The recent flooding in Kerala represents the most severe the region has seen in a century. With personnel and financial aid being provided by the Union government, some are calling for the devastating floods to be declared a national disaster. The Disaster Management Act of 2005 classifies a disaster as any grave occurrence, whether natural or man-made, that results in significant loss of life, human suffering, or damage to property and environment. According to this definition, disasters include earthquakes, floods, landslides, cyclones, tsunamis, and urban floods, as well as nuclear, biological, and chemical occurrences. It’s important to note that there is currently no mechanism for declaring a natural calamity as a national calamity.
Historical Context
The 10th Finance Commission (1995-2000) proposed that a disaster should be deemed “a national calamity of rarest severity” if it impacts one-third of a state’s population. While the commission didn’t define what constitutes a “calamity of rare severity,” it suggested that such determinations should be made on a case-by-case basis. This would take into account factors such as the calamity’s intensity and magnitude, the level of assistance required, the state’s capacity to handle the situation, and the availability of alternative solutions. Incidents such as the flash floods in Uttarakhand and Cyclone Hudhud were later categorized as calamities of “severe nature.”
When a calamity is classified as being of “rare severity” or “severe nature,” national-level support is provided to the affected state. Additionally, the Centre may consider extending additional assistance from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). A Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) is established, with the Centre and state sharing the corpus in a 3:1 ratio. Should the CRF prove insufficient, further assistance can be provided from the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF), which is entirely funded by the Centre. Relief measures, such as loan repayment breaks or concessional loans to those affected, are also considered when a calamity is declared “severe.”
Disaster Management in India
Primary responsibility for disaster management rests with the respective State Government. Nevertheless, the National Policy on Disaster Management provides an enabling environment for all – the Centre, State, and District. This policy, established in 2009, aligns with the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and outlines a comprehensive approach for managing disasters. It led to the creation of the Disaster Management Authority at three levels – National, State, and District.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) operates under the Prime Minister, assisted by a National Executive Committee (NEC). At the state level, a similar structure exists, overseen by the Chief Minister of the State, while district-level authorities have also been established. These authorities are responsible for laying down policies and plans for disaster management and ensuring timely response and long-term risk reduction.
India is a signatory to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), which outlines clear targets and priorities for disaster management.
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR)
Adopted at the third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015, the SFDRR 2015-2030 establishes four key priorities: understanding disaster risks; strengthening disaster risk governance; investing in disaster reduction for resilience; and enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response. Its objective is a substantial reduction in disaster risk and consequential losses over the next 15 years.
The Way Forward
Some argue that declaring the Kerala floods a ‘national disaster’ will not offer more aid than what is already being extended, given the absence of any provision for such a declaration. Unlike in the US, where declaring a disaster as national via Presidential notification allows federal agencies to provide aid, India does not require a government notification for central forces to assist states with disaster relief.
The focus now should be on assessing the damages in Kerala and returning the state to normal. This responsibility lies with the central government, regardless of whether it labels the event as a national disaster. Building better individual-based programs, developing a culture of preparedness, and fostering resilient communities represent the best strategies for disaster preparedness. Plans that take community input into account not only yield higher quality results, but also foster greater community approval and confidence.