District Disaster Management

Objectives of Disaster Management

1. Protection of Life and Property – To safeguard human lives, animals, and property during disasters.
2. Prevention or Mitigation of Disasters – To identify risks and implement preventive measures before a disaster occurs.
3. Ensuring Prompt Response – To provide immediate relief, rescue, and emergency services in the event of a disaster.
4. Rehabilitation and Reconstruction – To rehabilitate affected individuals and restore them to normalcy after the disaster.
5. Awareness and Training – To educate and prepare citizens about disaster management.
6. Reducing Disaster Risk – To minimize the impact of disasters caused by environmental and man-made factors.
7. Protection of Vulnerable Groups – To provide special assistance to women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
8. Coordination and Cooperation – To ensure effective management through the involvement of government, voluntary organizations, and society.
9. Support for Sustainable Development – To ensure long-term, safe development by avoiding adverse effects of disasters on progress.

Functions of Disaster Management

1. Preparedness (Before the Disaster)
   • Preparing disaster risk maps.
   • Creating a disaster management plan.
   • Forming Quick Response Teams (QRT) at the local level.
   • Establishing alert and warning systems to disseminate disaster-related information.
   • Conducting mock drills for disaster preparedness.
2. Prevention and Mitigation
   • Developing proper infrastructure to reduce the impact of disasters such as floods, earthquakes, fires, and droughts.
   • Following safety standards while constructing dams, roads, and buildings.
   • Controlling pollution, deforestation, and encroachments.
3. Response (During the Disaster)
   • Launching rescue operations.
   • Providing emergency medical aid, medicines, food, and water.
   • Evacuating people to safe locations.
   • Coordinating efforts through police, fire services, health departments, and volunteers.
4. Recovery and Rehabilitation (After the Disaster)
   • Rehabilitating displaced citizens.
   • Reconstructing essential services like schools, roads, electricity, and water supply.
   • Implementing special programs for mental health care and social rehabilitation.
   • Distributing compensation and aid.
5. Capacity Building (Research and Training)
   • Conducting academic courses and research projects related to disasters.
   • Providing disaster management training to the administration, voluntary organizations, and citizens.

Scheme

Government Resolution Number: CLS-2022/PR.No.349/M-3 dated March 27, 2023.
As per the said government resolution, assistance from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) is provided for the specified disasters as follows:

1. Financial Assistance for Affected Individuals

(a) Financial Assistance to the Family of Deceased Persons

• ₹4.00 lakh assistance to the legal heirs of the deceased person.

(b) Financial Assistance for Disability or Loss of Organ/Eyes

• ₹74,000/- for 40% to 60% disability.
• ₹2.50 lakh for disability exceeding 60%.

(c) For Injured Persons Admitted to Hospitals

• ₹16,000/- if hospitalized for more than one week.
• ₹5,400/- if hospitalized for less than a week.

(d) Financial Assistance for Household Damage Due to Natural Disasters

• If the area remains submerged for more than two days, and houses are fully destroyed:
  • ₹2,500/- per family for loss of clothing.
  • ₹2,500/- per family for household utensils/items.

2. Assistance for Agricultural Land & Fisheries

(a) Removal of Sand/Silt Deposits (more than 3 inches thick)

• ₹18,000/- per hectare per farmer.
• Minimum assistance of ₹2,200/-.

(b) Removal of Debris from Hilly Agricultural Land

• ₹18,000/- per hectare per farmer.
• Minimum assistance of ₹2,200/-.

(c) Restoration of Fish Farming Areas

• ₹18,000/- per hectare.
• Minimum assistance of ₹2,200/-.

(d) Landslides, Soil Erosion, or Washed-Away Agricultural Land

• ₹47,000/- per hectare for small and marginal farmers.
• Minimum assistance of ₹5,000/-.

3. Assistance for Crop Loss

(a) Seasonal Crops (Annual Crops) Loss

• ₹8,500/- per hectare for rainfed areas (minimum ₹1,000/-).
• ₹17,000/- per hectare for irrigated land (minimum ₹2,000/-).

(b) Perennial Crops Loss

• ₹22,500/- per hectare (minimum ₹2,500/-).

(c) Silk Production (Sericulture)

• ₹6,000/- per hectare for Eri, Mulberry, and Tasar Silk.
• ₹7,500/- per hectare for Muga Silk.
• Minimum assistance of ₹1,000/-.

(d) For Farmers Holding More than 2 Hectares

• ₹8,500/- per hectare for rainfed areas.
• ₹17,000/- per hectare for irrigated areas.
• ₹22,500/- per hectare for perennial crops.
• Assistance is applicable only if crop loss is 33% or more, up to a limit of 2 hectares.

4. Assistance for Livestock Loss

(a) Compensation for Death of Dairy & Working Animals

• ₹37,500/- per buffalo/cow/camel/yak/mithun.
• ₹4,000/- per sheep/goat/pig.
• ₹32,000/- per camel/horse/bullock used for draught purposes.
• ₹20,000/- per calf/donkey/mule.

(b) Poultry Farming Assistance

• ₹100/- per chicken (maximum ₹10,000 per family).
• Poultry deaths must be due to natural disasters.

5. Recovery & Reconstruction (30% of SDRMF, equivalent to 37.50% of SDRF Allocation for the Year)

(a) Fully Destroyed/Collapsed Houses

• Permanent houses:₹1,20,000/- per house in lowland areas.
• Kutcha houses:₹1,30,000/- per house in hilly areas.

(b) Partially Damaged Houses (excluding huts)

• Permanent houses:₹6,500/- per house (if at least 15% damage).
• Kutcha houses:₹4,000/- per house.

(c) Huts Damaged/Destroyed

• ₹8,000/- per hut (Huts made of temporary materials like thatch, mud, plastic, etc., certified by local authorities).

(d) Cattle Shed Attached to the House

• ₹3,000/- per cattle shed.

6. Assistance for Farmers Affected by Suicides (As per Government Resolution No. SCY-1205/PR.No.189/M-7 dated January 23, 2006)

• ₹1 lakh assistance to the legal heirs of the deceased farmer.

District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP)

The Disaster Management Act, 2005 establishes the legal framework for disaster management in India. It mandates the creation of District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) in every district and provides for the establishment of District Disaster Response and Mitigation Funds.

Key Provisions of the DM Act, 2005 related to DDMA:

1. Mandatory Establishment of DDMA
   Each district in India is required by law to establish a District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to coordinate and implement disaster management initiatives at the local level.
2. Composition of DDMA
   • The District Collector (or District Magistrate) serves as the Chairperson of the DDMA.
   • Members include representatives from Police, Fire Services, Health Department, Public Works, Revenue Department, NGOs, and other domain experts.
3. Primary Functions of DDMA
   • Preparation, implementation, and monitoring of the District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP).
   • Coordination of disaster management activities within the district.
   • Ensuring preparedness measures such as capacity building and staff training.
   • Conducting risk assessment, vulnerability analysis, and planning for preparedness.
   • Mobilization and management of resources for disaster response and recovery.
   • Organizing awareness campaigns and educational programs on disaster management.
4. Preparation of DDMP
   DDMA is responsible for preparing the DDMP in consultation with relevant stakeholders. The plan outlines district-specific strategies, actions, and resources required for mitigation, response, and recovery from disasters.
5. Coordination and Collaboration
   DDMA collaborates with various government and non-government agencies, including:
   • Other DDMAs
   • State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)
   • National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
   • Other emergency response agencies
     This ensures seamless coordination during disasters.
6. Resource Mobilization
   The DDMA mobilizes resources such as funds, personnel, equipment, and supplies to ensure effective disaster response and recovery within the district.
7. Monitoring and Evaluation
   DDMA monitors and evaluates the implementation of disaster management activities and takes corrective measures to enhance preparedness and response capacity.
8. Issuance of Guidelines and Directives
   The Act empowers DDMA to issue necessary directions and guidelines to local authorities and agencies within its jurisdiction for effective implementation of disaster management measures.

Establishment of DDMA

As per Government Resolution No. DMA/2006/Pr.Kr.10/DMA-1, dated 01 June 2006, DDMA has been established under Section 25 (4) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Objective of the District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP):

The main goal of the DDMP is to ensure effective and coordinated action during disaster situations in the district. Though natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, lightning, cyclones, fires are beyond human control, their impact can be minimized through proper planning.

The plan aims to:

• Optimize the use of available resources.
• Reduce chaos during disasters.
• Ensure coordinated action among all stakeholders.
• Function with a “war footing” approach during emergencies.

Types of Disasters Considered in the DDMP:

The DDMP addresses a multi-hazard approach, covering:

• Earthquakes
• Floods
• Cyclones
• Lightning
• Fire
• Industrial Accidents
• Road Accidents
• Infectious Disease Outbreaks, etc.

While some disasters like floods and earthquakes cause massive loss to life and property, others like epidemics pose serious threats to human life. Managing these situations requires extensive coordination and human resources.

Role of the Plan During a Disaster:

The current plan is a multi-agency response framework that:

• Defines the institutional setup during disasters.
• Details how assistance will be provided during an emergency.
• Guides all participating agencies on how to operate and collaborate.
• At the district-level control structure, disaster management roles remain largely consistent across different types of disasters.

Even though field-level operations may vary based on the disaster type, the central coordination and command structure remains unified and consistent.