Disaster Management in India

Disaster Management in India has evolved through dedicated organizations at national, state, and district levels, based on global best practices and frameworks. India is often described as a “global disaster hotspot” due to its susceptibility to a wide range of natural hazards, compounded by its diverse geo-climatic conditions, large population, and vast geographic scale. This designation underscores the country’s high risk of adverse impacts from natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones, and droughts. Ensuring the safety and resilience of its people against these risks is a primary responsibility of the government.  

In this article, you will know about meaning, provisions, framework, and ways to improve Disaster Resilience in India and globally. To explore more interesting UPSC Indian History of GS Paper -3 like Disaster Management in India, check out other articles and IAS Notes of IASToppers.   

Table of Content

• What is Disaster Management?
• Principles & Phases of Disaster management
• The Sendai framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030)
• Key Actions for Global and Regional Cooperation
• Reasons for regional vulnerability to Disasters in India
• Priorities of Action for India
• Key Institutions related to Disaster management in India
• Crisis Management structure in India
• Measures to enhance Disaster Preparedness
• Way Forward: Disaster Resilience
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is Disaster Management?

• Disaster Management refers to the comprehensive approach to dealing with all aspects of disasters, to reduce impact of disasters and to minimize risks and damage associated with them.
• It involves a coordinated, multi-agency, and multi-disciplinary effort to prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the adverse effects of disasters.

Key Components of Disaster Management

1. Preparedness:

• Risk Assessment: Identifying and analyzing potential hazards and vulnerabilities.
• Planning: Developing emergency plans and protocols, including evacuation routes and communication strategies.
• Training and Education: Conducting drills, simulations, and training programs for responders and the community.
• Early Warning Systems: Establishing systems to provide timely alerts and information about impending disasters.

2. Mitigation:

• Structural Measures: Building and maintaining infrastructure to withstand disasters (e.g., flood barriers, earthquake-resistant buildings).
• Non-Structural Measures: Implementing policies, regulations, and public awareness programs to reduce risk (e.g., land-use planning, building codes).

3. Response:

• Emergency Services: Deploying fire, police, medical, and rescue services to provide immediate assistance.
• Coordination: Ensuring effective communication and coordination among different agencies and organizations.
• Resource Management: Allocating and managing resources such as food, water, medical supplies, and shelter.

4. Recovery:

• Short-Term Recovery: Providing immediate relief and support to affected populations (e.g., temporary housing, medical care).
• Long-Term Recovery: Rebuilding infrastructure, restoring services, and promoting economic and social recovery.
• Psychosocial Support: Addressing the mental health and well-being of disaster-affected individuals.

Principles & Phases of Disaster Management

Phases:

1. Pre-Disaster Phase:

• Risk Reduction: Activities undertaken before a disaster to reduce the potential impact (e.g., building codes, land-use planning).
• Preparedness: Training, drills, and awareness programs to prepare individuals and organizations for potential disasters.

2. During Disaster Phase:

• Response: Immediate actions taken to ensure safety, provide emergency assistance, and manage the situation.

3. Post-Disaster Phase:

• Relief: Providing immediate aid to sustain life, health, and the morale of affected populations.
• Rehabilitation: Restoring basic services and beginning the process of long-term recovery.
• Reconstruction: Rebuilding infrastructure and restoring normalcy in the affected area.

Key Principles of Disaster Management

• Comprehensive Approach: Addressing all types of hazards and all phases of the disaster cycle.
• Integration: Coordinating efforts across various sectors and levels of government.
• Collaboration: Working with a range of stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private sector, and communities.
• Flexibility and Adaptability: Being able to respond to changing circumstances and emerging threats.
• Sustainability: Ensuring that disaster management practices contribute to long-term resilience and sustainability.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030

• It is a comprehensive, international agreement endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly following the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR).
• It was held in Sendai, Japan, in March 2015 as the first major agreement, aimed at protecting development gains from the risk of disaster and ensuring sustainable development.

Objectives and Advocacy

• Substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, and health, along with economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities, and countries.
• It aims to achieve these targetsover the 15-year period from 2015 to 2030.
• It emphasizes:
  • The primary role of the State in reducing disaster risk.
  • The shared responsibility of disaster risk reduction among various stakeholders, including local governments, the private sector, and civil society.
• The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is tasked with supporting the implementation, follow-up, and review of the Sendai Framework.

Key Targets and Priorities

The Sendai Framework outlines seven clear targets and four priorities for action to address disaster risk:

1. Understanding Disaster Risk: Promoting the collection, analysis, management, and use of relevant data to improve disaster risk knowledge.
2. Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance: Enhancing the capacity of institutions to manage disaster risk effectively.
3. Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience: Allocating resources to reduce disaster risk and enhance resilience.
4. Enhancing Disaster Preparedness for Effective Response and Building Back Better in Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction.

Implementation of the Sendai Framework:

• It is informed by key principles derived from earlier frameworks, such as the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World and the Hyogo Framework for Action.
• These principles are designed to be flexible, taking into account national circumstances and consistent with both domestic laws and international obligations.
• State Responsibility: Toprevent and reduce disaster risk, through cooperation (international, regional, subregional, transboundary, and bilateral), especially in developing countries.
• Shared Responsibilities: Among central governments, national authorities, sectors, and stakeholders, tailored to national circumstances and governance systems.
• Protection: Managing disaster risk aims to protect persons, property, health, livelihoods, and productive, cultural, and environmental assets.
• Human Rights: It also promotes and protects all human rights, including the right to development.
• Non-discriminatory Participation: It should be inclusive, accessible, and non-discriminatory, paying special attention to those disproportionately affected by disasters.
• Policies should integrate gender, age, disability, and cultural perspectives, and promote the leadership of women and youth.
• Coordination: Full engagement from all State institutions (executive and legislative), demarcate responsibilities among public-private stakeholders, including businesses and academia.
• Multi-hazard Approach based on the open exchange and dissemination of disaggregated data (by sex, age, and disability).
• This should be complemented by traditional knowledge and science-based, non-sensitive risk information.
• Cost-effectiveness: Addressing disaster risk factors through risk-informed public and private investments is more cost-effective than relying primarily on post-disaster response and recovery.

Opportunities for member states

• Adopt a New Framework: Create a concise, focused, forward-looking, and action-oriented post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.
• Review the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005-15): Forbuilding the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters.
• Toconsider experiences gained through regional and national strategies, institutions, and plans for disaster risk reduction.
• Identify Cooperation Modalities: Establish modalities of cooperation based on commitments to implement the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.
• Determine Review Modalities: Define modalities for the periodic review of the implementation of the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.

Key Actions for Global and Regional Cooperation

Integration with Other Global Agendas

The Sendai Framework works in synergy with other significant international agreements under the 2030 Agenda, including:

• The Paris Agreement on Climate Change: Addressing climate change impacts and enhancing climate resilience.
• The Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development: Providing a framework for financing sustainable development.
• The New Urban Agenda: Promoting sustainable urban development.
• The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Aligning disaster risk reduction efforts with broader sustainable development objectives.

Global Collaboration

• International and Regional Coordination: United Nations (UN), international and regional organizations, financial institutions, and donor agencies for disaster risk reduction strategies.
• UN System Engagement: UN Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience, UN Development Assistance Frameworks, and align with International Health Regulations (2005).

• Financial Institutions: World Bank and regional development banks should consider the Framework’s priorities when providing financial support and loans to developing countries.
• Strengthen the UN system’s capacity to assist developing countries by including stable and predictable contributions to the UN Trust Fund for Disaster Reduction.
• Coordination with Relevant Frameworks: Bodies like COP to UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, international financial institutions, and the International Red Cross, etc.
• Other Bodies: Inter-Parliamentary Union, United Cities and Local Government should continue supporting cooperation and mutual learning among local governments.

Responsibilities of UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR):

• UNDRR should prepare periodic progress reviews, for Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, and coordinate with other mechanisms for sustainable development.
• Development of Indicators: Support the development of coherent global and regional follow-up indicators.
• Evidence-based Guidance: Generate practical guidance for implementation through expert collaboration and mobilize experts to reinforce a culture of prevention.
• Advocacy and Education: Develop standards, advocate for disaster risk reduction, disseminate information, and provide education and training on disaster risk reduction.
• National Support: Support countries in developing national plans, monitoring disaster risk trends, and impacts, and convene the Global and regional platforms for disaster risk reduction.
• Terminology and Commitment Registry: Lead the revision of the “2009 UNISDR Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction” and maintain the stakeholders’ commitment registry.

Reasons for Regional Vulnerability to Disasters in India

1. Natural Geological Setting: India’s geological features, particularly in the Himalayan region and adjacent alluvial plains, make it susceptible to earthquakes, landslides, and water erosion.
2. Seismic Activities: The Himalayan tectonic features extend into the alluvial plains of major rivers like the Ganga and Brahmaputra, making these areas prone to seismic activities and floods.
3. Cyclones and Tsunamis: Disturbances in ocean pressure conditions lead to cyclones along the coastal regions, while geo-tectonic movements in the ocean floor leads to tsunamis.
4. Extreme Weather Conditions: India experiences extreme weather conditions, including the storage of large quantities of ice and snow in glaciers, contributing to various forms of disasters.
5. Human-Induced Activities: Increasing demographic pressure, environmental degradation, deforestation, unscientific development, faulty agricultural practices, unplanned urbanization, and large dam constructions contribute to the accelerated impact and frequency of disasters.

Current Trends

Consequences of Disasters in India

• Loss of Infrastructural Property: High-intensity disasters cause devastating loss of infrastructure, including roads, buildings, schools, hospitals, bridges, and dams.
• Food Insecurity: Disasters lead to destruction of crops, irrigation systems, livestock shelters, and post-production infrastructure, thereby affecting food security, poverty and malnutrition.
• Displacement of People: Disasters like droughts, floods, landslides, earthquakes, and wildfires displace large groups of people, leading to inadequate shelter, sanitation, unsafe water, malnutrition, trauma, loss of property, and disruption of livelihoods.
• Altered Demographic Profile: Disasters cause loss of lives, population displacement, and communicable diseases, altering the demographic profile of regions and affecting public health.
• Topographical Changes: Earthquakes cause changes like offsets along faults, cracks, fissures, scarp elevations, and depressions, leading to landslides and other geological phenomena.

Priorities of Action for India

1. Understanding Disaster Risk: Through dimensions of vulnerability, capacity, exposure of persons and assets, hazard characteristics, and the environment.
2. Disaster Risk Governance: By coherence of national and local frameworks of laws, regulations, and public policies that guide and incentivize the public and private sectors to take action.
3. Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience: Public and private investments enhance economic, social, health, and cultural resilience, drive innovation, growth, and job creation, save lives, prevent and reduce losses, and ensure effective recovery and rehabilitation.
4. Disaster Preparedness: The recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction phase, which needs to be prepared ahead of disasters, presents an opportunity to “Build Back Better” by integration.
5. Women and persons with disabilities should lead and promote gender-equitable and universally accessible approaches during these phases.

Guiding Principles

1. Primary Responsibility: States have the primary responsibility to prevent and reduce disaster risk, including through cooperation.
2. Shared Responsibility: Responsibilities should be shared between central governments, national authorities, sectors, and stakeholders, as appropriate to national circumstances.
3. Protection and Promotion of Human Rights: Efforts should protect persons and their assets while promoting and protecting all human rights, including the right to development.
4. All-of-Society Engagement: Disaster risk reduction requires engagement from all of society.
5. Full State Engagement: Full engagement of all state institutions at national and local levels is essential.
6. Empowerment of Local Authorities and Communities: Local authorities and communities should be empowered through resources, incentives, and decision-making responsibilities.
7. Inclusive and Risk-Informed Decision-Making: Decision-making should be inclusive, risk-informed, and use a multi-hazard approach.
8. Policy Coherence: Disaster risk reduction policies should be coherent with sustainable development policies across different sectors.
9. Local Characteristics: Measures to reduce disaster risk should consider local and specific characteristics.
10. Cost-Effective Investments: Addressing underlying risk factors through investment is more cost-effective than relying primarily on post-disaster response and recovery.
11. “Build Back Better”: Efforts should prevent the creation of, and reduce existing, disaster risk by building back better.
12. Effective Global Partnership: The quality of global partnerships and international cooperation should be effective, meaningful, and strong.
13. Tailored Support: Support from developed countries and partners to developing countries should be tailored according to the needs and priorities identified by those countries.

Key Institutions related to Disaster management in India

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

• The NDMA is the apex body for disaster management in India, chaired by the Prime Minister.
• It oversees the formulation and implementation of disaster management policies, plans, and guidelines.
• It is also responsible for supervising, directing, and controlling the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
• Functions:
  • Formulating policies on disaster management.
  • Approving the National Plan and the plans prepared by Ministries or Departments of the Government of India in accordance with the National Plan.
  • Laying down guidelines to be followed by State Authorities in drawing up the State Plan.
  • Coordinating the enforcement and implementation of the policy and plan for disaster management.
  • Promoting general education and awareness in relation to disaster management.

National Executive Committee (NEC)

• The NEC is composed of high-profile ministerial members from the Government of India, chaired by the Union Home Secretary.
• It includes Secretaries from Ministries/Departments such as Agriculture, Atomic Energy, Defence, Drinking Water Supply, Environment and Forests, etc.
• Functions:
  • Preparing the National Plan for Disaster Management as per the National Policy on Disaster Management.
  • Coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the National Policy.
  • Monitoring the implementation of the guidelines issued by the NDMA.
  • Coordinating response in the event of any threatening disaster situation or disaster.
  • Coordinating with state governments and ensuring that their plans are in alignment with the national policy and guidelines.

State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)

• Role and Composition: The SDMA in each state is headed by the Chief Minister. Each state has a State Executive Committee (SEC) that assists the SDMA in disaster management.
• Functions:
• Laying down the state disaster management policy.
• Approving the state disaster management plan in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the NDMA.
• Reviewing the development plans of different departments of the state and ensuring that they integrate disaster prevention and mitigation measures.
• Ensuring that the guidelines for mitigation of disasters prepared by the NDMA are followed by the departments of the State Government.
• Organizing and coordinating specialized training programmes for different levels of officers, employees, and voluntary rescue workers in the state.

District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)

• The DDMA is headed by the District Collector, Deputy Commissioner, or District Magistrate, with the elected representatives of the local authority as the Co-Chairperson.
• Functions:
  • Preparing, reviewing, and updating district disaster management plans.
  • Ensuring that disaster management guidelines issued by the NDMA and SDMA are implemented in the district.
  • Coordinating with local authorities, NGOs, and other organizations involved in disaster management.
  • Conducting regular training and awareness programmes for community members.
  • Implementing measures for disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response at the district level.

Local Authorities

• Theseinclude Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI), Municipalities, District and Cantonment Boards, and Town Planning Authorities.
• These entities are responsible for managing and controlling civic services within their jurisdictions.
• Functions:
  • Implementing disaster management plans at the local level.
  • Conducting community-based disaster management programmes.
  • Ensuring the construction and maintenance of infrastructure in line with disaster resilience standards.
  • Promoting awareness and preparedness among local communities.
  • Coordinating with the DDMA and other local bodies in disaster response and recovery efforts.

Institutional and Legal Arrangements

• India has developed a comprehensive and structured system of organizations dedicated to disaster management at various levels.
• This system is known as the institutional mechanism for disaster management.
• A framework for disaster management in India is designed to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach to disaster management, involving various levels of government and local authorities.
• This multi-tiered structure ensures that policies and practices are implemented effectively from the national to the local level, to mitigate risks and manage disasters efficiently.

Crisis Management Structure in India

Crisis Management Group (CMG)

• The Crisis Management Group (CMG), headed by the Home Secretary, coordinates the management of crises, including natural calamities, in India.
• This group comprises representatives from all relevant ministries, departments, and organizations involved in disaster management.
• Each ministry or department nominates a nodal officer responsible for preparing sectoral action plans and Emergency Support Function Plans for disaster management.

Functions of the CMG:

• Review contingency plans.
• Identify measures for dealing with natural disasters.
• Coordinate activities of Central Ministries and State governments in disaster management and relief.
• Carry out preparedness, planning & capacity development programs to mitigate nuclear and radiological emergencies.
• After the passage of the Disaster Management Act 2005, the CMG’s functions were subsumed into the National Executive Committee (NEC), which operates under the Home Secretary.

National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC)

• It is headed by the Cabinet Secretary, the highest executive officer.
  The NCMC includes Secretaries of all concerned ministries and departments and directs the CMG as needed.
• It can issue directions to any ministry, department, or organization for specific actions required to manage a crisis situation.

Cabinet Committees

• Cabinet Committee on Natural Calamities: Deals with major issues related to natural disasters.
• Cabinet Committee on Security: Addresses calamities affecting internal security or involving nuclear, biological, or chemical threats.

Other Levels

• At the state level, the Chief Secretary oversees relief operations, with the Relief Commissioner and Additional Relief Commissioners functioning under their direction.
• The District Magistrate or Collector holds overall responsibility for disaster management at district level.

Nodal Ministries for Managing Different Types of Disasters

Measures to Enhance Disaster Preparedness

• Dedicated Disaster Response Corridors: infrastructure networks (roads, rails, air routes) designed for uninterrupted emergency services access.
• Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure: Implement stringent building codes that enforce disaster-resistant construction practices, earthquake-proof, fire-proof, and wind-resistant materials. Provide incentives like tax breaks and financial aid for retrofitting existing structures.
• Disaster-Resilient Agricultural Practices: Encourage the adoption of practices such as drought-resistant crops and precision farming. Example: Burkina Faso’s Zai pit farming technique, which enhances soil moisture retention and crop yields during droughts.
• Promote Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR): These ecosystems can act as natural barriers against floods, storms, and landslides, and promote carbon sequestration.
• Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems: Develop and deploy robust, integrated early warning systems using remote sensing, AI, and big data analytics for accurate hazard monitoring.
• Micronet Grids for Critical Infrastructure: For essential services such as hospitals and communication systems to ensure functionality during widespread power outages.
• Mental Health Response Teams: Integrate mental health professionals into disaster response teams to offer psychological support, for long-term recovery outcomes for survivors.
• Enhanced Institutional Capacity: Build a permanent, skilled workforce within disaster management institutions to ensure continuous skill development and knowledge retention.
• Allocate substantial Disaster Readiness Reserves to local bodies to support proactive disaster preparedness measures.

Way Forward: Disaster Resilience

• The increasing exposure of people and assets to disaster risks, or from past disasters, underscores the urgent need to strengthen disaster preparedness at all levels.
• This includes integrating disaster risk reduction into response preparedness and ensuring capacities are in place for effective response and recovery.
• Empowering women and persons with disabilities to lead and promote equitable and accessible response, recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction approaches is crucial.
• Preparing for the recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction phase ahead of a disaster provides a critical opportunity to “Build Back Better,” thus enhancing resilience.
• By integrating preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts, it would be safer, more resilient communities capable of withstanding and bouncing back from adverse events.

Importance of Disaster Management

• Risk Reduction: Minimizes the potential impact of disasters on lives, property, and the environment.
• Resilience Building: Enhances the capacity of communities to withstand and recover from disasters.
• Humanitarian Aid: Ensures timely and effective assistance to those affected by disasters.
• Economic Stability: Prevents significant economic losses by protecting infrastructure and livelihoods.
• Environmental Protection: Reduces the adverse effects of disasters on the natural environment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, disaster management in India has evolved significantly, particularly after the enactment of the Disaster Management Act in 2005. The nation’s approach integrates prevention, mitigation, and preparedness with a robust response mechanism. Through the establishment of institutions like the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and state-level authorities, India has structured a more coordinated response to disasters. Emphasis on technology and innovations, such as the use of GIS mapping and satellite technology, has enhanced the capability to predict and manage disasters more effectively.
Despite these advancements, challenges such as uneven resource allocation, varying capabilities at the state and local levels, and a need for more substantial community involvement in preparedness activities remain. To address these issues, continuous training, public awareness campaigns, and strengthening of local bodies are essential. Moreover, the integration of disaster management plans with sustainable development goals will ensure not only the resilience but also the sustainable progress of communities across the nation.

Ref: Source-1

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