Why in news
The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is raising concerns for weakening key provisions in India's Disaster Management Act (DMA), 2005, potentially reducing participatory governance, accountability, and efficiency in disaster management.
On December 26, 2004, the Indian Ocean tsunami delivered an unparalleled wave of destruction.
DMA, 2005
The DM Act was passed by the government of India in 2005 for the ‘efficient management of disasters and other matters connected to it.
However it came into force in January 2006.
Objective:
To manage disasters, including preparation of mitigation strategies, capacity-building and more.
Definition of a “disaster” in Section 2 (d) of the DM Act states that a disaster means a “catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or man made causes.”
The Act designates the Ministry of Home Affairs as the nodal ministry for steering the overall national disaster management.
It puts into place a systematic structure of institutions at the national, state and district levels.
National Level Important Entities:
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA):
It is tasked with laying down disaster management policies and ensuring timely and effective response mechanisms.
The National Executive Committee (NEC):
It is constituted under Section 8 of the DM Act to assist the National Disaster Management Authority in the performance of its functions.
The NEC is responsible for the preparation of the National Disaster Management Plan for the whole country and to ensure that it is “reviewed and updated annually.
National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM):
It is an institute for training and capacity development programs for managing natural calamities.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF):
It refers to trained professional units that are called upon for specialized response to disasters
State and District level:
The Act also provides for state and district level authorities responsible for, among other things, drawing plans for implementation of national plans and preparing local plans.
State Disaster Management Authority
District Disaster Management Authority.
Finance:
It contains the provisions for financial mechanisms such as the creation of funds for emergency response, National Disaster Response Fund and similar funds at the state and district levels.
Civil and Criminal Liabilities:
The Act also devotes several sections various civil and criminal liabilities resulting from violation of provisions of the act.
Under Section 51 of the Act, anyone refusing to comply with orders is liable for punishment with imprisonment up to one year, or fine, or both.
In case this refusal leads to death of people, the person liable shall be punished with imprisonment up to two years.
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