earth Observation, The Netherlands, Prof. Madhav Badami, Associate Director, McGill School of Environment, McGill University, Canada, Dr. Nibeditta Ray-Bennet, UK, Ms. Susanna Hoffman, USA, Ms. Sarah Bradshaw, London, Ms. Yoko Saito, Japan, Ms. Simin Saedi, Iran, Ms. Ancila Bere , Indonesia, Ms. Tanty S. Thamin, Indonesia, Mr. David J. Schonfeld, Sh. Bijan Yavar & Sh. Maisam Mirtaheri, Iran, Ms. Zenaida Delica Wilson South-south Disaster Risk reduction Advisor, Regional centre in Bangkok, UNDP Thailand, Dr. Marla Petal, Switzerland, D. Amaratanga, Salford, UK, Dr. Akhilesh Surjan, Japan, Shri Arjun Katoch, UNOCHA, Geneva, Supt. Brian J. Graham NSW Rural Fire Service Australia, Satchit Balsari, MD, MPH Weill Cornell Medical College, Dr. Allen R Dyer Prof. Of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences USA, Colin Fernandes, Programme Officer, Austcare, BandaAceh, Indonesia, Prof J Shukla, President, Institute of Global Environment, & University Professor, George Mason University, USA, Dr. Goh Moh Heng, President BCMI, Singapore, W. Craig Fugate, Office of Administrator, FEMA, Dr. S.K.Singh, Director Training Division Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) Chameli House, 17, Topkhana Road, Dhaka, Ronju Ahammad Bangladesh.
The valedictory session will be chaired by the former President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. The valedictory session will be an opportunity to highlight and bring to notice issues, challenges, shortcomings and opportunities and road map ahead in the field of disaster management.
The Congress is being organized by NIDM in collaboration with the Ministry of Home affairs, National Disaster Management Authority, United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Development Programme, United States Agency for International Development, World Health Organization and Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.
The idea of holding the India Disaster Management Congress was conceived in order to provide a platform for interaction and integration of knowledge on various aspects of disaster risk reduction and management. The first India Disaster Management Congress was held at New Delhi in November 2006 which was the largest knowledge conference on disaster management ever held in this part of the world. More than 1200 delegates from all over the country attended it and 350 technical papers were presented. The First India Disaster Management Congress had 7 Thematic Clusters and 18 Thematic Sessions.
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) had organized the First India Disaster Management Congress in Vigyan Bhavan New Delhi on 29-30 November 2006. Dr. Manmohan Singh Prime Minister of India inaugurated the Congress. More than 1200 hundred delegates from all over the country attended and 350 technical papers were presented in 18 Thematic Sessions organized around Thematic Clusters. This was the largest knowledge conference on disaster management ever held in this part of the world.
Second India Disaster Management Congress:
The second India Disaster Management Congress will be held in New Delhi on 4 November 2009. The three day Congress is expected to bring together 1500 scientists, scholars and practitioners working on different aspects of disaster risk reduction and management across the world. Each Thematic Session shall have a minimum of six paper presentations.
A number of issues pertaining to disaster risk reduction, management, emergency response and various cross cutting issues during disaster events will be the focus of discussion in this congress. A total of 28 Technical/ Thematic Sessions are proposed to be organized in around 13 Thematic Clusters namely: Geological disasters (Earthquake, Landslide and Avalanche), Hydro Meteorological Disasters ( Flood, Cyclone, Drought), Man Made Disasters ( Industrial and Chemical, Nuclear Emergencies & Road Accidents), Science & Technology ( Early Warning and Disaster Communication, Geo-Information System), Social and Economic Issues (Gender, children and Financing Disaster Management), Disaster, Development and Governance (Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction in Development and Involvement of Communities, Civil Society and NGOs in Disaster Management), Education, Training and Capacity Building for Disaster Management, Disaster Response ( Role of Armed Forces, NDRF, Police and Civil Defense and Incident Command System), Emergency Health Management ( Public Health Emergencies and Mass Causality Management, Psycho-social Care and Pandemics), Emerging Issues and Concerns ( Climate Change and Urban Risk Management), Corporate Sector in Disaster Management, Role of Media in Disaster Management and Post Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction: International Experiences and Best Practices.
The congress will have participants from various Government and Non-governmental, international organizations, research and academic institutions which are concerned with various issues related to disaster management. International experts have been invited as guest’s speaker from across the globe namely Ms. Kit Miyamoto, President & CEO, Miyamoto International Inc., California, Prof. Hiroyuki Maeda, Deptt. Of Civil & Envt. Engg., National University Corporation, Kitami Institute of Technology, Japan, Dr. Vernon Singhroy from Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Natural recources, Canada, Dr. Suzanne Lacasse, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Prof. Dr. Roslan Zainal Abidin, Director International Research Centre on Disaster Prevention, Malaysia, Seyed Amir Shamsnia, Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Iran, Mr. Debanjan Upadhyay, International Institute of Geo-information Science & Earth Observation, The Netherlands, Prof. Madhav Badami, Associate Director, McGill School of Environment, McGill University, Canada, Dr. Nibeditta Ray-Bennet, UK, Ms. Susanna Hoffman, USA, Ms. Sarah Bradshaw, London, Ms. Yoko Saito, Japan, Ms. Simin Saedi, Iran, Ms. Ancila Bere , Indonesia, Ms. Tanty S. Thamin, Indonesia, Mr. David J. Schonfeld, Sh. Bijan Yavar & Sh. Maisam Mirtaheri, Iran, Ms. Zenaida Delica Wilson South-south Disaster Risk reduction Advisor, Regional centre in Bangkok, UNDP Thailand, Dr. Marla Petal, Switzerland, D. Amaratanga, Salford, UK, Dr. Akhilesh Surjan, Japan, Shri Arjun Katoch, UNOCHA, Geneva, Supt. Brian J. Graham NSW Rural Fire Service Australia, Satchit Balsari, MD, MPH Weill Cornell Medical College, Dr. Allen R Dyer Prof. Of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences USA, Colin Fernandes, Programme Officer, Austcare, BandaAceh, Indonesia, Prof J Shukla, President, Institute of Global Environment, & University Professor, George Mason University, USA, Dr. Goh Moh Heng, President BCMI, Singapore, W. Craig Fugate, Office of Administrator, FEMA, Dr. S.K.Singh, Director Training Division Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) Chameli House, 17, Topkhana Road, Dhaka, Ronju Ahammad Bangladesh.
The valedictory session will be chaired by the former President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. The valedictory session will be an opportunity to highlight and bring to notice issues, challenges, shortcomings and opportunities and road map ahead in the field of disaster management.
The Congress is being organized by NIDM in collaboration with the Ministry of Home affairs, National Disaster Management Authority, United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Development Programme, United States Agency for International Development, World Health Organization and Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.
The idea of holding the India Disaster Management Congress was conceived in order to provide a platform for interaction and integration of knowledge on various aspects of disaster risk reduction and management. The first India Disaster Management Congress was held at New Delhi in November 2006 which was the largest knowledge conference on disaster management ever held in this part of the world. More than 1200 delegates from all over the country attended it and 350 technical papers were presented. The First India Disaster Management Congress had 7 Thematic Clusters and 18 Thematic Sessions.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
EARTHQUAKES
Definition and Measurement
"An earthquake is a sudden motion or trembling of the ground produced by the abrupt displacement of rock masses".
Most earthquakes result from the movement of one rock mass past another in response to tectonic forces.
The focus is the point where the earthquake's motion starts,
The epicenter is the point on the earth's surface that is directly above the focus.
Earthquake Magnitude is a measure of the strength of an earthquake as calculated from records of the event made on a calibrated seismograph.
In 1935, Charles Richter first defined local magnitude, and the Richter scale is commonly used today to describe an
earthquake's magnitude.
Earthquake Intensity.
In contrast, earthquake intensity is a measure of the effects of an earthquake at a particular place. It is determined from observations of the earthquake's effects on people, structures and the earth's surface.
Among the many existing scales, the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale of 12 degrees, symbolized as MM, is frequently used
Earthquake Hazards
Earthquake hazards can be categorized as either direct hazards or indirect hazards.
Direct Hazards
¨ · Ground shaking;
¨ · Differential ground settlement;
¨ · Soil liquefaction;
¨ · Immediate landslides or mud slides, ground lurching
and avalanches;
¨ · Permanent ground displacement along faults;
¨ · Floods from tidal waves, Sea Surges & Tsunamis
Indirect Hazards
¨ · Dam failures;
¨ · Pollution from damage to industrial plants;
¨ · Delayed landslides.
Most of the damage due to earthquakes is the result of strong ground shaking. For large magnitude events, trembling has been
felt over more than 5 million sq. km.
Site Risks
Some common site risks are:
(I) Slope Risks - Slope instability, triggered by strong shaking may cause landslides. Rocks or boulders can roll considerable distances.
(ii) Natural Dams - Landslides in irregular topographic areas may create natural dams which may collapse when they are filled.
This can lead to potentially catastrophic avalanches after strong seismicshaking.
(iii) Volcanic Activity - Earthquakes may be associated with potential volcanic activity and may occasionally be considered as precursory phenomena.
Explosive eruptions are normally followed by ash falls and/or pyroclastic flows, volcanic lava or mud flows, and volcanic gases.
CYCLONE.
The term "cyclone" refers to all classes of storms with low atmospheric pressure at the centre, are formed when an organized system of revolving winds, clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere, anti-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, develops over tropical waters.
Cyclones are classified on the basis of the average speed of the wind near the centre of the system as follows:
Wind Speed Classification
¨ Up to 61 km/hr Tropical Depression
¨ 61 km/hr - 115 km/hr Tropical Storm
¨ Greater than 115 km/hr Hurricane
Hurricane.
A hurricane is a low pressure, large scale weather system which derives its energy from the latent heat of condensation of water vapor over warm tropical seas. A mature hurricane may have a diameter ranging from 150 to 1000 km with sustained wind speeds often exceeding 180 km/hr near the centre with still higher gusts.
A unique feature of a hurricane is the Eye. The eye provides a convenient frame of reference for the system, and can be tracked with radar, aircraft or satellite.
Classification
The Saffir/Simpson scale is often used to categorize hurricanes based on their wind speed and damage potential. Five categories of hurricanes are recognized:
¨ Minimal, Moderate, Extensive, Extreme & Catastrophic
The destructive potential of a hurricane is significant due to the high wind speeds, accompanying torrential rains which produce
flooding, and storm surges along the coastline
TSUNAMIS
Tsunamis are Ocean Waves produced by Earth Quakes or Underwater land slides.
The word is Japanese and means “Harbor Waves”
Tsunami is actually a series of waves that can travel at speeds from 400-600 mph in the open ocean. As the waves approach the coast, their speed decreases, but their amplitude increases.
Unusual wave heights of 10-20 ft high can be very destructive and cause many deaths and injuries.
Most deaths caused by Tsunamis are because of Drowning.
Associated risks include
· Flooding
· Contamination of Drinking Water
· Fires from ruptured gas lines and tanks
· Loss of vital Community Infrastructure [police, fire, medical]
· Areas of greatest risks are
-Less than 25 feet above sea level
-Within 1 mile of the shore line.
Environmental Conditions left by the Tsunamis may contribute to the transmission of the following diseases
From Food or Water
· Diarrhea illnesses; Cholera, Acute Diarrhea, Dysentery
· Hepatitis-A, Hepatitis-E
· Typhoid Fever
· Food borne illnesses;Bacterial;Viral;Parasitic;Non-infections;
From Animals or Mosquitoes
Leptospirosis, Plague, Malaria, J.E, Dengue, Rabies
Respiratory Diseases; Avian flu, Influenza, Measles
EFFECTS OF NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST
The effects of nuclear holocaust will result into blasts,
heat storms, secondary fires, fire, ionizing radiation and fall outs.
These effects fall into 3 categories;
1). Immediate, 2). Short term and 3). Long term effects.
¨ The immediate effects include blast effects, heat effects, electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effects and radiation effects.
¨ The short term effects include problems connected with water supply, sanitation, food, dispersal of excreta, wastes and dead bodies, break down of vector control measures and outbreak of infections. Radioactive contamination of water and food are major concerns. The affected area creates a lot of other problems for the survivors and the rescue teams.
Major problem among survivors is of bone marrow depression resulting in leucopenia, which increases their susceptibility to infections.
¨ Long term effects; the knowledge about the long-term effects is still incomplete. Some well known effects include radiation injuries due to radiation fallout, suppression of body immunity, chronic infection and other associated illnesses.
Persistent radiation hazards will lead to prolonged contamination of water supply, increased ultraviolet radiation, climatic and ecological disturbances, psychological disturbances and genetic abnormalities.
Current World Concern
In the light of the above facts the current world concern about the use of nuclear weapons is justified.
The world already possess an estimated total of 30,000 megatons of nuclear weapons with a total explosive power 50-100 times greater than that of all the explosives used during the Second World War.
Even if 1% of the nuclear weapons now possessed are used on urban populations, they can cause more deaths in a few hours than during the entire period of the Second World War.
The fundamental aspects of Disaster Management Program
¨ Disaster Prevention
¨ Disaster preparedness
¨ Disaster response
¨ Disaster mitigation
¨ Rehabilitation
¨ Reconstruction
3 Fundamental Aspects of Disaster Management
1. Disaster response
2. Disaster Preparedness
3. Disaster Mitigation
These 3 aspects of Disaster Management corresponds to the
2 phases in the Disaster Cycle, ie,
1, Risk Reduction Phase, before a Disaster
2. Recovery Phase, after a Disaster
DISASTER RESPONSE
OBJECTIVES
¨ Appropriate application of current technology can prevent much of the death, injury, and economic disruption resulting from disasters
¨ Morbidity and mortality resulting from disasters differ according to the type and location of the event.
¨ In any disaster, prevention should be directed towards reducing
(1) Losses due to the disaster event itself
(2) Losses resulting from the Mismanagement of disaster relief.
Therefore, the public health objectives of disaster management can be stated as follows:
1. Prevent unnecessary morbidity, mortality, and economic loss resulting directly from the disaster.
2. Eliminate morbidity, mortality, and economic loss directly attributable to Mismanagement of disaster relief efforts.
Nature and Extent of the Problem
Morbidity and mortality, which result from a disaster situation, can be classified into four types:
1. Injuries,
2. Emotional stress,
3. Epidemics of diseases,
4. Increase in indigenous diseases.
The relative numbers of deaths and injuries differ on the type of disaster.
Injuries usually exceed deaths in explosions, typhoons, hurricanes, fires, famines, tornadoes, and epidemics.
Deaths frequently exceed injuries in landslides, avalanches, volcanic eruptions, tidal waves, floods, and earthquakes.
Disaster victims often exhibit emotional stress or the "disaster shock" syndrome. The syndrome consists of successive stages of shock, suggestibility, euphoria and frustration.
Each of these stages may vary in extent and duration depending on other factors.
Epidemics are included in the definition of disaster; however, they can also be the result of other disaster situations.
Diseases, which may be associated with disasters, include
¨ specific food and/or water bone illnesses
(e.g., typhoid, gastroenteritis and cholera),
¨ vector bone illnesses
(e.g., plague and malaria),
¨ diseases spread by person-to-person contact
(e.g., hepatitis A and shigellosis)
¨ Diseases spread by the respiratory route
(e.g., measles and influenza).
· The current status of environmental sanitation, disease surveillance, and preventive medicine has led to a significant reduction in the threat of epidemics following disaster.
· Immunization programs are rarely indicated as a specific post disaster measure.
· A disaster is often followed by an increase in the prevalence of diseases indigenous to the area due to the disruption of medical and other health facilities and programs.
Morbidity and Mortality from Mismanagement of Relief
Ideally, attempts to mitigate the results of a disaster would not add to the negative consequences;
However, there have been many instances in which inappropriate and/or incomplete management actions taken after a disaster contributed to unnecessary morbidity, mortality, and a waste of resources.
Many of the Causalities and much more of the Destruction occurring to natural disaster are due to ignorance and neglect on the part of the individuals and public authorities.
There is a plethora of literature describing the inappropriate actions taken to manage past disasters. Many of the same mismanagement problems tend to recur.
¨ Physicians and nurses have been sent into disaster areas in numbers far in excess of actual need.
¨ Medical and paramedical personnel have often been hampered by the lack of the specific supplies they need to apply their skills to the disaster situation.
¨ In some disasters, available supplies have not been inventoried until well after the disaster, resulting in the importation of material which is used or needed.
In a study of past disaster mismanagement problems and their causes, these problems were categorized as follows:
1. Inadequate appraisal of damages
2. Inadequate problem ranking
3. Inadequate identification of resources
4. Inadequate location of resources
5. Inadequate transportation of resources
6. Inadequate utilization of resources
Disaster Management Authorities & Institutions in India
Central Disaster Management Authority:
(Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Natural Disaster Management http://ndmindia.nic.in)
It is the apex body for natural disaster management and mitigation. For effective implementation of relief measures in the wake of natural calamities, the Government of India (GOI) has set up a Standing National Crisis Management Committee under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary GOI. A Natural Disaster Management Control Room has been set up at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi. An organizational chart depicting disaster management organization in India. Chart
National Center for Disaster Management, New Delhi
A new center "National Centre for Disaster Management (NCDM)" has been established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. NCDM is setup in Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) with the objectives of :
1. providing training programs for senior and middle level administrative government officials and to sensitize them for disaster mitigation,
2. coordinate the research activities in different aspects of disaster management at national level. http://www.ncdm-india.org
National Information Center of Earthquake Engineering- IIT
Kanpur, U.P.
A National Information Center of Earthquake Engineering (NICEE) has been set up at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. The Center is sponsored by HUDCO, Telecom Commission, Railway Board, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Atomic Energy and AICTE. NICEE-India will meet the needs of the country in terms of “information” on Earthquake Engineering. The NICEE-India at IIT Kanpur will eventually aim at beingresponsible for acquiring and disseminating information and capacity building of the neighbouring nations. Institutes mandate is to create and maintain a good storehouse of information/publications/ other audio-visual materials on earthquake engineering. http://www.nicee.org
The Disaster Management Institute established by the MP government in the backdrop of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, offers training, research and consultancy services on subjects related to prevention, mitigation and management of disasters. It organizes training for working managers and government officials relating to the areas of management of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, drought, famine and cyclones; on-site and off-site emergency planning; risk analysis; identification of major hazards; etc.
Disaster Mitigation Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Disaster Management Institutes mission is to equip the disaster victims — individuals or groups or agencies — with the resource to develop progressive solutions to physical, social and economical challenges of relief and reconstruction of facing them. DMI strives to become a premier centre for disaster mitigation and prevention by assisting and strengthening the decision making process and making the critical and objective analysis available to the policy makers. In the wake of Gujarat Earthquake of January 2001 this Institutes provides real life example of the need and necessity of such an institute. http://www.southasiadisasters.net/
Environment Protection Training and Research Institute, Hyderabad
EPTRI was set up by Government of Andhra Pradesh with the assistance and support of Government of India. Government of India had also taken the initiative for EPTRI’s technical collaboration with Swedish International Development Agency under bilateral assistance. Risk Analysis and Disaster Management Plan is a safety and contingency management plan to safeguard people and property from disasters. EPTRI provides training and consultancy in Risk Assessment and Safety Control. EPTRI has an MoU with Process Safety Centre of Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad. http://www.eptri.com/risk_analysis_disaster.html
Joint Assistance Centre, Gurgaon, Haryana
The Joint Assistance Centre (JAC) was established in New Delhi as an All India Voluntary Agency for assistance in disaster situations in 1970 in the aftermath of the terrible cyclone of November 1977 that devastated the Chirala-Divi region of Andhra Pradesh, killing over 10,000 people. http://www.jacindia.org/
The Centre for Disaster Management was set up at Yashada (Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration), Pune with the support of the National Disaster Management Division, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Government of India. The CDM is collaborating with the IGNOU to launch a PG Diploma in Disaster Management in English, Hindi and Marathi. Training programmes on Management of Earthquakes, Workshop on Community participation in Disaster Management, and allied topics are conducted at CDM periodically. http://www.yashada.org/courses
National Civil Defence College, Nagpur, Maharastra
National Civil Defence College, Nagpur, conducts various courses in Civil Defence and Disaster Relief Management. Since natural calamities tend to be unavoidable and earthquakes unpredictable, efforts have to be made to withstand the aftermath of catastrophes. Disaster Management training is useful for NGOs or social work students or volunteers providing support and rehabilitation measures during disasters (natural and man-made), personnel of home guards, paramilitary organizations, civil defence personnel, scientists, meteorologists, and environmentalists as well as functionaries of rural development and primary health centres, administrative services, relief workers, etc. http://ncdcnagpur.nic.in/prog-offered.htm
INDIA - DISASTER MANAGEMENT PROFILE
Disaster Profile
The Indian subcontinent is among the world's most disaster prone areas. Almost 85% of India’s area is vulnerable to one or multiple hazard. Of the 28 states and 7 union territories, 22 are disaster-prone. It is vulnerable to wind storms spawned in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, earthquakes caused by active crustal movement in the Himalayan mountains, floods brought by monsoons, and droughts in the country's arid and semi-arid areas. Almost 57% of the land is vulnerable to earthquake (high seismic zones III–V), 68% to drought, 8% to cyclones and 12% to floods. India has also become much more vulnerable to tsunamis since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Earthquakes:
Of the earthquake-prone areas, 12% is prone to very severe earthquakes,18% to severe earthquakes and 25% to damageable earthquakes. The biggest quakes occur in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Kutch, Himachal and the North-East. The Himalayan regions are particularly prone to earthquakes.. The last two major earthquakes shook Gujarat in January 2001 and Jammu and Kashmir in October 2005. Many smaller-scale quakes occurred in other parts of India in 2006. All 7 North East states of India - Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Megalaya; Andaman & Nicobar Islands; and parts of 6 other states in the North/North-West (Jammu and Kashmir, Uttaranchal, Bihar) and West (Gujarat), are in Seismic Zone V.
Floods:
About 30 million people are affected annually. Floods in the Indo–Gangetic–Brahmaputra plains are an annual feature. On an average, a few hundred lives are lost, millions are rendered homeless and several hectares of crops are damaged every year. Nearly 75% of the total rainfall occurs over a short monsoon season (June – September). 40 million hectares, or 12% of Indian land, is considered prone to floods. Floods are a perennial phenomenon in at least 5 states - Assam, Bihar, Orissa , Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. On account ofclimate change, floods have also occurred in recent years in areas that are normally not flood prone. In 2006, drought prone parts of Rajasthan experienced floods.
Droughts:Earthquakes:
Of the earthquake-prone areas, 12% is prone to very severe earthquakes,18% to severe earthquakes and 25% to damageable earthquakes. The biggest quakes occur in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Kutch, Himachal and the North-East. The Himalayan regions are particularly prone to earthquakes.. The last two major earthquakes shook Gujarat in January 2001 and Jammu and Kashmir in October 2005. Many smaller-scale quakes occurred in other parts of India in 2006. All 7 North East states of India - Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Megalaya; Andaman & Nicobar Islands; and parts of 6 other states in the North/North-West (Jammu and Kashmir, Uttaranchal, Bihar) and West (Gujarat), are in Seismic Zone V.
Floods:
About 30 million people are affected annually. Floods in the Indo–Gangetic–Brahmaputra plains are an annual feature. On an average, a few hundred lives are lost, millions are rendered homeless and several hectares of crops are damaged every year. Nearly 75% of the total rainfall occurs over a short monsoon season (June – September). 40 million hectares, or 12% of Indian land, is considered prone to floods. Floods are a perennial phenomenon in at least 5 states - Assam, Bihar, Orissa , Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. On account ofclimate change, floods have also occurred in recent years in areas that are normally not flood prone. In 2006, drought prone parts of Rajasthan experienced floods.
About 50 million people are affected annually by drought. Of approximately 90 million hectares of rain-fed areas, about 40 million hectares are prone to scanty or no rain. Rainfall is poor in nine meteorological subdivisions out of 36 subdivision (each meteorological sub division covers a geographic area of more than ten revenue districts in India). In India annually 33% area receive rainfall less than 750 mm (low rainfall area) and 35 % area receive between 750 to 1125 mm rainfall Medium rainfall) and only 32percent falls in the high rainfall (>1126 mm) zone.
Cyclones:
About 8% of the land is vulnerable to cyclones of which coastal areas experience two or three tropical cyclones of varying intensity each year. Cyclonic activities on the east coast are more severe than on the west coast. The Indian continent is considered to be the worst cyclone-affected part of the world, as a result of low-depth ocean bed topography and coastal configuration. The principal threat from a cyclone are in the form of gales and strong winds; torrential rain and high tidal waves/storm surges. Most casualties are caused due to coastal inundation by tidal waves and storm surges. Cyclones typically strike the East Coast of India, along the Bay of Bengal, ie. the states of West Bengal, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, but also parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat at the Arabian Sea West Coast.
Landslides:
Landslides occur in the hilly regions such as the Himalayas, North-East India, the Nilgiris, and Eastern and Western Ghats. Landslides in India are another recurrent phenomenon. Landslide-prone areas largely correspond to earthquake-prone areas, i.e. North-west and North-East, where the incidence of landslides is the highest.
Droughts:
Drought is another recurrent phenomenon which results in widespread adverse impact on vulnerable people’s livelihoods and young children’s nutrition status. It typically strikes arid areas of Rajasthan (chronically) and Gujarat states. Drought is not uncommon in certain districts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, etc. Although a slow onset emergency, and to an extent predictable emergency, drought has caused severe suffering in the affected areas in recent years, including effects on poverty, hunger, and unemployment.
Cold waves:
Cold waves are recurrent phenomenon in North India. Hundreds if not thousands of people die of cold and related diseases every year, most of them from poor urban areas in northern parts of the country.
According to India’s Tenth Five Year Plan, natural disasters have affected nearly 6% of the population and 24% of deaths in Asia caused by disasters have occurred in India. Between 1996 and 2001, 2% of national GDP was lost because of natural disasters, and nearly 12% of Government revenue was spent on relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction during the same period. As per a World Bank study in 2003, natural disasters pose a major impediment on the path of economic development in India
Hazard Profile
India, due to its, physio-graphic and climatic conditions is one of the most disaster prone areas of the world. It is vulnerable to windstorms from both the Arabian Seaand Bay of Bengal. There are active crustal movements in the Himalaya leading to earthquakes. About 58.7 % of the toatal land mass is prone to earthquake of moderate to very high intensity. The region was hit by Uttarkashi Earthquake (1991), Killari Earthquake (1993), Koyana Earthquake (1997), Chamoli Earthquake (1999), and Bhuj earthquake (2001), Jammu & Kashmir Earthquake (2005). The Himalayas being a fairly young mountain range is undergoing constant geological changes resulting in landslides. Floods brought about by heavy rain and drought in arid and semi arid areas. About 12 % of the o f the total land mass is flood prone and 68 % of the arable land is vulnerable to drought. The Western region of the country is represented by the Thar Desert and the central India by the Deccan Plateau face recurring droughts due to acute shortage of rainfall. India has increasingly become vulnerable to Tsunamis since the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. India has a coastline running 7600 km long; as a result is repeatedly threatened by cyclones.The table below shows major disasters in the known history of India:
| SR. NO. | Name of Event | Year | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Maharashtra Earthquake | 1618 | 2,000 |
| 2. | Bengal Earthquake | 1737 | 300,000 |
| 3. | Bengal Cyclone | 1864 | 60,000 |
| 4. | The Great Famine of Southern India | 1876-1878 | 5.5 million |
| 5. | Maharashtra Cyclone | 1882 | 100,000 |
| 6. | The Great Indian famine | 1896-1897 | 1.25 million to 10 million |
| 7. | Kangra earthquake | 1905 | 20,000 |
| 8. | Bihar Earthquake | 1934 | 6,000 |
| 9. | Bengal Cyclone | 1970 | 500,000 (include Pakistan and Bangladesh also) |
| 10. | Drought | 1972 | 200 million people affected |
| 11. | Andhra Pradesh Cyclone | 1977 | 10,000 |
| 12. | Drought in Haryana & Punjab | 1987 | 300 million people affected |
| 13. | Latur Earthquake | 1993 | 7,928 death and 30,000 injured |
| 14. | Orissa Super Cyclone | 1999 | 10,000 |
| 15. | Gujarat Earthquake | 2001 | 25,000 |
| 16. | Indian Ocean Tsunami | 2004 | 10,749 deaths 5,640 persons missing |
| 17. | Kashmir Earthquake | 2005 | 86000 deaths (include Kashmir & Pakistan) |
| 18. | Kosi Floods | 2008 | 527 |
| 19. | Cyclone Nisha of Tamil Nadu | 2008 | 204 |
Identifying the hazards:
Natural disasters
Earthquake: India is having a high risk towards Earthquakes. More than 58 per cent of India’s land area is under threat of moderate to severe seismic hazard. During the last 20 years, India has experienced 10 major earthquakes that have resulted in more than 35,000 deaths. The most vulnerable areas, according to the present seismic zone map of India include the Himalayan and sub-Himalayan regions, Kutch and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Depending on varying degrees of seismicity, the entire country can be divided into the following seismic regions: Of the earthquake-prone areas, 12% is prone to very severe earthquakes, 18% to severe earthquakes and 25% to damageable earthquakes.
Though the regions of the country away from the Himalayas and other inter-plate boundaries were considered to be relatively safe from damaging earthquakes, the presence of a large number of non- engineering structures and buildings with poor foundations in these areas make these regions also susceptible to earthquakes. In the recent past, even these areas also have experienced earthquake, of lower magnitude than the Himalayan earthquakes. The North-Eastern part of the country continues to experience moderate to strong earthquakes. On an average, this region experiences an earthquake with magnitude greater than 5.0 every year. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are situated on an inter-plate boundary and therefore are likely to experience damaging earthquakes frequently. The increase in earthquake risk in India in recent times is caused due to a spurt in developmental activities driven by urbanization, economic development and theglobalization of India’s economy. The increase in the use of high-technology equipment and tools in manufacturing and service industries have also made them susceptible to disruption due to relatively moderate ground shaking.
Flood and drought: The country receives an annual precipitation of 400 million - hectare meters. Of the annual rainfall, 75% is received during four months ofmonsoon (June- September) and, as a result, almost all the rivers carry heavy discharge during this period. The flood hazard is compounded by the problems of sediment deposition, drainage congestion and synchronization of river floods with sea tides in the coastal plains. The area vulnerable to floods is 40 million hectares and the average area affected by floods annually is about 8 million hectares. About 30 million people are affected by flood every year. Floods in the Indo–Gangetic–Brahmaputra plains are an annual feature. On an average, a few hundred lives are lost, millions are rendered homeless and several hectares of crops are damaged every year Around 68% arable land of the country is prone to drought in varying degrees. Drought prone areas comprise 108. 11 million hectares out of a total land area of 329 Million hectares. About 50 million people are affected annually by drought. Of approximately 90 million hectares of rain-fed areas, about 40 million hectares are prone to scanty or no rain.
Cyclone: India’s long coastline of 7,516 kilometer is exposed to nearly 10 per cent of the world’s tropical cyclones. Of these, the majority has their initial genesis over the Bay of Bengal and strike the east coast of India. On an average, five to six tropical cyclones form every year, of which two or three could be severe. Cyclones occur frequently on both the coasts (The west coast - Arabian Sea; and the east coast - Bay of Bengal). More cyclones occur in the Bay of Bengal than in theArabian Sea and the ratio is approximately 4:1. An analysis of the frequency of cyclones on the east and west coasts of India between 1891 and 1990 shows that nearly 262 cyclones occurred (92 severe) in a 50 km wide strip on the east coast. Less severe cyclonic activity has been noticed on the west coast, with 33 cyclones occurring in the same period, out of which 19 of these were severe. In India,Tropical cyclones occur in the months of May-June and October-November. The cyclones of severe intensity and frequency in the north Indian Ocean are bi-modal in character, with their primary peak in November and secondary peak in May. The disaster potential is particularly high at the time of landfall in the north Indian Ocean (Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea) due to the accompanying destructive wind, storm surges and torrential rainfall. Of these, storm surges are the greatest killers of a cyclone, by which sea water inundates low lying areas of coastal regions and causes heavy floods, erodes beaches and embankments, destroys vegetation and reduces soil fertility.
Landslide: In the hilly terrain of India including the Himalayas, landslides have been a major and widely spread natural disasters that often strike life and property and occupy a position of major concern. One of the worst tragedies took place atMalpa Uttarkhand (UP) on 11th and 17th August 1998 when nearly 380 people were killed when massive landslides washed away the entire village. This included 60 pilgrims going to Lake Mansarovar in Tibet. In 2010 Cloudburst led flash mudslides and flash floods killed 196 people, including six foreigners and injured more than 400 and swept away number of houses, sweeping away buildings, bus stand and military installations in trans Himalaya Leh town of Jammu and Kashmir. Giving due consideration to the severity of the problem various land reform measures have been initiated as mitigation measures. Landslides occur in the hilly regions such as the Himalayas, North-East India, the Nilgiris, and Eastern and Western Ghats.
Avalanche: Avalanches are river like speedy flow of snow or ice descending from the mountain tops. Avalanches are very damaging and cause huge loss to life and property. In Himalayas, avalanches are common in Drass, Pir Panijat, Lahaul-Spiti and Badrinath areas. As per Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), ofDefence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), on an average around 30 people are killed every year due to this disaster in various zones of the Himalayas. Beside killing people, avalanches also damage the roads and others properties and settlements falling in its way.
Area Prone to Avalanches
- Avalanches are common in Himalayan region above 3500m elevation.
- Very frequent on slopes of 30-45°.
- Convex slopes more prone to this disaster.
- North facing slope have avalanches in winter and south facing slopes during spring.
- Slopes covered with grass more prone to this hazard.
Forest Fire: Forest or bush fire, though not causing much loss to human life, is a major hazard for forest cover in the country. As per Forest Survey of India report, 50 per cent of the forest cover of the country is fire prone, out of which 6.17 per cent is prone to severe fire damage causing extensive loss to forest vegetation and environment. Average annual physical loss due to forest fire in the country is estimated to worth Rs. 440 crores. The major loss due to forest fire is caused to the environment which gets adversely affected by this calamity. The degradation of climate, soil and water quality, loss of wildlife and its habitat, deterioration of human health, depletion of ozone layer, etc. along with direct loss to timber are the major adverse impact of forest fires. The coniferous forests in the Himalayan region are very susceptible to fire and every year there are one or more major fire incidences in these areas. The other parts of the country dominated by deciduous forest are also damaged by fire up to an extent. It is worth mentioning that in India 90 per cent of the forest fires are man-made (intentionally or unintentionally).
Disaster Management Framework
The institutional and policy mechanisms for carrying out response, relief and rehabilitation after disasters in India had been well-established since Independence. The increasing frequency and ferocity, the rising extent and sweep as well as the mounting human and economic toll due to disasters necessitated a reappraisal of institutional and policy frameworks and development of new frameworks for holistic disaster management of disasters.Heralding this paradigm shift in public policy, the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2007-12) stated:
The traditional perception relating to the management and mitigation of natural disasters has been limited to the idea of “calamity relief,” which is seen essentially as a non-plan item of expenditure. However, the impact of major disasters cannot be mitigated by the provision of immediate relief alone, which is the primary focus of calamity relief efforts. Disasters can have devastating effects on the economy; they cause huge human and economic losses, and can significantly set back development efforts of a region or a State. With the kind of economic losses and developmental setbacks that the country has been suffering year after year, the development process needs to be sensitive towards disaster prevention and mitigation aspects. There is thus a need to look at disasters from a development perspective as well.
The Plan also laid down a blue-print for the future:
The future blue-print for disaster management in India rests on the premise that in today’s society while hazards, both natural or otherwise, are inevitable, the disasters that follow need not be so and the society can be prepared to cope with them effectively whenever they occur. The need of the hour is to chalk out a multi-pronged strategy for total risk management, comprising prevention, preparedness, response and recovery on the one hand, and initiate development efforts aimed towards risk reduction and mitigation, on the other. Only then can we look forward to “sustainable development. Based on this philosophy, a holistic National Disaster Management Framework was developed in 2004, which highlights the interdependence of economy, environment, and development. This framework also links the issues of poverty alleviation, capacity building, community empowerment and other structural and non-structural issues of prevention and preparedness, response and recovery for effective disaster risk mitigation and management.
A comprehensive legal and institutional framework for disaster management has been set up through the Disaster Management Act passed by the Indian Parliament in 2005 and the National Policy on Disaster Managementthat was approved in 2009.
Institutions
The Disaster Management Act 2005 has provided the legal and institutional framework for disaster management in India at the national, state and district levels. In the federal polity of India the primary responsibility of disaster management vests with the State Governments. The Central Government lays down policies and guidelines and provides technical, financial and logistic support while the district administration carries out most of the operations in collaboration with central and state level agencies.
In the Central Government there are existing institutions and mechanisms for disaster management while new dedicated institutions have been created under the Disaster Management Act of 2005.
The Cabinet Committee on Management of Natural Calamities (CCMNC) oversees all aspects relating to the management of natural calamities including assessment of the situation and identification of measures and programmes considered necessary to reduce its impact, monitor and suggest long term measures for prevention of such calamities, formulate and recommend programmes for public awareness for building up society's resilience to them. The Cabinet Committee on Security.(CCS) deals with the matters relating to nuclear, biological and chemical emergencies
The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) under the Cabinet Secretary oversees the Command, Control and Coordination of the disaster response.
The Disaster Management Act, 2005 has created new institutions at the national, state, district and local levels. The new institutional framework for disaster management in the country is as under:
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister is the apex body responsible for laying down policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management and for coordinating their enforcement and implementation throughout the country. The policies and guidelines will assist the Central Ministries, State Governments and district administration to formulate their respective plans and programmes. NDMA has the power to approve the National Plans and the Plans of the respective Ministries and Departments of Government of India. The general superintendence, direction and control of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are vested in and will be exercised by the NDMA.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) is mandated to assist the NDMA in the discharge of its functions and further ensure compliance of the directions issued by the Central Government. The NEC comprises of the Union Home Secretary as the Chairperson, and the Secretaries to the GOI in the Ministries/Departments of Agriculture, Atomic Energy, Defence, Drinking Water Supply, Environment and Forests, Finance (Expenditure), Health, Power, Rural Development, Science and Technology, Space, Telecommunications, Urban Development, Water Resources and the Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff of the Chiefs of Staff Committee as members. Secretaries in the Ministry of External Affairs, Earth Sciences, Human Resource Development, Mines, Shipping, Road Transport & Highways and Secretary, NDMA are special invitees to the meetings of the NEC. The National Executive Committee is responsible to prepare the National Plan and coordinate and monitor the implementation of the National Policy and the guidelines issued by NDMA.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the Central Government has the overall responsibility for disaster management in the country. For a few specific types of disasters the concerned Ministries have the nodal responsibilities for management of the disasters, as under:
The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) has the mandate for human resource development and capacity building for disaster management within the broad policies and guidelines laid down by the NDMA. NIDM is required to design, develop and implement training programmes, undertake research, formulate and implement a comprehensive human resource development plan, provide assistance in national policy formulation, assist other research and training institutes, state governments and other organizations for successfully discharging their responsibilities, develop educational materials for dissemination and promote awareness among stakeholders in addition to undertake any other function as assigned to it by the Central Government
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is the specialized force for disaster response which works under the overall supervision and control of the NDMA.
At the State Level the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), headed by the Chief Minister, lays down policies and plans for disaster management in the State. It is also responsible to coordinate the implementation of the State Plan, recommend provision of funds for mitigation and preparedness measures and review the developmental plans of the different departments of the State to ensure integration of prevention, preparedness and mitigation measures.
The State Disaster Management Department (DMD) which is mostly positioned in the Revenue and relief Department is the nodal authoiry
In the district level the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) is headed by the District Magistrate, with the elected representative of the local authority as the Co-Chairperson. DDMA is the planning, coordinating and implementing body for disaster management at district level. It will, inter alia prepare the District Disaster Management Plan and monitor the implementation of the National and State Policies and the National, State and the District Plans. DDMA will also ensure that the guidelines for prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response measures laid down by the NDMA and the SDMA are followed by all departments of the State Government at the district level and the local authorities in the district.
The Local Authorities both the rural local self governing institutions (Panchayati Raj Institutions) and urban local bodies (Municipalities, Cantonment Boards and Town Planning Authorities) These bodies will ensure capacity building of their officers and employees for managing disasters, carry out relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in the affected areas and will prepare DM Plans in consonance with guidelines of the NDMA, SDMAs and DDMAs
Disaster Management Act 2005
The Disaster Management Act, 2005 came into the statute book on 26 December 2005 by a Gazette notification, exactly on the first anniversary of the devastating tsunami of 2004, which killed nearly 13,000 people in India alone and affected 18 million people. The Act provides a legal and institutional framework for “the effective management of disasters and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.” It provides for establishment of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMA) at the National, State and District levels with adequate financial and administrative powers and creation of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) with the mandate of undertaking training and capacity building, Develop Training Modules on various aspects of Disaster management, Undertake Research and Documentation, Formulate and implement comprehensive HRD Plan covering all aspects of DM, Provide assistance in national level policy formulation and Provide assistance to state governments and State Training Institutions. The act also provides guidelines for creation of National Disaster Response Fund, National Mitigation Fund, Establishment of funds by State Government and Allocation of funds by Ministries and Departments for Emergency procurement. The act also provides for establishment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
The traditional perception relating to the management and mitigation of natural disasters has been limited to the idea of “calamity relief,” which is seen essentially as a non-plan item of expenditure. However, the impact of major disasters cannot be mitigated by the provision of immediate relief alone, which is the primary focus of calamity relief efforts. Disasters can have devastating effects on the economy; they cause huge human and economic losses, and can significantly set back development efforts of a region or a State. With the kind of economic losses and developmental setbacks that the country has been suffering year after year, the development process needs to be sensitive towards disaster prevention and mitigation aspects. There is thus a need to look at disasters from a development perspective as well.
The Plan also laid down a blue-print for the future:
The future blue-print for disaster management in India rests on the premise that in today’s society while hazards, both natural or otherwise, are inevitable, the disasters that follow need not be so and the society can be prepared to cope with them effectively whenever they occur. The need of the hour is to chalk out a multi-pronged strategy for total risk management, comprising prevention, preparedness, response and recovery on the one hand, and initiate development efforts aimed towards risk reduction and mitigation, on the other. Only then can we look forward to “sustainable development. Based on this philosophy, a holistic National Disaster Management Framework was developed in 2004, which highlights the interdependence of economy, environment, and development. This framework also links the issues of poverty alleviation, capacity building, community empowerment and other structural and non-structural issues of prevention and preparedness, response and recovery for effective disaster risk mitigation and management.
A comprehensive legal and institutional framework for disaster management has been set up through the Disaster Management Act passed by the Indian Parliament in 2005 and the National Policy on Disaster Managementthat was approved in 2009.
Institutions
The Disaster Management Act 2005 has provided the legal and institutional framework for disaster management in India at the national, state and district levels. In the federal polity of India the primary responsibility of disaster management vests with the State Governments. The Central Government lays down policies and guidelines and provides technical, financial and logistic support while the district administration carries out most of the operations in collaboration with central and state level agencies.
In the Central Government there are existing institutions and mechanisms for disaster management while new dedicated institutions have been created under the Disaster Management Act of 2005.
The Cabinet Committee on Management of Natural Calamities (CCMNC) oversees all aspects relating to the management of natural calamities including assessment of the situation and identification of measures and programmes considered necessary to reduce its impact, monitor and suggest long term measures for prevention of such calamities, formulate and recommend programmes for public awareness for building up society's resilience to them. The Cabinet Committee on Security.(CCS) deals with the matters relating to nuclear, biological and chemical emergencies
The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) under the Cabinet Secretary oversees the Command, Control and Coordination of the disaster response.
The Disaster Management Act, 2005 has created new institutions at the national, state, district and local levels. The new institutional framework for disaster management in the country is as under:
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister is the apex body responsible for laying down policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management and for coordinating their enforcement and implementation throughout the country. The policies and guidelines will assist the Central Ministries, State Governments and district administration to formulate their respective plans and programmes. NDMA has the power to approve the National Plans and the Plans of the respective Ministries and Departments of Government of India. The general superintendence, direction and control of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are vested in and will be exercised by the NDMA.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) is mandated to assist the NDMA in the discharge of its functions and further ensure compliance of the directions issued by the Central Government. The NEC comprises of the Union Home Secretary as the Chairperson, and the Secretaries to the GOI in the Ministries/Departments of Agriculture, Atomic Energy, Defence, Drinking Water Supply, Environment and Forests, Finance (Expenditure), Health, Power, Rural Development, Science and Technology, Space, Telecommunications, Urban Development, Water Resources and the Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff of the Chiefs of Staff Committee as members. Secretaries in the Ministry of External Affairs, Earth Sciences, Human Resource Development, Mines, Shipping, Road Transport & Highways and Secretary, NDMA are special invitees to the meetings of the NEC. The National Executive Committee is responsible to prepare the National Plan and coordinate and monitor the implementation of the National Policy and the guidelines issued by NDMA.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the Central Government has the overall responsibility for disaster management in the country. For a few specific types of disasters the concerned Ministries have the nodal responsibilities for management of the disasters, as under:
| Drought | Ministry of Agriculture |
| Epidemics & Biological Disasters | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare |
| Chemical Disasters | Ministry of Environment & Forests |
| Nuclear Disasters | Ministry of Atomic Energy |
| Air Accidents | Ministry of Civil Aviation |
| Railway Accidents | Ministry of Railways |
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is the specialized force for disaster response which works under the overall supervision and control of the NDMA.
At the State Level the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), headed by the Chief Minister, lays down policies and plans for disaster management in the State. It is also responsible to coordinate the implementation of the State Plan, recommend provision of funds for mitigation and preparedness measures and review the developmental plans of the different departments of the State to ensure integration of prevention, preparedness and mitigation measures.
The State Disaster Management Department (DMD) which is mostly positioned in the Revenue and relief Department is the nodal authoiry
In the district level the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) is headed by the District Magistrate, with the elected representative of the local authority as the Co-Chairperson. DDMA is the planning, coordinating and implementing body for disaster management at district level. It will, inter alia prepare the District Disaster Management Plan and monitor the implementation of the National and State Policies and the National, State and the District Plans. DDMA will also ensure that the guidelines for prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response measures laid down by the NDMA and the SDMA are followed by all departments of the State Government at the district level and the local authorities in the district.
The Local Authorities both the rural local self governing institutions (Panchayati Raj Institutions) and urban local bodies (Municipalities, Cantonment Boards and Town Planning Authorities) These bodies will ensure capacity building of their officers and employees for managing disasters, carry out relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in the affected areas and will prepare DM Plans in consonance with guidelines of the NDMA, SDMAs and DDMAs
Disaster Management Act 2005
The Disaster Management Act, 2005 came into the statute book on 26 December 2005 by a Gazette notification, exactly on the first anniversary of the devastating tsunami of 2004, which killed nearly 13,000 people in India alone and affected 18 million people. The Act provides a legal and institutional framework for “the effective management of disasters and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.” It provides for establishment of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMA) at the National, State and District levels with adequate financial and administrative powers and creation of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) with the mandate of undertaking training and capacity building, Develop Training Modules on various aspects of Disaster management, Undertake Research and Documentation, Formulate and implement comprehensive HRD Plan covering all aspects of DM, Provide assistance in national level policy formulation and Provide assistance to state governments and State Training Institutions. The act also provides guidelines for creation of National Disaster Response Fund, National Mitigation Fund, Establishment of funds by State Government and Allocation of funds by Ministries and Departments for Emergency procurement. The act also provides for establishment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
- National Policy on Disaster Management 2009
The National Policy on Disaster Management was approved by the Government in November 2009. This comprehensive policy document lays down policies on every aspect of holistic management of disasters in the country. The policy has thirteen chapters as under: - Preamble
- Approach and Objectives
- Institutional and Legal Arrangements
- Financial Arrangements
- Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness
- Techno-Legal Regime
- Response
- Relief and Rehabilitation
- Reconstruction and Recovery
- Capacity Development
- Knowledge Management
- Research and development
- Road Ahead
- State Policies on Disaster Management
The States of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala have formulated State Disaster Management Policies. policies. Tamil Nadu, Chattisgarh, Uttranchal, Meghalaya, Bihar, Rajasthan, Delhi, Orissa and West Bengal have prepared draft policies. - State Relief Codes/ DM Codes
Many States have manuals and codes for management of drought, floods etc. Now many states are in the process of changing their State Relief codes into Disaster Management Manuals.
The Policy is also intended to promote a culture of prevention, preparedness and resilience at all levels through knowledge, innovation and education. It encourages mitigation measures based on environmental sustainability. It seeks to mainstream disaster management into the developmental planning process and provides for Institutional and Financial arrangements at national, State, and District-levels for Disaster Prevention, Mitigation, Preparedness and Responseas it ensures adequate budgeting for disaster mitigation activities in all Ministries and Departments.
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