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Class 01
SYLLABUS DISCUSSION OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT (9:19:07 AM)
 Disaster and disaster management
 Topics-
 Basic concepts-Hazard, Disaster, Risk Reduction, Vulnerability, Disaster
management cycle
 Disaster management in India and international initiatives
 Disasters in India
 PYQs-
 Hill States
 Landslide
 Drought
 EQ
 Urban floods
 Cloudburst
 Tsunami
 Floods
 Source-
 NDMA Guidelines (Refer to Vision IAS notes)- most important
 NCERT
BASIC CONCEPTS:
i)Hazard(H) and Disaster(D) (9:50:16 AM)-
 A dangerous condition or event that has the potential for causing injury to
life or damage to property or the environment
 Its a threat of damage whereas disaster is the event of damage
 Not every hazard leads to a disaster
 Disaster-
 Disruption in the functioning of a community or a society causing
widespread economic social or environmental losses which exceed the
ability of an affected community to cope using its own resources
 Difference-


Hazard Disaster
Threat of loss Event of loss
within the coping beyond the coping up
up capacity capacity
hazard plus
no vulnerability
vulnerability
ii)Vulnerability (V)(10:10:09 AM)
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 Concept-
 Characteristics of an area that makes it more likely to be damaged
 Types-
 Physical vulnerability-
 Based on the physical condition of people, building, infrastructure, etc and
their proximity or location wrt hazard
 Example-
 settlement along steep slopes are more vulnerable than those in plain area
 Social Vulnerability -
 Based on social status and determines the intensity of damage
 Example-
 The elderly and disabled are more vulnerable in case of Disaster
 Economic Vulnerability-
 Based on the economic status of people
 Example-Poor section living in low-lying regions of urban areas
 Causes of vulnerability-
 Poverty
 Lack of infrastructure
 Lack of information
 Lack of training and appropriate skills
 Unplanned urbanization
 Population explosion
 Environmental degradation
Indicators of Vulnerability-
 The physical conditions- topography etc
 Demography- density and composition of population
 Health – health services available, diseases
 Economic- level of income, insurance etc
 Social- how inclusive is society is, leadership, education level, blind belief
etc.
 The organizational indicators- How strong the local govt., availability of
NGOs etc
iii)Capacity(C) (10:29:14 AM)
 Concept-
o Resources, means, and strengths that enable the community to prevent,
mitigate, prepare or withstand or quickly recover from a hazard
o Capacity Development: it involves training, education, research
awareness, etc.
 Types-
o Physical capacity-
o Individuals' capacity and skill set

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o Social capacity-
o it is the capacity of the community as a whole to deal with hazards
o Economic capacity-
o Improvement in economic status
iv)Risk(R) (10:35:08 AM)
 Concept-
 It is the measure of expected losses
 It is the probability of harmful consequences resulting from the interaction
between hazards and vulnerable conditions
 Risks depend upon the nature of the hazard, vulnerability, and capacity of
the community
 Risk=V×H/C
 Risk reduction involves reducing the vulnerability and increasing the
capacity
v)Disaster Management Cycle (11:05:08AM)
 Concept-
 DM includes a total of all activities, and programs and measures which can
be taken before, during, and after a disaster
 Steps-

Disaster
Management

Pre-Disaster During Post

Disaster Disaster

Response
Mitigation Preparedness

Recovery Rehabilitation Reconstruction

Risk Reduction
Prevention

Non-
Structural
structural

 1)Pre-disaster-
 These are the steps taken to reduce the losses to be caused by potential
hazards
 It involves mitigation and preparedness

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 i)Mitigation-
 It involves all the measures to reduce the impact of disaster
 It includes Prevention and Risk Reduction
 Prevention-
 It includes measures to reduce the occurrence of disasters which can
reduce the occurrence of drought and flood
 Risk reduction-
 Aims to reduce vulnerability and hence the risk
 Involves Structural and Non-structural measures
 Structural measures-
 The physical construction of barriers, engineering solutions or stronger
physical infrastructure
 Example- EQ resilient building measures
 Non-structural measures-
 Involves policy formulation, research, and knowledge development
 Example-
 National building code- code for how the building should be created
 ii)Preparedness -
 it involves formulation of emergency plans, development of warning
systems
 Construction of shelter homes, training, and conduction of mock drills
2)During Disasters
 Response-
 It is the immediate action that should be taken in case of disaster
 It includes forecasting and warning
 Assembling at shelter homes and providing immediate relief


 Post Disaster-
 Recovery-
 Steps taken immediately after disasters
 Identification
 Debris clearance
 Rescue
 Rehabilitation-

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 It involves temporary measures to be taken before permanent
reconstruction
 Providing temporary shelter homes, movement of people, distribution of
relief material
 Restoration of power and communication
 Coordination of different agencies
 Preventing epidemics
 Catering of of vulnerable sections such as disable, old age people, children
etc
 Reconstruction-
 It involves damage assessment
 Feedback from previous stages to build safer and sustainable infrastructure
and ensuring accountability in this process
INITIATIVES TAKEN (11:49:22 AM)
 Background-
 Yokohama on Disaster Reduction 1994- it was the first world conference on
Disaster Management. Earlier this, there was only reaction approach
 1999-Orissa Super-cyclone- after this event govt. appointed a committee
for recommendation for DM
 2001- Bhuj EQ- this was a most disasterous EQ on Indian territory
 2004-Tsunami- After this the govt brought the Disaster Management Act.
 2005 NDMA
 National Disaster Management Act, 2005-

Next class: NDMA 2005(Continues..), International Initiatives, etc.

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Class 02
Recap of the last class (09:10 AM)
Legal Institutional framework for Disaster Management (09:13 AM)
 National Disaster Management Act, 2005
 National Disaster Management Policy, 2006
 National Disaster Management Plan, 2016, 2019
 National Disaster Management Act, 2005

 It provides for different authorities at all levels like National Disaster

Management Authority at the Union level, State Disaster Management
Authority at the State level and District Disaster Management Authority
at the District level.
 It also provides for the Executive committees, i.e. National Executive
Committee at the national level and State Executive Committee at the
State level.
 It also talks about the funding i.e. for Mitigation there is National
Disaster Mitigation Fund at the central level and the State Disaster
Mitigation Fund at the State level. For responses, there is National
Disaster Response Fund and State Disaster Response Fund.
 For response force, there is National Disaster Response Force.
 For Research and Development, there is National Institute for Disaster
Management.
 The act provides for the institutional mechanism for disaster
management in India.
 National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA):
 It is the apex body for disaster management in India. It is headed by
PM.
 Functions of NDMA:

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 It lays down and implements the plans, policies and guidelines for
disaster management at the national level.
 It ensures a timely and effective response to disasters.
 State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA):
 It is the apex body for disaster management in states and UTs. CM or
Lieutenant Governor heads it.
 Functions of SDMA:
 To implement the plans, policies and guidelines for disaster
management prescribed by the central government.
 It lays down and implements the plans, policies and guidelines for
disaster management at the state level.
 It ensures a timely and effective response to disasters.
 District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA):
 To implement the plans, policies and guidelines for disaster
management prescribed by the central and state government at the
district level.
 It also lays down and implements the plans and guidelines for disaster
management at the district level.
 District Magistrate heads it.
 It also includes elected representatives of the local body.
 National Executive Committees (NEC):
 To assist the National Disaster Management Authority in the
performance of its duties and to coordinate all the activities.
 Union Home Secretary heads it.
 They are also responsible for monitoring the functions of NDMA.
 State Executive Committees (SEC):
 To assist the State Disaster Management Authority in the performance
of its duties and to coordinate all the activities.
 State Chief Secretary heads it.
 They are also responsible for monitoring the functions of SDMA.
 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF):
 It consists of 12 Battalions of CAPFs.
 BSF and CRPF contribute 3 Battalions each whereas CISF, ITBP and
SSB contribute 2 Battalions each.
 National Institute for Disaster Management:
 It is the nodal agency for human resource development, capacity
development, training, research and policy advocacy. Situated in New
Delhi.
 Other Bodies for Disaster Management in India outside NDMA, 2005:
 Cabinet Committee on Security:

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 It is headed by PM and ensures coordination between NDMA and the
cabinet committee on security.
 It evaluates disaster management from a national security perspective.
 It oversees all the aspects of disaster management in India.
 NDMA Advisory Committee:
 It is a 15 members committee to advise the NDMA. Advise is not
binding to NDMA.

Funding Mechanism for Disaster Management in India: (09:49 AM)

 Before this act, there was a National Calamity Contingency Fund and
this fund was used for response work for disasters.
 It raised funds by levying an additional duty on imported goods.
 This fund is now merged with NDRF. In addition to this, there was also
PM National Relief Fund set up during the partition. This fund is raised
through voluntary contributions.
 As an alternative to the PMNRF, the Government recently set up PM
CARES Fund.
 The NDMA provides for the Mitigation fund and response fund.
 For Mitigation, there is National Disaster Mitigation Fund and State
Disaster Mitigation Fund. It hasn't been established yet.
 National Disaster Response Fund: Money comes from the National
Calamity Contingency duties.

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 For any kind of response activities, the fund will be first released from
SDRF and then the fund will be released from NDRF and the funding by
the NDRF would be for notified disasters (disasters notified by NDMA)
only.
Recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission on Disaster
Management Finance:
 Set up mitigation funds at the central and state levels.
 Revamping the entire funding mechanism i.e. setting up National
Disaster Risk Management Fund and State Disaster Risk Management
Fund. The Risk Management fund would consist of two types of Funds
i.e. Response and Mitigation Fund. Out of this fund, 80% should be for
response and 20% for mitigation. The source for this fund is National
Calamity Contingency Duties.
 After the implementation of GST the finance is inadequate for disaster
management funding. Thus, The Finance Commission has
recommended that there should be a separate budgetary allocation on
annual basis for this fund. The centre would contribute to the State
Disaster Risk Management Fund in the ratio of 75:25 for the normal
state and 90:10 for hilly states, North Eastern States and special
category states.
Criticism of Funding Mechanism:
 There is a shortage of funds as the budgetary allocation and imposition
of duties are inadequate.
 There is no setting up of a mitigation fund yet.
 Shortage of funds for mitigation.
 Misutilisation of funds. Many projects have been left in limbo.
Criticism of NDMA, 2005:
 As per the CAG report, the implementation of the act is unsatisfactory
and also the functioning of NDMA is dismal. There are issues with the
vacancies, slow decision-making, irregular meetings and poor
implementation of mitigation projects and programmes.
 There is poor coordination between NDMA and SDMA.
 Disaster management should be a bottom-top approach but the
NDMA,2005 prescribes a top-down approach with lesser power to local
governments and authorities etc.
nd
 2 ARC has also recommended that the centre should play only a
supportive role and states should be made the primarily responsible
during disaster and local governments should be brought to the
forefront.
 There is no clear demarcation of disasters at different levels i.e.
National, State and Local levels.

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National Policy for Disaster Management, 2009: (10:20 AM)
 To prioritise the sectors in which the govt want to work the National
policy is brought in every sector.
 It is formulated by the NDMA.
 It aims to build a safe and disaster-resilient India.
 Mainstreaming disaster management in the developmental planning
process.
 Identification, assessment and monitoring of disaster risks.
 Taking care of vulnerable sections in the response and relief measures.
 Undertaking reconstruction as an opportunity to build disaster resilient
structures.
 Creation of productive partnership with the media.
National Disaster Management Plan, 2016 and 2019: (10:46 AM)
 Plan is details set of actions, responsibility etc.
 It provides the framework and direction for disaster management in
India.
 Go through NDMA Plan 2019 (from NDMA website)
National Disaster Management Plan, 2016:

 The four Sendai Framework Priorities

i) Understanding the risk,
ii) Strengthening disaster reis governance to manage disaster risk
iii) Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience
iv) Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to
“Build Back Better” in recovery rehabilitiation and reconstruction.

 It provides for the first time a comprehensive definition of all the

disasters and classifies them into natural and man-made disasters.
 It identifies 5 thematic areas and approaches to deal with each disaster
i.e.
 Inter-Agency Coordination, Investment in the Disaster Risk Reduction-
Structural Measures, Investment in Disaster Risk Reduction- Non-
Structural Measures and Capacity Development.
 It also sets the targets of Short, Medium and long-term planning for
disaster management.
 It also provides for a checklist of the activities to be undertaken like
medical care, early warning, infra development etc.
 It also spells out the roles and responsibilities of the organisations at all
levels up to local bodies.

National Disaster Management Plan, 2019:

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 It tries to establish coherence between three international agreements
i.e. Sendai Framework, Sustainable Development Goals and Paris
Agreement.
 In this plan, there is the addition of another thematic area in this plan
i.e. Climate change risk management considering the significance of
the climate change impact.
 It also provides for a new chapter on mainstreaming in order to highlight
the necessity of mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into development
planning and policies.
 It also provides for a new chapter on social inclusion with special
considerations for vulnerable sections of society.
 To synchronise all the targets under international agreements, the
disaster management activities are targeted for the short-term (2022),
Medium-Term (2027) and Long-Term (2030).
Criticism of the Plan (11:10 AM)
 The activities to be taken by different agencies mentioned in the plan
are very generic and lack specificity.
 The mechanism of the funding mobilisation plan is absent.
 There is the absence of a monitoring and evaluation mechanism.
 It doesn't incorporate the role of private organisations and corporates in
disaster management.
International efforts for Disaster Management (11:14 AM)
Yokohama Conference Hyogo Conference or Sendai Conference or
or World Conference of Second World Third World
Disaster Conference of Disaster Conference of Disaster
Reduction,1994 Risk Reduction, 2005 Risk Reduction, 2015

They accepted that the This was in the backdrop This resulted in Sendai
natural disasters have of the 2004 Tsunami. Framework which is a
increased and the poor non-binding agreement
are more affected due to signed by the
increased disasters and participated members.
that too in developing
countries
It aimed to strengthen The conference resulted The Framework
the capacities for in the Hyogo framework highlighted that the state
prevention, mitigation for disaster risk has the primary role in
and preparedness. reduction. reducing the disaster
risks but the
responsibility should be
shared with the other

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stakeholders including
local govt. and the
private sector.

For this, It focused on The overall idea was to Sendai Framework

strategy and a plan of reduce disaster losses identified four priorities:
action for a safer world. through preparedness.  Understanding the
disaster risk.
 Strengthening
disaster risk governance
to manage disaster risk
 Investing in
disaster risk reduction for
resilience
 Enhancing disaster
preparedness for
effective response and to
“Build Back Better” in
recovery, rehabilitation
and reconstruction.

It also aimed to put in It also prescribes the

place International Early seven targets:
Warning Programme.  Reduce mortality
 Reduce the
number of affected
people
 Reduce direct
disaster economic loss
 Substantially
reduce disaster damage
to critical infrastructure
and disruption of basic
services
 Spread disaster
risk efforts
 Increase
cooperation and support
 Increase
accessibility

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 Difference between Hyogo and Sendai Framework:

 The main agenda of the Hyogo framework is preparedness whereas the
Sendai framework focuses on mitigation.
 In the Hyogo framework, the target was to reduce losses through
preparedness whereas the Sendai framework focuses on risk reduction
through mitigation.
 Hyogo was about what to do? Whereas Sandai was how to do?
Therefore, Sendai framework aims to increase resilience by reducing
vulnerability and increasing capacity.
Classification of Hazards in India: (11:37 PM)
 Geophysical Hazards: They originated due to geological processes.
Examples include Earthquakes, Volcanoes etc.
 Hydrological Hazards: They are due to deviations in the normal water
cycles like Floods, Landslides, coastal erosions etc.
 Meteorological Hazards: It is due to short-lived meso and micro-scale
processes extending from a few minutes to days. Examples include
heat waves, cold waves, tornadoes cyclones, sandstorms etc.
 Climatological Hazards: It is due to the long-lived macro scale
process causing seasonal or climatic variability. Examples are drought,
forest fires, GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) etc.
 Biological Hazards: These originate from biological factors like
pandemics, insect infestation etc.
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 Framework to cover any disaster:
 What is a disaster?
 Causes of disasters- both natural and anthropogenic
 Regions affected by the disaster (need to write a Map)
 Measures required to deal with disasters include preparedness,
response, mitigation, rehabilitation etc.
 Measures which are taken by the government (current news)
Earthquakes (11:51 AM)
Natural Causes:
 Plate Movements: Convergent and Divergent Movements
 Volcanic eruptions
 Landslides
 Meteoritic impact
Anthropogenic causes:
 Mining
 Nuclear explosions
 Reservoir induced Seismicity
Regions affected:

 There are five different zones as per the overall intensity of

earthquakes:
 Zone 1: Safest. There is no such zone in India.
 Zone 2: Least probability of an earthquake. It includes Plateau regions
like Deccan Trap, Karnataka Plateau, Mahanadi-Godavari Valley,
Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan region etc.
 Zone 3: there many so need not to remember
 Zone 4: Major parts of Northern Ganga Plains and the Entire Himalayas
and surrounding regions of Zone 5.
 Zone 5: The highest probability of an earthquake. It consists of the
entire North-eastern region (due to syntax), Bihar border along Nepal,
Uttarakhand, Near Dharamshala, Kashmir Valley, Northern Part of
Gujarat (due to faulty plate), Andaman and Nicobar.
The topic of the next class is a continuation of the Earthquake.

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