Topics Covered: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
Role of Armed forces in coronavirus outbreak battle
What to study?
For Prelims: Role of armed forces in such situations, procedure to call them and provisions in this regard.
For Mains: Need for and significance of their support.
Context: Army has moved in to take over the COVID-19 quarantine facility at Narela in Delhi. This has brought into focus the role of army in such situations, procedure to be followed and provisions in this regard.
What Armed Forces have done so far?
- 6 quarantine facilities in Mumbai, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Hindon, Manesar and Chennai. 15 other facilities on standby, capacity of approximately 7,000.
- 51 armed forces hospitals are preparing dedicated COVID-19 facilities including High Dependency Units (scaled-down version of an Intensive Care Unit), and ICU beds.
- 5 testing labs at armed forces hospitals made part of national grid.
- Six more hospitals to be equipped with the resources to begin COVID-19 testing.
- Special IAF flights have evacuated people and carried medical supplies.
- 60 tonnes of stores airlifted by IAF transport fleet has airlifted approximately to various parts of the country. Twenty-eight fixed wing and 21 helicopters are on standby.
- 6 Naval ships kept ready for assistance to neighbouring countries. Five medical teams also on standby for deployment in Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan.
So, what is the procedure for calling the armed forces to help the civil administration?
The procedure for requisitioning armed forces is governed under ‘Aid to Civil Authorities’ under the guidelines laid in Instructions on Aid to the Civil Authorities by the Armed Forces, 1970, Regulations for the Army and Manual of Indian Military Law.
- Civil administration requests the Local Military Authority for assistance, for the maintenance of law and order, maintenance of essential services, disaster relief and other types of assistance.
- Armed forces can be asked to provide troops and equipment for a flag march, rescue and relief, evacuation, and immediate aid.
Key facts:
- Providing aid to civil authorities, as and when called upon to do so, is a secondary task for the armed forces. It cannot replace the primary role of ensuring external security and operational preparedness.
- The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), headed by the cabinet secretary, is the final authority to decide on the number of armed forces personnel that can be deployed to aid civil authority.
What are the tasks expected to be performed in checking the spread of COVID-19?
- Maintenance of law and order.
- Crowd control and curfew in sensitive areas.
- Evacuation of civilians from affected areas.
- Provision of essential supply of electricity and water.
- Restoration of essential services.
- Emergency feeding and shelter.
- Prevention of panic, prevention of theft and loot.
- Guarding quarantine locations and detention centres.
- Surveillance through drones aerial platforms.
Who pays for the costs incurred by the armed forces in these roles?
The civil administration. The cost of assistance provided by the Armed Forces is recovered in accordance with the instructions contained in Appendix ‘H’ to the Pamphlet ‘Instructions on Aid to Civil Authorities by the Armed Forces 1970’.
Insta Links:
Prelims Link:
- Composition of NCMC.
- Who can request armed forces aid?
- Who will decide the number of armed forces personnel that can be deployed to aid civil authority?
- Difference between primary and secondary task of armed forces.
Mains Link:
Discuss when the armed forces can provide aid to the civil authorities . What are the provisions governing?
Sources: Indian Express.
