Plans, programs and legislation for DM

PLANS, PROGRAMS AND LEGISLATION RELATED TO DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Plans related to disaster management: The National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) has been formulated with the aim to make India disaster resilient and reduce the loss of lives and assets. The plan is based on priority themes of the Sendai framework. They are:

1. Understanding disaster risk
2. Improving disaster risk governance
3. Investing in disaster reduction (through structural and non-structural measures) and disaster preparedness
4. Disaster preparedness and rebuilding a resilient community in the aftermath of a disaster

The NDMP covers all phases of disaster management i.e, prevention, mitigation, response and recovery. For each hazard, the NDMP incorporates four priorities listed in the Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction under the five thematic areas for action:

1. Understanding risk
2. Inter-Agency coordination
3. Investing in structural measures for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
4.  Investing in non-structural measures for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and
5.  Capacity development

The response part has eighteen activities as listed below:

1. Early warning, maps, satellite inputs and information dissemination
2. Evacuation of people and animals
3. Search and rescue of people and animals
4. Medical care
5. Drinking water, Dewatering pumps, Sanitation facilities, Public health
6. Food and essential supplies
7. Communication
8. Housing and temporary shelters
9. Power
10. Fuel
11. Transportation
12. Relief logistics and supply chain management
13. Disposal of animal caracasses
14. Fodder for live stock in scarcity hit areas
15. Rehabilitation and ensuring safety of live-stock and other animals, veterinary care
16. Data collection and management
17. Relief management
18. Media relations

The plan consists of a chapter on strengthening disaster risk governance. The six thematic areas in which the central and state governments have to take action in this context are:

1. Mainstream and integrate Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and institutional strengthening
2. Capacity development
3. Promote participatory approach
4. Work with elected representatives
5. Grievance Redress Mechanism
6. Promote quality standards, certifications and awards for Disaster Risk Management

• The NDMP incorporates horizontal and vertical integration among all the agencies and departments of the  Government. The plan also specifies the roles and responsibilities of all levels of government up to panchayat and urban local body level. The plan has a regional approach that is beneficial not only for disaster management but also for development planning
• The plan is designed in such a way that it can be implemented in a scalable manner in all phases of disaster management.
• Major activities such as early warning, information dissemination, medical care, fuel, transportation, search and rescue, evacuation, etc are allotted to disaster managers in the form of a check-list
• The NDMP provides a general framework for recovery and offers flexibility to assess a situation and act accordingly
• The NDMP prepares communities to cope with disasters emphasizing the need for  information, education and communication activities

Programs related to disaster management

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) hosts several programs for mitigation and responsiveness for specific situations. A few of the programs include:

1. National Cyclone Risk Management Project
2. School Safety Project
3. Decision Support System
4. Scheme for training of community volunteers for disaster response in thirty most flood prone districts in India
5. Sustainable reduction in disaster risk in ten multi-hazard prone districts in five states of India
6. Capacity building on disaster management for IAS and central service officers at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie

Legislation for disaster management
Laws and regulations serve as a foundation for building community resilience. The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) highlighted the importance of good legislation for effective disaster management. The Sendai framework adopted in 2015 insists for a renewed focus on reviewing and strengthening legal frameworks.International organizations have conducted a research and comparative study on disaster management in various countries.