17 May 2021: Daily Answer Writing

Daily Answer Writing
17 May 2021

Q) Discuss the recent measures in Disaster Management initiated by the Government of India departing from earlier reactive approach. (250 Words)

UPSC CSE Mains 2020, GS 3

Source <https://www.livemint.com/news/india/cyclone-tauktae-live-updates-cyclonic-storm-intensifies-to-reach-gujarat-coast-by-may-18-11621127159312.html> , https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1718999

GS 3: Disaster Management

Approach Answer:

 

Introduction: A disaster management cycle consists of four phases, namely, preparedness, response, Recovery and Mitigation. Through various steps like constitution of National Disaster response fund and setting up of 12 battalions of National Disaster Response force under Disaster Management, government response had always been reactive. These steps focus only on response and Recovery.

 

In the recent years government has gazed increased focus on Mitigation and Preparedness too:

 

Mitigation steps taken by the Government:

    1. National disaster mitigation fund: The government has decided to set-up such a fund to implement a May 2016 Supreme court Judgement as a part of National Disaster Management Plan, 2016. The 15th Finance commission has recommended a National Disaster Risk Management Funds(NDRMF) and SDRMF in this regard.
    2. National disaster Risk Index: developed jointly by MHA and UNDP. It maps hazards & vulnerabilities including economic vulnerabilities across 640 districts and all states including UTs. The index factors in exposure of population, agriculture & livestock and environmental risk.
    3. E-course on Vulnerability Atlas of India- Developed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs(MoHUA). It is a unique course that offers awareness and understanding about natural hazards, helps identify regions with high vulnerability with respect to various hazards and specifies district-wise level of damage risks to the existing housing stock.
    4. ‘National Migrant Information System (NMIS)': developed by NDMA. It is an online dashboard, which would maintain a central repository of migrant workers and help in speedy inter-state communication to facilitate the smooth movement of migrant workers to their native places.
    5. Satellite support: IRNSS and Gagan systems have been developed by ISRO which can prove effective in disaster response.
    6. South Asian Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS) launched by IMD, which is aimed at helping disaster management teams and governments make timely evacuation plans ahead of the actual event of flooding.
    7. "Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS)" during 2017-2020 and establishment of National Facility Airborne Research during 2020-21 and beyond.
    8. National Facility for Airborne Research (NFAR): developed by M/o Earth Sciences and IITM, Pune. Under this a state-of-the-art research aircraft equipped with instruments will be used for atmospheric research.
    9. 1st ‘National Conference on Coastal Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience (CDRR&R) – 2020’: Organised by National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), in New Delhi.
    10. Indian Tsunami Early Warning System (ITEWS) was established in 2007 and is based at & operated by INCOIS, Hyderabad. It is an integrated effort of different organizations including the DOS),DST, the CSIR, Survey of India (SOI) and National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
    11. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO (also known as UNESCO-IOC) has approved the recognition of two communities of Odisha viz., Venkatraipur and Noliasahi as Tsunami Ready Communities. It promotes preparedness and participation of public, community leaders, and national and local emergency management agencies.

 

Preparedness steps taken by the Government:

    1. Urban Development Programs: Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT and Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana(HRIDAY). SDG - 11 Sustainable cities.
    2. First Resilient Kerala Program: Launched by the Government of India, the Government of Kerala. The World Bank have signed a Loan Agreement of USD 250 million. It aims to enhance the State’s resilience against the impacts of natural disasters and climate change.
    3. Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): Announced in 2020 Budget, proposed by PM, it will act as a convening body that will pool best practices and resources from around the world for reshaping construction, transportation, energy, telecommunication and water, so that building in these core infrastructure sectors factors in natural catastrophes.
    4. PM CARES fund: For the preparedness of the COVID-19 waves.
    5. National Disaster management guidelines 2014 for SEISMIC RETROFITTING OF DEFICIENT BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES.
    6. Financial Preparedness: through Accidental insurance(PM Suraksha Bima and PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima), Crop insurance to prepare for agricultural droughts(PM Fasal Bima Yojana).
    7. Drought Toolbox: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is currently testing a drought toolbox which uses a total of 15 to 30 different parameters to assess drought risk and vulnerability of a geographical region.
    8. Forest fires: The upgraded version of the Forest Fire Alert System (FAST 3.0) was released in January, 2019 with a separate activity of monitoring large forest fires.

 

Conclusion: These steps point towards a change in the attitude of the policy makers towards the Mitigation and preparedness, instead of response and recovery. Thus it sees the Disaster management in its wholesome cycle.

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