Mains Daily Question
May 20, 2023

Strengthening disaster preparedness and prevention measures rather than relying on post-disaster relief and recovery will be sustainable for India. Discuss.

Model Answer

Approach:

Introduction: Define disaster preparedness and prevention measures, and contrast them with relief and recovery. Explain why they are important for India

Body: Discuss the benefits of disaster preparedness and prevention measures for India. Provide examples of successful initiatives or best practices in this regard.

Also discuss the challenges of disaster preparedness and prevention measures, and the way forward in this regard.

Conclusion: Give some recommendations or suggestions for further action or research on this topic.

 

Answer:

Disaster preparedness and prevention measures are actions taken before a disaster occurs to reduce its impact and enhance the capacity of people and systems to cope with it. Examples of such measures are early warning systems, risk assessments, etc. Disaster relief and recovery measures are actions taken after a disaster occurs to provide immediate assistance to the affected people and restore essential services and infrastructure. Examples of such measures are search and rescue, emergency shelter, etc.

The importance of preparedness and prevention can be manifested in National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) finding that 27 out of 29 states and seven union territories in India are exposed to recurrent natural hazards.

 

The benefits of disaster preparedness and prevention measures, and their examples are:

  • Saving lives and reducing injuries: such measures can help protect people from the immediate dangers of disasters, such as collapsing buildings, floods, landslides, fires, etc.
    • the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has conducted mock drills and awareness campaigns on various hazards across the country.
  • Protecting livelihoods and assets: they can also help minimize the loss of livelihoods and assets, such as crops, livestock, houses, infrastructure, etc.
    • the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) has constructed cyclone shelters, roads, bridges and early warning systems in coastal areas.
  • Reducing health risks and malnutrition: these measures can ensure the availability and accessibility of health services, water, sanitation and nutrition for the affected population.
    • UNICEF India has supported the government in strengthening health systems, immunization, nutrition surveillance and water quality monitoring in disaster-prone areas.
  • Enhancing education and learning opportunities: this can prevent the disruption of education and learning opportunities for children and youth.
    • the School Safety Programme (SSP) has promoted disaster risk reduction education and school safety audits in Indian schools.
  • Promoting social cohesion and peace: such measures can foster social cohesion and peace among different groups and communities by enhancing trust, cooperation and solidarity.
    • the Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) approach has empowered local communities to participate in disaster risk reduction planning and implementation.
  • Supporting sustainable development: these measures can support sustainable development by reducing the environmental degradation, economic losses and social inequalities caused by disasters.
    • the Disaster Management Act 2005 has integrated disaster risk reduction into the development planning process at all levels.

 

Disaster preparedness and prevention measures are essential to reduce the impact of natural and human-made hazards in India. However, they also face many challenges, such as:

  • Lack of coordination among various agencies.
    • For example, during the 2013 Uttarakhand floods, there was a lack of coordination between the state and central governments, the army, the air force, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), resulting in duplication of efforts and wastage of resources.
  • Funding constraints and their utilisation in disaster management require significant financial investments, which can sometimes be a challenge for a developing country like India.
    • According to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, only 7% of the funds allocated for disaster management were utilized between 2010 and 2015.
  • Inadequate infrastructure like communication networks, early warning systems, and evacuation facilities, can exacerbate the impact of disasters.
    • During the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, many coastal areas did not receive timely warnings or evacuation orders, leading to high casualties.
  • Socioeconomic inequalities in India make it difficult to reach marginal and vulnerable communities, which are often the most affected by disasters.
    • The 2016 Chennai floods saw many slum dwellers being left stranded without food and water, while the affluent areas of Chennai received more relief and attention.
  • Climate change: India is facing the impacts of climate change, resulting in more frequent and severe natural disasters.
    • According to a study by the IITM (Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology), the frequency of extreme rainfall events increased by 75% between 1950 and 2015.
  • Political constraints: Political interference and bureaucratic hurdles can slow down the implementation of disaster preparedness and prevention measures.
    • According to Transparency International India (TII), corruption and nepotism is rampant in Indian disaster management agencies.

Way ahead:

  • increasing the absorptive capacity to effectively utilise resources allocated for disaster risk mitigation and strengthening the coordination and collaboration among various stakeholders at different levels of governance.
  • promoting a culture of disaster risk awareness and education among the public and integrating disaster risk reduction into development planning and policies.
  • Increasing the role of India as a leader and partner in promoting disaster risk reduction at the regional and international levels, especially in Asia and Africa.
  • it is important to have effective recovery measures following disasters to reduce the impact and build resilience like creating national disaster response reserves, and strengthening disaster management governance systems and institutions, integrating risk reduction strategies into various sectors, and involving children and communities in disaster risk reduction.
  • India has also called for reforming the United Nations Security Council to make it more representative and responsive to the emerging challenges of disaster risk assessment and mitigation of the 21st century.

 

India has made some progress in this regard, such as access to $6 billion for disaster risk mitigation for state and local governments, $23 billion for disaster preparedness, response and recovery; and participating in global initiatives such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. By investing in disaster preparedness and prevention measures, India can not only save lives and livelihoods but also enhance its economic growth, social development and environmental sustainability

Subjects : Current Affairs
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