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Disasters in India: Context, risk and management
Disasters disrupt progress and destroy the hard-earned fruits of painstaking developmental efforts, often pushing nations in quest for progress back by several decades. Thus, efficient management of disasters, rather than mere response to their occurrence, has in recent times, received increased attention both within India and abroad.
Disasters disrupt progress and destroy the hard-earned fruits of painstaking developmental efforts, often pushing nations in quest for progress back by several decades. Thus, efficient management of disasters, rather than mere response to their occurrence, has in recent times, received increased attention both within India and abroad. This is a result of the recognition of the increasing frequency and intensity of disasters.
Disaster risks in India
India is vulnerable, in varying degrees, to a large number of natural as well as man-made disasters. Around 58.6 per cent of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of moderate to very high intensity; over 40 million hectares (12 per cent of land) is prone to floods and river erosion; of the 7,516 km long coastline, close to 5,700 km is prone to cyclones and tsunamis; 68 per cent of the cultivable area is vulnerable to drought and hilly areas are at risk from landslides and avalanches.
Vulnerability to disasters/emergencies of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) origin also exists. Heightened vulnerabilities to disaster can be related to expanding population, urbanisation and industrialisation, development within high-risk zones, environmental degradation and climate change. The economically and socially weaker segments of the population are the ones that are most seriously affected. Within the vulnerable groups, elderly persons, women, children— especially destitute women, orphans and differently-abled persons are exposed to higher risks.
Paradigm shift in disaster management
On December 23, 2005, the Government of India took a defining step by enacting the Disaster Management Act, 2005, which envisaged the creation of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). This is headed by the Prime Minister, State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) constituting the Chief Ministers, and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) headed by the District Collector or District Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner. There will be a paradigm shift from the erstwhile relief-centric response to a proactive prevention, mitigation and preparedness-driven approach for conserving developmental gains and to minimise loss of life, livelihood and property.
- Source: National Policy on Disaster Management
