As a nation, India is no stranger to disasters, both natural and man-made. The country’s geographical and socio-economic conditions make it prone to events such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones, tsunamis, landslides, urban floods, droughts, and even nuclear, biological, and chemical disasters. It’s a vulnerability that necessitates comprehensive, community-based planning and management. To this end, the Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj recently unveiled the Disaster Management Plan of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (DMP-MoPR).
The DMP-MoPR and Its Objectives
The DMP-MoPR is designed with a broader perspective of community-based planning, which begins at the village level and extends to the District Panchayat tier. It envisions every Indian village possessing a “Village Disaster Management Plan”, with each Panchayat having their own Disaster Management Plan. The overarching aim is to strengthen disaster resilience at grassroots levels and set a framework that aligns rural disaster management strategies with those of the National Disaster Management Authority. This plan goes beyond mere legal compliance, introducing various innovations in line with the Disaster Management Act 2005, National Disaster Management Policy 2009, and guidelines by the National Disaster Management Authority.
What the Disaster Management Plan Covers
The DMP includes comprehensive coverage of areas such as institutional arrangements for disaster management, hazard risk, capacity and vulnerability analysis, and coherence of disaster risk management across resilient development and climate change action. Also included are preventive and mitigation measures linked to specific disasters, mainstreaming of community-based disaster management plans of villages and Panchayats, and more.
The Need for a Comprehensive Plan
India’s unique geo-climatic and socio-economic conditions expose it to various natural and man-made disasters. As such, different regions across the country are at high risk of cyclones, floods, droughts, earthquakes, landslides, and other disasters. This makes a comprehensive, effective disaster management plan more of a necessity than an option.
The Plan’s Significance
The DMP-MoPR is poised to be a game-changer in disaster management, since it involves the active participation of all stakeholders, including Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI), elected representatives and functionaries of Panchayats, in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the disaster management strategy. Also, the plan will greatly facilitate a participatory planning process for DMPs, which is integrated with the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) to address disasters across the nation.
India’s Past Efforts in Disaster Management
Over the years, India has made commendable strides in disaster management. The establishment of the National Disaster Reaction Force (NDRF), the world’s largest rapid reaction force dedicated to disaster response, is testament to this progress. Other efforts include India’s proactive role in foreign disaster relief and contribution to regional disaster preparedness and capacity building.
The Role of NDRF and Indian Armed Forces in Disaster Management
The NDRF, in collaboration with the Indian Armed Forces, has frequently engaged in practical exercises meant to build competency in handling various disaster situations. These exercises have extended beyond Indian borders, involving counterparts from partner states from organizations such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Addressing Climate Change-related Disaster
Recent decades have seen a global rise in climate-related disasters, with floods being the most occurring type and storms being the second deadliest after earthquakes. In response, India has adopted international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), the Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030), and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. These frameworks stress the close ties between DRR, Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), and sustainable development, all areas that India is making concerted efforts to address at both national and multinational levels.
Source: PIB
