Syllabus: Disaster Management
Source: TH
Context: India is strengthening its disaster resilience framework using science-based, nature-driven, and finance-linked strategies, guided by the Prime Minister’s 10-Point Agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction (2016) and the 15th Finance Commission’s ₹2.28-lakh-crore allocation for disaster management (2021-26).
About India’s Direction for Disaster Resilience:
Institutional and Policy Framework
- Home Ministry & NDMA – Oversee pre- and post-disaster management through multi-hazard planning and state coordination.
Eg: NDMA’s National Guidelines for Landslides (2023) and Urban Flood Management Framework (2024).
- 15th Finance Commission (2021–26) – Allocated ₹2.28 lakh crore to strengthen disaster risk reduction (DRR) capacities:
- Preparedness & capacity-building: 10%
- Mitigation: 20%
- Response: 40%
- Reconstruction: 30%
- Prime Minister’s 10-Point Agenda (2016) – Mainstream disaster risk reduction into development planning, use technology, and strengthen local capacities.
Key Features of the New Disaster Resilience Model
- Financial Innovation
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- Integrates public finance with scientific hazard modelling.
- Moves beyond relief to risk prevention and climate adaptation.
- Multilateral debt dependence replaced by domestic budget-linked funding.
- Eg: ₹5,000 crore reconstruction packages in 2025 for Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, and Kerala.
- Nature-based and Technological Solutions
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- NDMA promotes bio-engineering for slope stabilization, revival of wetlands (beels) to mitigate floods, and forest-fire fuel breaks.
- Encourages remote sensing and automated weather stations for glacial-lake monitoring.
- Eg: National Cyclone Mitigation Programme (2011-22) built 700 cyclone shelters and early-warning systems across 8 states.
- Capacity Building
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- Establishment of geo-spatial training labs and expansion of National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) courses across 36 disciplines.
- Creation of Apda Mitra and Yuva Apda Mitra volunteer corps (2.5 lakh trained).
Eg: Fire safety modernisation received ₹5,000 crore allocation.
- Community-Centric Preparedness
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- Panchayat-level disaster plans being mainstreamed into local development.
- School safety programmes and mock drills promote behavioural readiness.
Challenges in India’s Disaster Resilience Framework:
- Fragmented Implementation – Disaster management responsibilities are divided among multiple ministries and state agencies, often leading to duplication, coordination delays, and inconsistent policy execution during crises.
- Urban Vulnerability – Rapid urbanisation, weak zoning laws, and encroachments on wetlands and floodplains have increased exposure to heatwaves, flash floods, and infrastructure collapse in cities.
- Funding Absorption – Many states lack technical capacity and trained personnel to design, execute, and monitor projects under DRR funds, leading to underutilisation of central allocations.
- Data Integration – Absence of a unified, real-time disaster database linking IMD, NDMA, ISRO, and state units hampers accurate risk mapping, forecasting, and timely decision-making.
- Climate Uncertainty – Erratic monsoons, retreating glaciers, and extreme weather events make hazard prediction complex, challenging traditional planning and long-term adaptation strategies.
Way forward:
- Local Governance: Strengthen panchayats with real-time early-warning systems and micro-insurance schemes to enable faster local response and quick recovery after disasters.
- Green Infrastructure: Restore mangroves, rivers, and urban green corridors to naturally absorb shocks from floods, heatwaves, and cyclones, promoting eco-based resilience.
- Data-Driven DRR: Build an integrated risk-mapping platform linking NDMA, IMD, and ISRO data for real-time monitoring, early warnings, and predictive disaster analytics.
- Private Sector Role: Encourage corporate investment in disaster insurance, resilient infrastructure, and CSR-led preparedness projects to expand national resilience capacity.
- Education & Ethics: Integrate climate ethics and disaster awareness in curricula to foster responsible, informed citizens who value sustainability and preparedness.
Conclusion:
India’s disaster resilience journey reflects a shift from reactive recovery to anticipatory governance, blending finance, technology, and community stewardship. By integrating nature-based solutions with ethical climate responsibility and global cooperation, India is poised to become a model for sustainable disaster management by 2047 — Viksit Bharat’s centenary vision.
