The Disaster Management Act, 2005 (DM
Act 2005) lays down institutional and
coordination mechanism for effective Disaster Management (DM) at the
national, state, district and local levels. As mandated by this Act, the
Government of India (GoI) created a multi-tiered institutional system
consisting of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) headed by the
Prime Minister, the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) headed by the
respective Chief Ministers and the District Disaster Management Authorities
(DDMAs) headed by the District Collectors and co chaired by Chairpersons of the
local bodies. These bodies have been set up to facilitate a paradigm shift from
the hitherto relief-centric approach to a more proactive, holistic and
integrated approach of strengthening disaster preparedness, mitigation, and
emergency response. The National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) provides a
framework and direction to the government agencies for all phases of disaster
management cycle . The NDMP is envisaged as ready for activation at all times
in response to an emergency in any part of the country. It is designed in such
a way that it can be implemented as needed on a flexible and scalable manner in
all phases of disaster management:
a) mitigation (prevention and risk
reduction),
b) preparedness,
c) response and
d) recovery (immediate restoration to
build-back better).
India will make all efforts to contribute to
the realization of the global targets by improving the entire disaster
management cycle in India by following the
recommendations in the Sendai Framework and by adopting globally
accepted best practices. The four priorities for action under the Sendai
Framework are:
1. Understanding disaster risk
2. Strengthening disaster risk
governance to manage disaster risk
3. Investing in disaster risk reduction
for resilience
4. Enhancing disaster preparedness for
effective response and to “Build Back Better” in
recovery, rehabilitation and
reconstruction.
The NDMP incorporates substantively the approach
enunciated in the Sendai Framework and will help the country to meet the goals
set in the framework. By 2030, the Sendai Framework aims to achieve substantial
reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, and health and in
the economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental assets of persons,
businesses, communities, and countries.