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National Disaster Management Authority UPSC CSE

Disaster Management

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Summary of Disaster Management

Disaster management involves addressing the impact of hazards through comprehensive strategies. India faces significant vulnerability due to its diverse geography and socio-economic conditions, necessitating robust disaster management measures. International agreements like the Sendai Framework emphasize disaster risk reduction and resilience-building. Disaster-resilient infrastructure, exemplified by the Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), plays a crucial role. India's national framework comprises legislative Acts, policies, and plans, emphasizing coordination, preparedness, and community engagement. Continued efforts in risk assessment, capacity building, and technology integration are vital for enhancing disaster resilience in India.

CDRI stands for Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure. It is a platform launched by India to promote disaster-resilient infrastructure development globally.

NCMC, or the National Crisis Management Committee, is responsible for dealing with major crises of national significance in India, coordinating efforts among central ministries and state governments.

The Hyogo Framework primarily focused on minimizing disaster losses, while the Sendai Framework emphasizes reducing the size of disasters by focusing on disaster risk reduction.

The four pillars of the Sendai Framework are Understanding Disaster Risk, Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance, Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience, and Enhancing Disaster Preparedness.

Background of Disaster Management

India, with its diverse geography and climate patterns, is highly prone to various natural and man-made disasters. From earthquakes to floods, cyclones to industrial accidents, the country faces a myriad of challenges in disaster management. India has made significant strides in disaster management over the years. The Disaster Management Act of 2005 laid the foundation for a comprehensive approach to disaster management in the country. Effective disaster management involves a coordinated effort between government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), communities, and other stakeholders.

Introduction of Disaster Management

According to the National Disaster Management Authority, a disaster is characterized as a catastrophe, mishap, calamity, or grave occurrence arising from natural or man-made causes, accidents, or negligence. It results in substantial loss of life, human suffering, damage to property, or degradation of the environment, overwhelming the coping capacity of the affected community. A disaster results from the combination of hazard, vulnerability, and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce the potential chances of risk.

Understanding Vulnerability: Vulnerability refers to the extent to which a community, structure, services, or geographic area is likely to be damaged or disrupted by the impact of a particular hazard. This vulnerability is influenced by factors such as the nature of the community or structures and their proximity to hazardous terrains or disaster-prone areas.

Types of Vulnerability in Relation to Disasters

Types of Vulnerability based on susceptibility and resilience

Based on the extent of vulnerability, areas can be rated from low to high for quicker perception. These ratings are determined by the area's susceptibility and resilience.

Understanding Hazard

A hazard is defined as a dangerous situation which, if not managed effectively, can lead to a disaster. While a hazard represents a potential threat, a disaster is the actual occurrence of an event resulting in severe damage or disruption.

Key Differences between Hazard and Disaster

Types of Hazards

Disasters can be classified into two main types: natural and man-made

Natural Disasters:
Natural disasters result from natural processes of the Earth, such as earthquakes, cyclones, landslides, floods, and droughts.

Man-made Disasters:
Man-made disasters, on the other hand, are primarily caused by human activities. These include fires, accidents (road, rail, or air), industrial accidents, epidemics, and other incidents resulting from human actions or negligence.

Vulnerability Of India To Disaster

India exhibits significant vulnerability to both natural and human-made disasters due to its unique geo-climatic and socio-economic conditions.

International Agreements

In 2015, the Government of India (GoI) embraced three pivotal international agreements with significant implications for disaster management:

Understanding Disaster Risk

Definition of Disaster Risk:
Disaster risk refers to the potential losses—in terms of lives, health status, livelihoods, assets, and services—that could occur to a particular community or society over a specified future time period due to a disaster.

Components of Disaster Risk:
Disaster risk is determined by multiple factors:


Formula for Disaster Risk:

Dealing With Risk

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) endeavors to diminish the harm caused by natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, droughts, and cyclones through a proactive approach centered on prevention.

Key Points:


Objectives of DRR:


Components of DRR:

Disaster management cycle

The Disaster management cycle is divided into 3 stages - Pre-disaster stage, during sisaster and Post-disaster stage. There are 4 phases that are included in theses 3 stages - Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery.

  1. Pre-disaster stage : The pre-disaster stage of disaster management focuses on activities and measures that are undertaken before a disaster strikes. The aim of this stage is to get prepared for the upcoming disaster. At this stage, steps are taken to mitigate the disaster risk.
    • Preparedness : The aim of this phase is to prepare the communities to respond effectively to disasters. The steps taken during this phase are -
      • Developing emergency response plans
      • Training programmes for government officials and local people
      • Establishing Early warning systems for providing timely alerts for potential hazards.
      • Establishing effective communication networks to disseminate information before, during, and after disasters.
    • Mitigation : The aim of mitigation activities are to reduce the risk of disaster. The activities taken during this phase are -
      • Hazard mapping : Creating risk assessment hazard maps to determine high risk areas.
      • Structural mitigation : It includes building effective infrastructure to withstand specific hazards. Example, Earthquake resistant infrastructure.
      • Structural mitigation : It includes land-use planning, legislations and rules to prevent construction in high-risk areas, environment regulation etc.
  2. During disaster : During the time of disaster, Response and Relief are the important steps to be taken.
    • Response and relief : It includes steps like search and rescue the victims of disaster, providing emergency medical services to the injured persons, distributing essential supplies such as food, water, clothing, and shelter, maintaining effective communication between officials and public to effectively respond to the disaster’s impact.
  3. Post-disaster stage : This is the stage after the phase of disaster has passed. Rehabilitation and Recovery are the important steps that are taken during this stage.
    • Recovery : This is the phase in which effective steps are taken to restore the affected area to its normal state and to effectively prepare for the future disasters. This phase includes damage assessment, rebuilding public infrastructure and homes, Economic recovery etc.

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, spanning from 2015 to 2030, marks the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda of the United Nations (UN). It outlines seven targets and four priorities for action.

Key Points:


Aim of the Sendai Framework:
The primary objective of the Sendai Framework is to achieve "the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, health, and in the economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities, and countries."

Seven Global Targets

Four Priorities for Action

Priority 1: Understanding Disaster Risk


Priority 2: Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance


Priority 3: Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience


Priority 4: Enhancing Disaster Preparedness

Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (DRI)

Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (DRI) refers to infrastructure that is designed and constructed to withstand the impacts of disasters, minimizing damage and ensuring continuity of essential services during and after adverse events.

Background:

Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)

The Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) was launched by India at the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit in New York, USA, on 23 September 2019.

Key Points:

PM’s 10-Point Agenda for Disaster Risk Reduction

The Prime Minister's 10-Point Agenda for Disaster Risk Reduction was outlined during the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) held in New Delhi in November 2016. It was designed to inject a sense of urgency into the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR). This comprehensive agenda adopts a holistic approach to disaster risk management, covering various sectors and issues.

Measures Taken by The Government

Current National Framework for Disaster Management

The Disaster Management Act of 2005, enacted by the Government of India on 23 December 2005, established a comprehensive framework for disaster management in the country. Here are the key components:

  1. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA):
    1. Headed by the Prime Minister, it formulates policies, approves national and state-level plans, and coordinates disaster management efforts.
  2. State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA):
    1. Led by the Chief Minister, it formulates state-level policies and plans and coordinates disaster management within the state.
  3. District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA):
    1. Led by the District Collector or Magistrate, it oversees disaster management efforts at the district level and implements measures in line with national and state guidelines.
  4. National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM):
    1. Focuses on capacity development, training, research, documentation, and maintaining a national information base related to disaster management.
  5. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF):
    1. Constituted for specialized response to natural and man-made disasters, comprising multiple battalions trained and equipped to handle various emergencies.
  6. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF):
    1. Each state is encouraged to establish its own response force, equipped and trained to handle disaster situations within the state.
  7. National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC):
    1. Headed by the Cabinet Secretary, it deals with major crises of national significance, coordinating efforts among central ministries and state governments.

The Act emphasizes coordination, planning, and response capabilities at various levels of government to effectively manage disasters and mitigate their impact on communities. It also underscores the importance of capacity building, training, and research to enhance preparedness and response efforts nationwide.

National Policy on Disaster Management, 2009

The National Policy on Disaster Management, formulated in 2009, aims to build a safe and disaster-resilient India through a proactive, multi-disaster, and technology-driven approach. Here are the key points:

National Disaster Management Plan, 2019

The National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) of 2019 represents an improvement over its predecessor, the NDMP of 2016. It serves as a comprehensive framework and guide for government agencies across all phases of the disaster management cycle. The NDMP is structured around five main pillars:

Conclusion of Disaster Management

Disaster management in India is a complex and multifaceted challenge that requires a coordinated and multi-stakeholder approach. While significant progress has been made in recent years, there is still much work to be done to strengthen preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. By investing in risk assessment, community engagement, infrastructure development, early warning systems, capacity building, and technology integration, India can build resilience and reduce the impact of disasters on its people and infrastructure.

Main PYQS of National Disaster Management Authority

Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. 2020
Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impacts and its threat to people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to disasters. 2019
Describe various measures taken in India for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) before and after signing 'Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-2030)'. How is this framework different from 'Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005? 2018
How important are vulnerability and risk assessment for pre-disaster management. As an administrator ,what are key areas that you would focus in a disaster management. 2013

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