India decided to enact a law on
disaster management to provide for
a requisite institutional mechanism
for drawing up and monitoring
the implementation of the disaster
management plans, ensuring
measures by various wings of the
Government for prevention and
mitigation of disasters and for
undertaking a holistic, coordinated
and prompt response to any disaster
situation. Accordingly a Bill was
introduced in the Rajya Sabha on
11th May, 2005.
The Disaster Management
Act, 2005 lays down institutional,
legal financial and coordination
mechanisms at the central, state,
district and local levels. These
institutions are not parallel
structures and will work in close
harmony. The new institutional
framework is expected to ensure
implementation of the national
desire for a paradigm shift in DM
from a relief-centric approach
to a proactive regime that lays
greater emphasis on preparedness,
prevention and mitigation.
With the enactment of Disaster
Management Act 2005 the National
Disaster Management Authority was
established under the Chairmanship
of the Prime Minister. The Act also
provide for establishment of State
Disaster Management Authorities
and District Disaster Management
Authorities. Therefore, the
Disaster Management architecture
for the country has now been
provided with legal backing and
with clear delineation with rules
and responsibility. The Acts also
provide for budget allocation for
disaster risk reduction and for
8
response. With this architecture in
place it is now upto the Central and
the State Governments to utilize
these provisions effectively to
reduce the impact of disasters on
our people and the country.
It is well recognized that the
poor and vulnerable sections
of the society are impacted
disproportionately by disasters.
Quite often they lose their homes,
assets and livelihoods. While there
is genuine concern about the adverse
impact of disasters on GDP there is
even more concern that our efforts
to achieve ‘inclusive growth’ may
not be successful unless Disaster
Risk Reduction (DRR) is addressed.
To achieve this, the following steps
are necessary:
(i) Mainstreaming DRR into
development
(ii) Strengthening early warning
systems by leveraging science
and technology.
(iii) Increasing awareness and
preparedness.
(iv) Strengthening rescue and relief
mechanisms.
(v) Better rehabilitation and
reconstruction.
The Government of India
administers a number of ambitious
programmes in key sectors like
agriculture, rural development,
urban development, drinking water,
rural roads, health, education and
food security. These programmes
have substantial outlays and are
aimed at improving the quality of the
life of our people. While these have
contributed in some way to disaster
risk reduction, specific components
and interventions for DRR have
largely been missing in many of
these flagship programmes. The
attempt now should be to introduce
DRR as a specific component of
these schemes.
While the contribution of
agricultu ɔ