National Policy on Disaster Management 2009 & 2016 | UPSC Mains: Internal Security & Disaster Management PDF Download

National Policy on Disaster Management, 2009

• The National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM) has been prepared in tune with and in pursuance of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM) will provide the framework/roadmap for handling disasters in a holistic manner.
• The Policy covers all aspects of disaster management covering institutional, legal and financial arrangements; disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness, techno-legal regime; response, relief and rehabilitation; reconstruction and recovery; capacity development; knowledge management and 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 grant of relief and formulating measures for rehabilitation of the affected persons due to disasters, the issue of equity/inclusiveness has been accorded due consideration.
• The NPDM aims to bring in transparency and accountability in all aspects of disaster management through involvement of community, community based organizations, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), local bodies and civil society.

Vision

Approach

• A holistic and integrated approach will be evolved toward disaster management with emphasis on building strategic partnerships at various levels. The themes underpinning the policy are:
• Community based DM, including last mile integration of the policy, plans and execution.
• ­Capacity development in all spheres.
• ­Consolidation of past initiatives and best practices.
• ­Cooperation with agencies at national and international levels.
• Multi-sectoral synergy.

Objectives

The objectives of the national policy on disaster management are:­

• Promoting a culture of prevention, preparedness and resilience at all levels through knowledge, innovation and education.
• Encouraging mitigation measures based on technology, traditional wisdom and environmental sustainability.
• ­Mainstreaming disaster management into the developmental planning process.
• ­Establishing institutional and techno-legal frame works to create an enabling regulatory environment and a compliance regime.
• Ensuring efficient mechanism for identification, assessment and monitoring of disaster risks.
• ­Developing contemporary forecasting and early warning systems backed by responsive and failsafe communication with information technology support.
• ­Promoting a productive partnership with the media to create awareness and contributing towards capacity development.
• ­Ensuring efficient response and relief with a caring approach towards the needs of the vulnerable sections of the society.
• ­Undertaking reconstruction as an opportunity to build disaster resilient structures and habitat for ensuring safer living.
• Promoting productive and proactive partnership with media in disaster management.

The National Disaster Management Plan, 2016

The National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) was released in 2016, it is the first ever national plan prepared in the country for disaster management. With National Disaster Management Plan (2016), India has aligned its National plan with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, to which India is a signatory.
The National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) aims to make India disaster resilient and significantly reduce the loss of lives and assets. The plan is based on the four priority themes of the “Sendai Framework,” namely:

• understanding disaster risk
• improving disaster risk governance
• investing in disaster reduction (through structural and non-structural measures)
• disaster preparedness, early warning and building back better in the aftermath of a disaster.

Vision

Objectives

Accordingly, the broad objectives of the NDMP are:

• Improve the understanding of disaster risk, hazards, and vulnerabilities
• Strengthen disaster risk governance at all levels from local to centre
• Invest in disaster risk reduction for resilience through structural, non-structural and financial measures, as well as comprehensive capacity development
• Enhance disaster preparedness for effective response
• Promote “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction
• Prevent disasters and achieve substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, health, and assets (economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental)
• Increase resilience and prevent the emergence of new disaster risks and reduce the existing risks
• Promote the implementation of integrated and inclusive economic, structural, legal, social, health, cultural, educational, environmental, technological, political and institutional measures to prevent and reduce hazard exposure and vulnerabilities to disaster
• Empower both local authorities and communities as partners to reduce and manage disaster risks
• Strengthen scientific and technical capabilities in all aspects of disaster management
• Capacity development at all levels to effectively respond to multiple hazards and for community-based disaster management
• Provide clarity on roles and responsibilities of various Ministries and Departments involved in different aspects of disaster management
• Promote the culture of disaster risk prevention and mitigation at all levels
• Facilitate the mainstreaming of disaster management concerns into the developmental planning and processes

Salient Features of the Plan

• The plan covers all phases of disaster management: prevention, mitigation, response and recovery.
• For each hazard, the approach used in this national plan incorporates the four priorities enunciated in the Sendai Framework into the planning framework for Disaster Risk Reduction under the five Thematic Areas for Actions:
  (i) Understanding Risk
  (ii) Inter-Agency Coordination
  (iii) Investing in DRR – Structural Measures
  (iv) Investing in DRR – Non-Structural Measures
  (v) Capacity Development
• The Response part of the Plan has identified eighteen broad activities which have been arranged into a matrix to be served as a ready reckoner:
  (a) Early Warning, Maps, Satellite inputs, Information Dissemination
  (b) Evacuation of People and Animals
  (c) Search and Rescue of People and Animals
  (d) Medical Care
  (e) Drinking Water/ Dewatering Pumps/ Sanitation Facilities/ Public Health
  (f) Food & Essential Supplies
  (g) Communication
  (h) Housing and Temporary Shelters
  (i) Power
  (j) Fuel
  (k) Transportation
  (l) Relief Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  (m) Disposal of Animal Carcasses
  (n) Fodder for livestock in scarcity-hit areas
  (o) Rehabilitation and Ensuring Safety of Livestock and other Animals, Veterinary Care
  (p) Data Collection and Management
  (q) Relief Employment
  (r) Media Relations
• The Plan has also incorporated a Chapter on Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance. The generalized responsibility matrix given in this section summarizes the themes for strengthening Disaster Risk Governance and specifies agencies at the Centre and State with their respective roles. The matrix has six thematic areas in which Central and State Governments have to take actions to strengthen disaster risk governance:
  (i) Mainstream and integrate DRR and Institutional Strengthening
  (ii) Capacity Development
  (iii) Promote Participatory Approaches
  (iv) Work with Elected Representatives
  (v) Grievance Redress Mechanism
  (vi) Promote Quality Standards, Certifications, and Awards for Disaster Risk Management
• It provides for horizontal and vertical integration among all the agencies and departments of the Government. The plan also spells out the roles and responsibilities of all levels of Government right up to Panchayat and Urban Local Body level in a matrix format. The plan has a regional approach, which will be beneficial not only for disaster management but also for development planning.
• It is designed in such a way that it can be implemented in a scalable manner in all phases of disaster management. It also identifies major activities such as early warning, information dissemination, medical care, fuel, transportation, search and rescue, evacuation, etc. to serve as a checklist for agencies responding to a disaster. It also provides a generalized framework for recovery and offers flexibility to assess a situation and build back better.
• To prepare communities to cope with disasters, it emphasizes on a greater need for Information, Education and Communication activities.