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THE CONTEXT: The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, introduced in the Lok Sabha, aims to address the evolving challenges of climate-induced disasters in India. However, the Bill’s centralization approach raises concerns about its effectiveness in enhancing disaster preparedness and response.
MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2024:
The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, introduced in the Lok Sabha, proposes several significant changes to the existing Disaster Management Act of 2005. Key provisions of the Bill include:
- Urban Disaster Management Authorities: The Bill establishes Urban Disaster Management Authorities for state capitals and cities with municipal corporations, aiming to enhance disaster management in urban areas by involving local municipal commissioners and district collectors.
- State Disaster Response Force (SDRF): It empowers state governments to constitute SDRFs, like the National Disaster Response Force, to improve state-level disaster response capabilities.
- Statutory Status to Committees: The Bill grants statutory status to existing bodies like the National Crisis Management Committee and the High-Level Committee, enhancing their roles in managing major disasters.
- Disaster Management Plans: The Bill shifts the responsibility of preparing disaster management plans from executive committees to the National and State Disaster Management Authorities, which will also maintain comprehensive disaster databases.
- Regulatory Powers: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is empowered to make regulations under the Act with prior approval from the central government, providing greater flexibility in disaster management.
- Disaster Database: A national and state-level disaster database will be created, including information on disaster assessments, fund allocations, expenditures, and preparedness plans.
THE ISSUES:
- Increased Centralization: The Bill is criticized for further centralizing disaster management authority, which could undermine cooperative federalism. Providing statutory status to pre-existing entities like the National Crisis Management Committee complicates the chain of command, potentially causing delays in disaster response.
- Financial Devolution Concerns: While the Bill proposes decentralization by establishing Urban Disaster Management Authorities, it fails to provide adequate financial resources to state and local governments. This mismatch between responsibilities and resources may hinder effective disaster management.
- Restricted Definition of Disasters: Despite their increasing frequency and impact, the Bill does not expand the list of notified disasters to include climate-induced events like heatwaves. This narrow definition limits the scope of the National Disaster Response Fund and State Disaster Response Fund, restricting financial assistance for such events.
- Dilution of the National Disaster Response Fund: The Bill removes specific purposes for which the National Disaster Response Fund can be used, raising concerns about centralizing decision-making on fund allocation. This could lead to delays in fund disbursement during severe disasters, as seen in past instances with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
- Multiplicity of Authorities: Creating multiple authorities and committees may lead to bureaucratic hurdles and confusion during disaster response. As opposition leaders have highlighted, this complexity can delay critical actions needed in times of disaster.
- Lack of Inclusivity and Adaptability: The Bill does not adequately address the evolving nature of climate-induced disasters. A more inclusive, decentralized, and dynamic approach that empowers state and local governments to manage disasters effectively considering regional variations and specific needs, is needed.
THE WAY FORWARD:
- Expand the definition of disasters to include climate-induced events: The Bill should broaden the notified list of disasters to include climate-induced events like heat waves. This is crucial given the rising frequency and intensity of such events globally. India experienced 536 heatwave days in 2023, the highest in 14 years. Heat waves are classified globally as climate-related disasters due to their severe impacts on ecosystems and human health. Including such events would allow for better preparedness, resource allocation, and response mechanisms.
- Enhance financial devolution to state and local authorities: The Bill should include provisions for greater financial autonomy and resource allocation to state and local disaster management bodies. This would enable more timely and localized responses. The 15th Finance Commission recommended allocating Rs 1.60 lakh crore for disaster management to states for 2021-26. Empowering Urban Disaster Management Authorities with adequate funds can improve city-level preparedness and response. Kerala’s decentralized disaster management during the 2018 floods showcased how local bodies can effectively coordinate relief efforts when empowered.
- Strengthen cooperative federalism in disaster management: The Bill should promote a more balanced distribution of responsibilities and resources between the center and states. It should establish clear protocols for center-state coordination during disasters and give states more autonomy in disaster response while ensuring central support. The United States’ federal system allows states significant control over disaster management, with FEMA providing support and resources as needed.
- Integrate climate change considerations into disaster planning: Future amendments should incorporate climate risk assessment and adaptation strategies into disaster management frameworks. Mandating periodic climate vulnerability assessments for different regions. Developing region-specific disaster preparedness plans to account for climate projections. The Philippines’ Climate Change Act of 2009 integrates climate change considerations into disaster risk reduction efforts, leading to more comprehensive planning.
- Improve data management and sharing mechanisms: Establish a robust national disaster database and information sharing system to enhance preparedness and response. This should include real-time data on disaster impacts, resources, and response efforts and standardized reporting mechanisms across states and agencies. Japan’s J-ALERT system provides instant alerts and information sharing during disasters, enabling rapid response and evacuation.
- Enhance institutional capacity and administrative powers of NDMA: Grant greater administrative and financial powers to the National Disaster Management Authority to improve its operational efficiency. NDMA could make confident financial decisions without routing through the Home Ministry, strengthening its coordination role across ministries and states. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has significant operational autonomy and direct access to resources, enabling quicker disaster response.
THE CONCLUSION:
To effectively manage disasters in the face of climate change, India must prioritize decentralization, financial empowerment, and inclusive definitions of disasters. The country can build a more resilient and responsive disaster management framework by adopting these strategies.
UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTIONS:
Q.1 Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. 2020
Q.2 Disaster preparedness is the first step in any disaster management process. Explain how hazard zonation mapping will help in disaster mitigation for landslides. 2019
Q.3 Vulnerability is essential for defining disaster impacts and its threat to people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to catastrophe. 2019
Q.4 On December 2004, tsumani brought havoc on 14 countries including India. Discuss the factors responsible for occurrence of Tsunami and its effects on life and economy. In the light of guidelines of NDMA (2010) describe the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events. 2017
Q.5 Concerning National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines, discuss the measures to be adopted to mitigate the impact of the recent incidents of cloudbursts in many places of Uttarakhand. 2016
Q.6 Drought has been recognized as a disaster given its party expense, temporal duration, slow onset, and lasting effect on various vulnerable sections. With a focus on the September 2010 guidelines from the National Disaster Management Authority, discuss the mechanism for preparedness to deal with the El Nino and La Nina fallouts in India. 2014
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:
Q.1 Critically analyze the implications of the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 on India’s disaster management framework. Discuss the challenges posed by increased centralization and restricted definitions of disasters.
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