The Ministry of Home Affairs recently invoked the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (DM Act) to allow free inter-state movement of oxygen-carrying vehicles amidst the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) situation. This mechanism has been used previously in March 2020 for controlling the Covid-19 outbreak in India. Here’s an in-depth look at the Disaster Management Act, its objectives, major features, challenges, and the way forward.
About the Disaster Management Act
Introduced by the Indian government in 2005 and enacted in January 2006, the DM Act was formulated for efficient management of disasters and related matters. The act aims to manage disasters through mitigation strategies, capacity building, and more. Section 2 (d) of the DM Act defines a disaster as a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence resulting from natural or man-made causes.
Main Features of the Act
The Ministry of Home Affairs is designated as the nodal ministry for overseeing national disaster management under the act. It also establishes a structured framework of institutions at national, state, and district levels for systematic disaster management.
Key Entities at the National Level
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is tasked with creating disaster management policies and ensuring effective response mechanisms. The National Executive Committee (NEC) supports the NDMA in carrying out its duties and is responsible for the annual review and update of the National Disaster Management Plan. The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) provides training and programs for managing natural calamities while the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) comprises trained professionals for specialized disaster response.
State and District Level Authorities
The act also prescribes for state and district level authorities responsible for implementing national plans and preparing local plans. These include the State Disaster Management Authority and District Disaster Management Authority.
Financial Provisions and Liabilities
The DM Act includes financial mechanisms such as the creation of emergency response funds at the national, state, and district levels. It also conveys civil and criminal liabilities for violations of its provisions.
Challenges and Limitations
Despite its benefits, the act has some inadequacies. It doesn’t provide for the declaration of ‘disaster-prone zones’. Moreover, the act portrays every disaster as a sudden occurrence and fails to acknowledge that disasters can be progressive in nature. Another issue is the overlapping functions of multiple national level bodies which makes coordination between them difficult. Procedural delays, inappropriate implementation of plans, and inadequate technological capacity for accurate prediction and measurement of disasters further hamper its effectiveness.
The Way Forward
While the DM Act has filled a significant gap in the governmental approach towards dealing with disasters, it’s important that the plans are effectively implemented. Civil society, private enterprises, and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) can play a valuable role in building a safer India. Therefore, a collaborative effort from all these entities is crucial for effective disaster management.