UPSC 2018 Notes: Disaster Management | Environment - VISION

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Thursday, May 10, 2018

UPSC 2018 Notes: Disaster Management | Environment


Disaster Management under Environment is one of the important topics for UPSC Civil Services preparation. Questions have been asked in every year’s UPSC Prelims exam on Disaster Management. Therefore, we bring to you Disaster Management Notes on NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN. This post is brought to you by Oliveboard, an online exam preparation platform for government and banking exams.

NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN – HISTORY

The National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) was released in 2016.
The National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) is prepared by the National Disaster Management Authority.

National Disaster Management Authority, abbreviated as NDMA is an agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs whose primary purpose is to coordinate response to natural or man-made disasters and for capacity-building in disaster resiliency and crisis response in India. NDMA was established through the Disaster Management Act enacted by the Government of India on May 30, 2005. 

The National Disaster Management Plan of India provides a framework and direction to thegovernment agencies for all phases of disaster management cycle –
a) mitigation (prevention and risk reduction)
b) preparedness
c) response
d) recovery.
The NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN (NDMP) is a “dynamic document” in the sense that it will be periodically improved keeping up with the emerging global best practices and knowledge base in disaster management.
The NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN (NDMP) is based on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
Sendai Framework is a non-binding agreement, which the signatory nations will attempt to comply with on a voluntary basis
The four priorities for action under the Sendai Framework are:
1. Understanding disaster risk
2. Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk
3. Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience
4. Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN (NDMP) Vision
Make India disaster resilient, achieve substantial disaster risk reduction, and significantly decrease the losses of life, livelihoods, and assets – economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental – by maximizing the ability to cope with disasters at all levels of administration as well as among communities
For each hazard, the approach used in this national plan incorporates the four priorities given in the Sendai Framework into the planning framework for Disaster Risk Reduction under the five Thematic Areas for Actions:
· Understanding Risk
· Inter-Agency Coordination
· Investing in DRR – Structural Measures
· Investing in DRR – Non-Structural Measures
· Capacity Development
Major Highlights of the National Disaster Management Plan
· All phases of disaster management: Prevention, Mitigation, Response and Recovery have been extensively covered in the plan.
· The Plan also covers Man-made disasters in India like Chemical, nuclear, etc
·  It gives clear framework about Planning. It covers Short-term (5 years), Medium Term (10 years) and Long-term (15 years) to deal with all kinds of disasters happening in India.
· The Plan has adopted a very Integrative Approach – horizontal and vertical integration among all the agencies and departments of the Government have been specified in the Plan.
· The Role Clarity shown in the Plan is excellent – roles and responsibilities of all levels of Government of India right up to Panchayat and Urban local body level in a matrix format.
· Different types of Disasters have been assigned to specific Ministries of Government of India. For e.g., Ministry of Earth Sciences is responsible for Cyclones
· The Regional approach adopted in the Plan will be beneficial for disaster management as well as Developmental planning of India
· The Implementing of the Plan will be done in a scalable manner through all phases of Disaster Management
· The Plan has covered the response phase of disaster management in wholesome manner by identifying 18 broad activities which have been arranged into a matrix to be served as a ready reckoner across India:
o Early Warning, Maps, Satellite inputs, Information      Dissemination
o Evacuation of People and Animals
o  Search and Rescue of People and Animals
o   Medical Care
o Drinking Water/ Dewatering Pumps/ Sanitation Facilities/ Public Health
o  Food & Essential Supplies
o  Communication
o  Housing and Temporary Shelters
o  Power
o  Fuel
o  Transportation
o  Relief Logistics and Supply Chain Management
o  Disposal of Animal Carcasses
o  Fodder for livestock in scarcity-hit areas
o Rehabilitation and Ensuring Safety of Livestock and other Animals, Veterinary Care
o  Data Collection and Management
o  Relief Employment
o  Media Relations

· A generalised framework for recovery and flexibility to assess a situation and build back better have been provided in the Plan as well.
· It emphasises on a greater need for Information, Education and Communication activities to prepare communities to cope with disasters.
· The plan aims that the media should respect the dignity and privacy of affected people. Hence it calls for self-regulation by media.
· To stop rumours and spread of panic, the plan directs the authorities to schedule regular media briefing (depending on the severity of the disaster) and designate a nodal officer for interacting with the media on behalf of the government
We hope you liked the information provided about National Disaster Management Plan and these Disaster Management Notes are useful for your UPSC Exam Preparation.
All the Best for the UPSC Prelims Exam 2018!!