Central Government provides adequate funds for disaster relief under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) as per laid down procedure.  The Central Government had significantly enhanced the allocation under SDRF for the period 2015-16 to 2019-20 to Rs. 61,220 crores against the allocation for the period 2010-2011 to 2014-15 of Rs. 33,580 crores.  Further, the Central Government has substantially enhanced the norms of assistance for various items eligible for relief under SDRF/ NDRF for the period 2015-2020.

 

The details of amount allocated & released under SDRF and NDRF to State Governments for management of relief from 2014-15 to 2018-19 is given below:

(Rs. in crore)

Years	Allocation under SDRF	Center’s share of SDRF released	Amount released from NDRF
2014-15	7,387.01	5,629.45	3,460.88
2015-16	11,081.00	8,756.00	12,451.96
2016-17	11,635.00	8,374.95	11,441.30
2017-18	12,214.00	9,382.80	4,722.53
2018-19	12,825.00	9,658.13	10,000.00
Total:	55,142.01	41,801.33	42,076.67

 

The Central Government has constituted National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for the purpose of specialized response to a threatening disaster situation or disaster.  NDRF provides assistance to State by various measures as under:-

(i)      12 Bn of NDRF are strategically located all over the country based on the vulnerability profile of different regions of the country for providing immediate assistance to States.

(ii)     Before start of Monsoon season, NDRF in consultation with the state authorities, and based on the forecast of early warning agencies i.e. India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Central Water Commission (CWC), pre-positions its specialized teams in vulnerable location in the country for prompt response.

(iii)    During threatening disaster situations such a floods, cyclone etc., NDRF teams are pre-deployed to assist the State administration in search, rescue, evacuation and relief operations.

(iv)    NDRF assist the state forces in capacity building and community awareness by conducting trainings, mock drills and school safety programmes.

(v)     Since inception, NDRF has conducted 2658 operations successfully and rescued 1.15 lakh human lives and evacuated 5.89 lakh persons.

(vi)    Similarly, since inception, NDRF has conducted 6111 community awareness programs, 2107 school safety programmes, 1869 Familiarization exercise and 2486 mock exercise.

 

India with its continuous efforts has significantly improved its preparedness to deal with natural calamities. The Disaster Management Act 2005 articulates the need for mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into development planning. The National Policy on Disaster Management 2009 seeks to build a safe and disaster resilient India.  As per provisions of the Act, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), National Institute of Disaster Management created in 2006 at national level. At State level, State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) created in all States and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) created in more than 680 districts.  As per provisions of the Act, financial mechanism for managing disaster response has been set-up by creation of National and State Disaster Response Funds.

 

Statement showing some of the major measures taken by Government of India for improving disaster preparedness

 

• Release of National Disaster Management Plan in 2016.

 

• Publication of 26 guidelines on different disasters by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) including guidelines on management of Earthquakes and Tsunamis.

 

• Setting up of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for prompt response and pre- positioning of NDRF in disaster vulnerable areas and preposition them across various vulnerable locations in the country.

 

• Encouraging States to set-up their own State Disaster Response Forces.

 

• Strengthening of State and District Disaster Management systems through various schemes of central government.

• Construction of multi-purpose cyclone shelters and training of coastal communities.

• Conducting mock drills, table top exercises, awareness campaigns, Audio visual campaigns and workshops for effectively responding to disasters.

 

• Carrying out capacity building of disaster professionals and communities by NDMA, NDRF and National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM).

• Organizing Annual Conference of Relief Commissioners and Secretaries of the Department of Disaster Management of States and Union Territories to review their status of preparedness for dealing with any natural disasters.

 

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to question in the LokSabha today.

 

BB/SS /JSR/2574

(Release ID: 1577944)