India has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters on account of its unique geo-climatic conditions. Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides have been a recurrent phenomenon. About 60% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of various intensities; over 40 million hectares is prone to floods; about 8% of the total area is prone to cyclones and 68% of the area is susceptible to drought. In the decade 1990-2000, an average of about 4344 people lost their lives and about 30 million people were affected by disasters every year. The loss in terms of private, community and public assets has been astronomical. Disaster management occupies an important place in this country’s policy framework as it is the poor and the under-
privileged who are worst affected on account of calamities/disasters. At the national level, the Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal Ministry for all matters concerning disaster management. The Central Relief Commissioner (CRC) in the Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal officer to coordinate relief operations for natural disasters. The CRC receives information relating to forecasting/warning of a natural calamity from India Meteorological Department (IMD) or from Central Water Commission of Ministry of Water Resources on a continuing basis. The Ministries/Departments/Organizations concerned with the primary and secondary functions relating to the management of disasters include: India Meteorological Department, Central Water Commission, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Urban Development, Department of Communications, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Petroleum, etc. Each Ministry/Department/Organization nominate their nodal officer to the Crisis Management Group chaired by Central Relief Commissioner. The nodal officer is responsible for preparing sectoral Action Plan/Emergency Support Function Plan for managing disasters. State Relief Manuals: Each State Government has relief manuals/codes which identify that role of each officer in the State for managing the natural disasters. These are reviewed and updated periodically based on the experience of managing the disasters and the need of the State. The States have also been asked to set up Disaster Management Authorities under the Chief Minister with Ministers of relevant Departments [Water Resources, Agriculture, Drinking Water Supply, Environment & Forests, Urban Development, Home, Rural Development etc.] as members. The objective of setting up an Authority is to ensure that mitigation and preparedness is seen as the joint responsibility of all the Departments concerned and disaster management concerns are mainstreamed into their programmes. This holistic and multidisciplinary approach is the key to effective mitigation. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 provides for the constitution of the following institutions at national, state and district levels. (a) National Disaster Management Authority: The Authority created under an administrative order was notified in 2005 under the Disaster Management Act. The Prime Minister is the chairperson of this Authority. The apex body is responsible for laying down policies, plans and guidelines on Disaster Management. (b) State Disaster Management Authorities: State Disaster Management Authorities have been set up for laying down policies and plans for disaster management in their respective states and are in the process of becoming operational. (c) District Disaster Management Authorities: District Disaster Management Authorities have been set up as planning, coordinating and implementing bodies for disaster management and to take all measures in the district in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the National and State Authorities. Section 23 of the DM Act 2005 provides that there shall be a DM plan for every state. It outlines the broad coverage of the plan as well as the requirements of consultation in the preparation of the state plans. It also provides for annual review and updating of the state plan, and enjoins upon the state governments to make provisions for financing the activities to be carried out under the state plans. It provides for the departments of the state governments to draw up their own plans in accordance with the state plan. The state plans shall be prepared by the SEC in conformity with the guidelines to be issued on related matters by the SDMA having regard to the guidelines laid down in this regard by the
NDMA, and after such consultation with local and district authorities and the people’s representatives as the SEC may deem fit. The state plan prepared by SEC shall be approved by the SDMA. The model disaster management plan involves initial alter, plan activation and formation of a command nucleus. 1. Initial Alert Hospital May be Altered by way of emergency itself. The person who receives info about the disaster should gather details regarding casualties etc. 2. Activation of the Hospital Disaster Management Plant The designated hospital staff, causality medical office, hospital controller, administrator and senior specialists, should be responsible for the activation. Max number of staff should be available within 10 minutes of the notification and the matron and senior nursing officer on duty should prepare and pre-arrange ward to receive causalities. 3. Formation of a Command Nucleus The command nucleus, which includes the hospital controller, matron, or senior nursing officer and hospital administrator, should be formulated immediately and it should be near the casualty department.
