National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM) 2009
The National Policy on Disaster Management was sanctioned by the Union Cabinet on October 22, 2009, and officially introduced on January 18, 2010. It signifies a fundamental shift from the previous ‘Response-Centric’ approach to a comprehensive disaster management strategy, emphasizing Prevention, Preparedness, and Mitigation.
Vision
The goal is to establish a secure and disaster-resilient India by formulating a comprehensive, proactive, and technology- driven strategy that addresses multiple disasters through a strong emphasis on prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response.
Disaster Management
A disaster is a severe event, mishap, or calamity arising from natural or human-induced causes, exceeding the affected community’s ability to manage it. Disaster management is
a continuous and integrated process that involves planning, organizing, coordinating, and implementing essential measures to:
• Prevent potential dangers or threats of disasters.
• Mitigate or minimize disaster risks, their severity, and consequences.
• Enhance capacity building, including research and knowledge management.
• Ensure preparedness to handle disasters effectively.
• Provide a swift response to disaster situations.
• Evaluate the severity and impact of disasters.
• Conduct evacuation, rescue, and relief efforts.
• Facilitate rehabilitation and reconstruction.
A standard disaster management framework consists of six key components. The pre-disaster phase focuses on prevention, mitigation, and preparedness, while the post-disaster phase includes response, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and recovery.
Figure: Disaster Management Continuum
Approach
• A comprehensive and cohesive approach will be developed for disaster management, focusing on fostering strategic partnerships at different levels. The key principles of the policy include:
• Community-centered disaster management, ensuring the seamless integration of policies, plans, and implementation at the grassroots level.
• Strengthening capacity across all sectors.
• Building upon previous initiatives and adopting best practices.
• Collaboratingwith national and international agencies.
• Promoting synergy across multiple sectors.
Objectives
The objectives of the national policy on disaster management are:
• Fostering a culture of prevention, preparedness and resilience at all levels through education, knowledge- sharing and innovation.
• Encouraging mitigation strategies that incorporate technology, traditional knowledge and environmental sustainability.
• Integrating disaster management into the developmental planning process.
• Establishing institutional and techno-legal frameworks to enable a strong regulatory environment and ensure compliance.
• Implementing effective mechanisms for identifying, assessing, and monitoring disaster risks.
• Developing modern forecasting and early warning systems, supported by reliable communication networks and information technology.
• Strengthening collaboration with the media to raise awareness and enhance capacity development.
• Ensuring a swift and effective response and relief approach, prioritizing the needs of vulnerable communities.
• Utilizing reconstruction as an opportunity to develop disaster-resilient infrastructure and safer living environments.
• Encouraging a proactive and cooperative relationship with the media for disaster management efforts.
National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) 2016
NDMA had prepared the first National Disaster Management Plan in 2016. The same was revised after extensive consultations in November, 2019.
Vision
Make India disaster resilient, achieve substantial disaster risk reduction and significantly decrease the losses of life,
livelihoods and assets – economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental – by maximizing the ability to cope with disasters at all levels of administration as well as among communities.
Objectives
Along with the mandate given in the DM Act 2005 and the NPDM 2009, the national plan has incorporated the national commitment towards the Sendai Framework. Accordingly, the broad objectives of the NDMP are:
• Enhance understanding of disaster risks, hazards and vulnerabilities.
• Strengthen disaster risk governance at all levels, from
local to national.
• Invest in disaster risk reduction to enhance resilience through structural, non-structural, financial measures and comprehensive capacity building.
• Improve disaster preparedness for an efficient and effective response.
• Advocate for the "Build Back Better" approach in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
• Prevent disasters and significantly reduce disaster risks and losses related to lives, livelihoods, health, and assets, including economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental aspects.
• Increase resilience, prevent the development of new disaster risks and minimize existing ones.
• Encourage the adoption of integrated and inclusive economic, structural, legal, social, health, cultural, educational, environmental, technological, political and institutional measures to minimize hazard exposure and vulnerabilities.
• Empower local authorities and communities to actively participate in disaster risk reduction and management.
Strengthen scientific and technical expertise in all areas of disaster management.
• Build capacity at all levels to effectively handle multiple hazards and promote community-based disaster management.
• Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of various Ministries and Departments engaged in different aspects of disaster management.
• Foster a culture of disaster risk prevention and mitigation at all levels.
• Support the integration of disaster management considerations into development planning and processes.
Salient Features of the Plan
• The plan covers all phases of disaster management i.e. prevention, mitigation, response and recovery.
• For each hazard, the national plan integrates the four priorities outlined in the Sendai Framework into the disaster risk reduction planning framework across five key thematic action areas:
• Understanding Risk
• Inter-Agency Coordination
• Investment in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
– Structural Measures, which involve physical construction or engineering techniques to enhance hazard resistance and resilience in structures and systems.
• Investment in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) – Non- Structural Measures, which include knowledge- based strategies, policies, laws, public awareness campaigns, training, and education to mitigate risks and impacts without physical construction.
• Capacity Building
• The response section of the plan outlines eighteen broad activities, systematically arranged into a matrix to serve as a quick reference guide:
• Early Warning, Maps, Satellite inputs, Information Dissemination
• Evacuation of People and Animals
• Search and Rescue of People and Animals
• Medical Care
• Drinking Water/ Dewatering Pumps/ Sanitation Facilities/ Public Health
• Food & Essential Supplies
• Communication
• Housing and Temporary Shelters
• Power
• Fuel
• Transportation
• Relief Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Disposal of Animal Carcasses
• Fodder for livestock in scarcity-hit areas
• Rehabilitation and Ensuring Safety of Livestock and other Animals, Veterinary Care
• Data Collection and Management
• Relief Employment
• Media Relations
•
The Plan includes a dedicated chapter on Enhancing Disaster Risk Governance. This section features a comprehensive responsibility matrix that outlines key themes for reinforcing disaster risk governance and identifies the respective roles of central and state agencies. The matrix categorizes actions required from both the Central and State Governments into six thematic areas to effectively strengthen disaster risk governance.
Mainstream and integrate DRR and Institutional Strengthening
Capacity Development
Promote Participatory Approaches
Work with Elected Representatives
Grievance Redress Mechanism
Promote Quality Standards, Certifications, and Awards for Disaster Risk Management
• The plan ensures seamless coordination between various government agencies and departments at both horizontal and vertical levels. It clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of different levels of government, extending up to the Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies, in a structured matrix format. Adopting a regional approach, the plan not only aids in disaster management but also contributes to development planning.
• It is structured to be scalable and applicable across all phases of disaster management. The plan outlines key activities such as early warning, information dissemination, medical assistance, fuel supply, transportation, search and rescue operations, and evacuation, serving as a reference for agencies responding to disasters. Additionally, it establishes a broad recovery framework, allowing flexibility to assess situations and implement "Build Back Better" strategies.
• Recognizing the importance of community preparedness, the plan emphasizes the necessity of Information, Education, and Communication initiatives to enhance disaster resilience at all levels.