The Government has launched a “Scheme for Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the States” on 04.07.2023 from the earmarked allocation of Rs. 5,000 Crore of Preparedness and Capacity Building Funding Window under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for strengthening fire services in the States for the period upto 2025-26.

  The measures included in the scheme provide for setting up of new fire stations, strengthening of State Training Centres and capacity building, provisions for modern fire-fighting equipment, strengthening of State Headquarters and Urban Fire Stations, technological upgradation and installation and augmentation of online system etc.  The detailed scheme is available at www.ndmindia.mha.gov.in.

  Fund allocation under the scheme is on cost sharing basis of 75:25 with the States, except for North Eastern Hill States which is in the ratio of 90:10.  While the Centre will provide Rs. 5000 crore to the States for identified activities, the States’ contribution will be of Rs. 1387.99 Crore.

  An amount of Rs. 500 crore, out of the total central outlay of Rs. 5000 crore will be available for incentivizing the States for adoption of legal and infrastructure-based reforms.

  The primary responsibility for disaster management, including disbursal of relief to the affected people on ground level, rests with the State Governments.  The State Governments undertake relief measures in the wake of natural disaster from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), already placed at their disposal, in accordance with approved items and norms of the Government of India.  Additional financial assistance is provided from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per the laid down procedure, in the case of disaster of ‘severe nature’, which includes an assessment based on the visit of Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT).

   The release of funds from SDRF / NDRF and expenditure therefrom are governed by the ‘Guidelines on constitution and administration of SDRF / NDRF’ and items and norms issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, which are revised from time to time.  Based on the recommendations of 15^th Finance Commission, revised guidelines were issued on 12.01.2022.  The items and norms of expenditure of SDRF / NDRF were also revised and issued on 10.10.2022, and further modified on 11.07.2023 for the period upto      2025-26.  The revised guidelines and items & norms of assistance under SDRF and NDRF are available at www.ndmindia.mha.gov.in.

   With its continuous efforts, the Government have significantly improved its approach towards disaster management in the country from relief-centric to a holistic approach of preparedness, prevention, response, recovery, mitigation and capacity building.  The Disaster Management Act, 2005 articulates the need for mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into development planning. The National Policy and National Plan on Disaster Management seeks to strengthen disaster risk reduction in the country.

   There are institutional mechanisms at the National, State & District level in the country viz. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) & District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) respectively to develop appropriate preparedness, coordination and prompt response mechanism for effective management of natural disasters.

   With various Government initiatives, there has been significant reduction in mortality in disasters. Further, strengthening of the disaster risk reduction system is a continuing and evolving process of the governance.

   Some important initiative taken by the Government for disaster risk reduction are given as under:

1. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had prepared the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) in 2016 and further revised it in 2019.   In the NDMP, the priorities of the Sendai Framework have been integrated into the planning framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) under the Thematic Areas for DRR.
2. NDMA has released guidelines for management of disaster risks for various disasters which includes the aspects of disaster mitigation, preparedness as well as response activities.
3. Aapda Mitra Scheme has been launched to train 1,00,000 community volunteers in disaster rescue in 350 multi-hazards disaster prone districts, covering all States/UTs.  Financial outlay of the scheme is Rs. 369.40 Crore.
4. Common Alerting Protocol based Integrated Alert System (Sachet) Phase-I (CAP) has been approved for integration of all alerting agencies in a Centralized web-based platform.  Financial outlay of the Scheme is Rs. 354.83 crore.
5. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) with its 16 Battalions, is located as per vulnerability profile of the country to provide immediate response during disasters or impending disaster situations. Mock exercises and community awareness programmes are regularly conducted by NDMA and NDRF to create awareness among people.
6. NDRF is implementing a Mock Exercises scheme in all 36 States/UTs on community disaster awareness in Floods, Cyclones, Earthquake, Landslide & CBRN in vulnerable areas with various stakeholders of Disaster Management / Response. 
7. NDRF is implementing School Safety Programme (SSP) to impart training on disaster response to children in 1200 vulnerable schools in all 36 States/UTs of India.
8. NDMA has taken the initiative to set up NGO-Coordination Centres at States/UTs and District levels.
9. The Coastal areas in eight Coastal States, that experience frequent cyclones, are covered under the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) for building capacities in cyclone prone areas to reduce the loss of lives and livelihoods.   
10. Fifteenth Finance Commission has recommended creation of National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) and State Disaster Risk Management Fund (SDRMF) for a period from 2021-22 to 2025-26.  An amount of Rs. 68,463 crore is allocated for NDRMF and Rs. 1,60,153 crore for SDRMF.  These allocations are further divided into response fund and mitigation funds at the National and State level, which together cover all the four phases of disaster management cycle viz. preparedness, response, recovery & reconstruction and mitigation.  

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

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RK/AY/SM/AKS/RR/1895

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