1. Role of Government in Disaster Management at Central, State
and District level
2. Nodal Agencies for Disaster Management Floods : Ministry of
Water Resources, CWC Cyclones : Indian Meteorological Department
Earthquakes : Indian Meteorological Department Epidemics : Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare Avian Flu: Ministry of Health,
Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal
Husbandry Chemical Disasters : Ministry of Environment and Forests
Industrial Disasters : Ministry of Labour Rail Accidents : Ministry
of Railways Air Accidents : Ministry of Civil Aviation Fire :
Ministry of Home Affairs Nuclear Incidents : Department of Atomic
Energy Mine Disasters : Department of Mines
3. Disaster Management Act The Government have enacted and
notified the Disaster Management Act, 2005 on December 26, 2005 to
provide for institutional mechanisms for drawing up and monitoring
the implementation of the disaster management plans, ensuring
measures by various wings of Government for prevention and
mitigating effects of disasters and for undertaking a holistic,
coordinated and prompt response to any disaster situation.
4. The Act provides for setting up of a National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA) under the chairmanship of the Prime
Minister, State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) under the
chairmanship of the Chief ministers and District Disaster
Management Authorities (DDMAs) under the chairmanship of District
magistrate.
5. Role of Central and State Govts. Basic responsibility for
rescue, relief and rehabilitation with the State Governments .
Central Government supplements the efforts of State Governments. by
providing financial and logistic support in case of major
disasters. The logistic support includes deployment of aircrafts
and boats, specialist teams of Armed Forces, Central Para Military
Forces and personnel of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF),
arrangements for relief materials & essential commodities
including medical stores, restoration of critical infrastructure
facilities including communication network and such other
assistance as may be required by the affected States to meet the
situation effectively.
6. Funding Mechanisms The existing scheme, based on the
recommendations of the Eleventh Finance Commission, is valid for
the period 2000-05. Under this, expenditure on immediate relief to
the victims of natural calamities can be met by the State
Governments through the following Funds: Calamity Relief Fund (CRF)
constituted for each State with pre-determined annual allocations
for each of the five year period. The Central Government
contributes 75% and the State Govt. 25%.
7. When the calamity is of a severe nature and the CRF is not
sufficient, the States may approach Central Government for
additional assistance from the National Calamity Contingency Fund
(NCCF) which is financed by levy of a special surcharge on Central
(federal) taxes for a limited period.
8. Govt.s approach to Disaster Management Change in orientation
from a primarily relief-centric approach to a holistic approach
emphasising mitigation, prevention and preparedness besides
strengthening response, relief and rehabilitation mechanisms.
Creation of institutional mechanisms at National and State levels
to provide appropriate coordinating platforms keeping in view the
multi-disciplinary nature of the activities required to be
undertaken to reduce and manage the risk from natural hazards.
9. The Government of India, after considering the
recommendations of the Expert Group, approved revision of items and
norms of assistance from CRF/NCCF. The revised items and norms of
assistance were circulated to all the States and concerned Central
Ministries on June 27, 2007.
10. Mitigation Measures Core Groups comprising eminent experts
/ administrators set up to guide and facilitate formulation of
strategies and programmes for mitigation of earthquakes, cyclones
and landslides. Emphasis on adherence to prescribed standards/codes
for seismically resistant building designs and construction.
Programmes for sensitization/training of Engineers, Architects and
Masons in these aspects being implemented. Model building
byelaws/regulations developed and interaction with State level
authorities in progress to facilitate adoption and enforcement of
appropriate techno- legal regime for hazard resistant
construction
11. Mitigation Measures Evaluation of existing building stock
and infrastructure, particularly life-line buildings and vital
installations, for seismic safety, to carry out
retrofitting/reconstruction Sensitization and training of elected
representatives, Civil servants/Police/Forest Service Officers and
other public officials in disaster risk management. Awareness
generation to inform and educate the general public on hazard
risks, vulnerability, and basic dos and donts
12. Mitigation Measures Community level preparedness through
programmes involving preparation of village/Block/District level
Disaster Management Plans, constitution and training of Disaster
Management Committees/teams. Strengthening of disaster warning
systems for cyclones, floods and landslides Drawing up project
proposals for construction of multi-utility cyclone shelters,
coastal shelter belt plantations
13. Mitigation Measures Emphasis on drawing up and periodic
rehearsing of on-site and off-site hazard management plans by
industries stocking/producing hazardous materials Incorporating
disaster management basics in school education. Disaster
management/mitigation aspects being incorporated in
Engineering/Architecture/Medical Education curricula
14. New Directions for Disaster Management in India A National
Disaster Mitigation Fund will be administerd by NDMA. States and
districts will administer mitigation funds. A National Disaster
Response Fund will be administerd by NDMA through the National
Executive Committee. States and Districts will administer state
Disaster Response Fund and Disaster Response Fund respectively. 8
Battalions of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are being
trained and deployed with CSSR and MFR equipments and tools in
eight strategic locations. A National Disaster Management Policy
and National Disaster Response Plan will also be drawn up.
15. Role of the state government during a disaster In the state
level disaster management it is the responsibility of the chief
minister or the chief secretary of the state. All decisions on
relief operations are taken by them. Work is further delegated to
the Relief commissioner who is in charge of relief and
rehabilitation measures. He functions under the directive of the
state level committee. The secretary of the department of Review is
sometimes in charge of relief measures.
16. Disaster management at the district level Government plans
for disaster management are implemented by the district
administration. The actual ground work for relief is the
responsibility of the district magistrate, the district collector
and the deputy commissioner they coordinate and supervise the
relief work. The district disaster management committee is headed
by the district magistrate.
17. Officers from the health; irrigation; veternary; police;
fire services and the water and sanitation departments are members
of this committee. The district disaster management committee takes
decision on the relief measure and those decisions are carried out
by the disaster management committee. Trained persons from all the
departments carried out the relief measures.
18. Main functions of the District disaster management
committee The committee prepares the District disaster management
plan for the state Administration. The committee trains members of
the disaster management Team in rescue and relief operations. The
committee carries out mock rescue drills as a preparation for
disaster management.
