The Government with its continuous efforts has significantly improved its preparedness to deal with natural calamities. As mandated by the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005, the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), had been issued, with the vision to build a safe and disaster resilient India by developing a holistic, proactive, multi-disaster oriented and technology driven strategy through a culture of prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response. The first National Disaster Management Plan was issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in 2016 and it was revised after review in 2019. NDMA has also issued guidelines to be followed by different Ministries/Departments of the Government of India as well as State Governments for integrating preparedness, mitigation measures and capacity building initiatives in their respective plans and projects. Since its inception, NDMA has issued various guidelines for management of hazard specific disaster on various thematic and cross-cutting issues, including floods.

   To provide the specialist response in any disaster or disaster situation, Government of India had established the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Further, the Government of India has also established a premium institute i.e. NDRF Academy at Nagpur to impart training to NDRF personnel and other stakeholders. Further, training to personnel engaged in rescue operations is a continuous process. Such personnel are provided regular trainings for capacity building and operational preparedness. NDRF personnel are regularly trained for upgrading their skills for effectively responding to all types of disasters, natural as well as manmade, including Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) emergencies. NDRF personnel are also nominated to participate in various international events i.e. training courses/seminars/workshops etc., which are aimed at updating their skills about best practices in disaster management, knowledge of sophisticated equipment & techniques being adopted globally.  NDRF is relentlessly engaged in  “Community Capacity Building and Public awareness and preparedness programme”  of  the State  Disaster  Response  Force (SDRF), State Police, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Fire Services, National Cadet Corps (NCC), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Students, Volunteers and other stakeholders.

   NDMA and NDRF, have also been conducting Mock Exercises/Table Top Exercises at regular intervals in collaboration with other organisations/ authorities engaged in the rescue operations for various disasters like floods, landslides, earthquakes, chemical (industrial) disasters etc.

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

*****

NW/RK/AD/RR/867