-1721391937657.png)
The recent bill amending the Disaster Management Act 2005 aims to enhance disaster response efficiency and expand NDMA's role but neglects to strengthen its institutional status.
Did You Know?
Understanding the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2005 is as vital for future bureaucrats as mastering current affairs for IAS exams. With Maluka IAS Academy’s to the point Current Affairs notes resources, you can stay informed on such essential topics, helping you gain a competitive edge.
Tackling amendments like the Disaster Management Bill demands thorough preparation, much like cracking the IAS exams requires a strong foundation. The GS Foundation Advance Batch 2025 offered by Maluka IAS Academy equips you with the knowledge and tools necessary to succeed.
Disaster preparedness and IAS/PCS exam readiness share the same principle – effective practice. Maluka IAS Academy’s Prelims and Mains Test Series give you the practice required to face any challenge, just as disaster management plans face real-world crises.
As disaster management policies evolve, keeping up with these changes can shape your understanding of governance. Enroll in Maluka IAS Academy GS Foundation Batch to stay on top of current events and government policies, enhancing your exam preparation.
Just as governments respond to disaster scenarios with strategic plans, IAS aspirants must tackle exam preparation with a smart approach. Maluka IAS Academy’s Punjab PCS Online is designed to help you overcome the toughest challenges.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT ACT, 2005
The Disaster Management Act, 2005 provides a comprehensive framework for disaster management in India, including 11 chapters and 79 sections on effective management, risk reduction, and rehabilitation.
LEGAL-INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF THE DM ACT 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FUNDING STRUCTURE UNDER THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT ACT 2005
The Disaster Management Act 2005 provides a funding framework with two key instruments:
IMPORTANCE OF THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT ACT 2005
- Institutional Framework: The Act established NDMA, SDMAs, NDRF, and National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) for disaster research, training, and capacity building.
- Disaster Mitigation: The framework has effectively saved lives and provided relief, rescue, and rehabilitation.
- Risk Reduction: The Act integrates disaster management into development planning, as seen in the 2009 National Disaster Management Policy and 2016 National Disaster Management Plan.
- Resource Allocation: Establishes NDRF and SDRFs for timely financial aid in disaster response and relief.
- Community Participation: Emphasizes local authorities and community groups' roles in disaster management.
CHALLENGES WITH THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT ACT IN INDIA
INSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES
FUNCTIONAL CHALLENGES
- Ineffectiveness in Prioritization and Integration of DRR Efforts: DRR lacks integration with developmental activities.
- Ineffective redressal of Public Health Crises: Insufficient provisions for epidemics and bioterrorism.
- Limited emphasis on Man-Made Hazards and Climate Change: Inadequate focus on systemic climate and man-made disasters.
- Centralized Approach: Top-down functioning neglects local and community-based interventions.
FUNDING CHALLENGES
KEY AMENDMENTS IN THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 2024
- Urban Disaster Management Authorities: Establishes authorities headed by municipal commissioners in major cities for coordinated urban disaster response.
- Mandatory SDRF for States: Requires all states to establish and maintain a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), addressing current inconsistencies.
- Legal Status for NCMC: Grants legal status to the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) as the nodal body for major national disasters.
- Enhanced NDMA Role: Expands NDMA's responsibilities to cover a broader range of disaster risks, including emerging threats.
- Disaster Plan Preparation: Shifts responsibility for disaster plan preparation to the NDMA and State Disaster Management Authorities from the National and State Executive Committees.
- Disaster Databases: Mandates NDMA and SDMAs to create and maintain national and state-level disaster databases, respectively.
- Compensation Guidelines: NDMA to recommend minimum relief standards and compensation for disaster-affected individuals.
- Disaster Definition Clarification: Excludes man-made disasters caused by law-and-order issues, such as riots, from the disaster definition.
WAY FORWARD
- Revision of Definitions: Amend Section 2 to include clear definitions for ‘hazards,’ ‘prevention,’ and ‘mitigation’ for consistency.
- Disaster Prevention Chapters: Introduce chapters focusing on comprehensive disaster prevention plans.
- Enhanced Accountability: Increase judicial oversight to ensure official accountability and transparency.
- Modernized Early Warning Systems: Update early warning clauses to integrate technologies like GIS and AI for better prediction and response.
- Community and Policymaker Engagement: Boost community awareness and involve policymakers in disaster risk reduction and management efforts.
- Special Resource Allocation: Allocate specific annual budgets for disaster management to ensure adequate funding.
Implementing these recommendations will enhance the effectiveness of the Disaster Management Act of 2005, promoting a proactive and organized approach to disaster management.