Friday, June 8, 2018

DISASTER AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT 2

2


Industrial Disaster

Among the man-made disasters, probably the most devastating (after wars) are industrial disasters. These disasters may be caused by chemical, mechanical, civil, electrical or other process failures in an industrial plant due to accident or negligence, which may cause widespread damage within and/or outside the plant.


The worst example globally was the Methyl Isocyanate gas leak in 1984 from the Union Carbide Factory in Bhopal which has so far claimed more than 20,000 lives and injured several lakh persons besides stunting the growth of a generation born from the affected population.




Field level response on behalf of the government in rural areas is by the nearest police station and the revenue functionary (patwari/patel/talati/karnam etc.); in urban areas the response is articulated by agencies like the civic authorities, the fire brigade and the local police station.


At present, Panchayats do not have the capacity to react institutionally in any effective manner to such situations and it is the district administration, which retains the basic responsibility of handling crises situations with the Collector playing a pivotal role.


The District Magistrate/Collector has the responsibility for the overall management of disasters in the district. The District Collector also enjoys the authority to request for assistance from the Armed Forces if circumstances so demand.


 NGOs have also been effective in providing relief, rescue and rehabilitation in recent times.

Role of State Government

In India the basic responsibility to undertake rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures in the event of natural disasters rests with the State Governments.
Every state has a Crisis Management Committee under the chairpersonship of the Chief Secretary, consisting of secretaries in charge of concerned departments, which reviews crisis situations on a day-to-day basis at the time of crisis, coordinates the activities of all departments and provides decision support system to the district administration.

Role of Union Government

Although the State Government concerned has the primary responsibility for crisis management, the Union Government plays a key supportive role in terms of physical and financial resources and providing complementary measures such as early warning and co-ordination of efforts of all Union ministries, departments and organizations.



At the apex level, a Cabinet Committee on Natural Calamities reviews the crisis situations.


The Cabinet Secretary, as the highest executive officer, heads the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC).

The Central Relief Commissioner in the Ministry of Home Affairs is the Chairman of the Crisis Management Group (CMG) consisting of nodal officers from various concerned ministries.


The CMG’s functions are to review annual contingency plans formulated by various ministries, departments and organizations in their respective sectors, measures required for dealing with a natural disaster, coordinate the activities of the

Union Ministries and State Governments in relation to disaster preparedness and relief, and to obtain information from the nodal officers on all these issues.
The Armed Forces, in view of their ability to organize action in adverse ground circumstances, their speed of operational response and also the resources and capabilities at their disposal play a major role in assisting the civil administration.


The Disaster Management Act, 2005

This Act provides for the effective management of disaster and for matters connected there with or incidental thereto. It provides institutional mechanisms for drawing up and monitoring the implementation of the disaster management.


The Act also ensures measures by the various wings of the Government for prevention and mitigation of disasters and prompt response to any disaster situation.

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, District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) under the Chairmanship of Collectors/District Magistrates/Deputy Commissioners.



The Act further provides for the constitution of different Executive Committee at national and state levels. Under its aegis, the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) for capacity building and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for response purpose have been set up.


It also mandates the concerned Ministries and Departments to draw up their own plans in accordance with the National Plan.



The Act further contains the provisions for financial mechanisms such as creation of funds for response, National Disaster Mitigation Fund and similar funds at the state and district levels for the purpose of disaster management. The Act also provides specific roles to local bodies in disaster management.

Further the enactment of 73rd and 74th Amendments to the constitution and emergence of local self- government, both rural and urban, as important tiers of governance, the role of local authorities becomes very important. The DM Act, 2005 also envisages specific roles to be played by the local bodies in disaster management.


National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

Details of responsibilities are as follows:

Lay down policies on disaster management

Approve the National Plan and plans prepared by the Ministries or Departments of the Government of India in accordance with the National Plan

Lay down guidelines to be followed by the State Authorities in drawing up the State Plan

Lay down guidelines to be followed by the different Ministries or Departments of the Government of India for the purpose of integrating the measures for prevention of disaster or the mitigation of its effects in their development plans and projects

Coordinate the enforcement and implementation of the policy and plan for disaster management

Recommend provision of funds for the purpose of mitigation
Provide such support to other countries affected by major disasters as may be determined by the Central Government

Take other measures for the prevention of disaster, or the mitigation, or preparedness and capacity building for dealing with the threatening disaster situation or disasters

Lay down broad policies and guidelines for the functioning of the National Institute of Disaster Management.


National Executive Committee (NEC)

A National Executive Committee is constituted under Section 8 of DM Act, 2005 to assist the National Authority in the performance of its functions. NEC consists of Home Secretary as its ex-officio Chairperson, with other Secretaries to the Government of India as members.

NEC may as and when it considers necessary constitute one or more sub-committees for the efficient discharge of its functions.


NEC has been given the responsibility to act as the coordinating and monitoring body for disaster management, to prepare a National Plan, monitor the implementation of National Policy etc.

The same authorities as above two are also established at state level (SDMA and SEC) and while DDMA at district level.

National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM)

Disaster Management Act, 2005 entrusts the institute with numerous responsibilities:

to develop training modules

undertake research and documentation in disaster management

organise training programmes

undertake and organise study courses, conferences, lectures and seminars to promote and institutionalize disaster management.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been constituted under the DM Act, 2005 by up-gradation/ conversion of eight standard battalions of Central Para Military Forces i.e.


two battalions each from Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to build them up as a specialist force to respond to disaster or disaster like situations.

Civil Defence

The Civil Defence Act 1968 defines CD and provides for the powers of Central Government to make rules for CD, spelling out various actions to be taken for CD measures. It further stipulates for constitution of CD corps, appointment of members and officers, functions of members etc.


The Act has since been amended in 2010 to cater to

the needs of disaster management so as to utilise the services of Civil Defence volunteers effectively for enhancement of public participation in disaster management related activities in the country.


The concept of CD over the years has shifted from management of damage against conventional weapons to also include threat perceptions against nuclear weapons, biological and chemical warfare and environmental disasters.





National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM) 2009

The policy envisages a safe and disaster resilient India by developing a holistic, proactive, multi-disaster oriented and technology driven strategy through a culture of prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response.


The policy covers all aspects of disaster management including 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.


It focuses on the areas where action is needed and the institutional mechanism through which such action can be channelized.


The NPDM addresses the concerns of all the sections of the society including differently abled persons, women, children and other disadvantaged groups in terms of granting relief and formulating measures for rehabilitation of the persons affected by disasters.


It aims to bring in transparency and accountability in all aspects of disaster management through involvement of community, community based organisations, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), local bodies and civil society.

National Plan on Disaster Management

An institutional mechanism for preparation of the National Plan has been put in place, which is under preparation in three parts namely:-

National Response Plan,
National Mitigation Plan and
National Capacity Building Plan.



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