Disaster management strategies in India

Pages: 390-394
Bhavjot (Department of Public Administration, Punjabi University, Patiala)

Disaster Management is an effort to inquire into the process of a hazard turning to disaster to identify its causes and rectify the same through public policy with minimising and preventing the damaging impact of a natural or manmade hazard. India has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters on account of its unique geo-climatic conditions. Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides have been recurrent phenomena. Disaster is a sudden and unfortunate event that brings with it great damage, loss, destruction and devastation to human life as well as property and also hampers the ongoing developmental projects in a particular area being affected by the disaster. The damage caused by disasters is immeasurable and varies with the geographical location, climate and the type of the earth surface/degree of vulnerability. India is vulnerable to wind storms spawned in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, earthquakes caused by active crustal movement in the Himalayan mountains, floods brought by monsoons, and droughts in the country’s arid and semi-arid areas. Sometimes disasters can also cause huge loss of life and property. This influences the mental, socio-economic, political and cultural state of the affected area. Disaster management occupies an important place in this country’s policy framework as it is poor and the under-privileged who are worst affected on account of disasters. Disaster management forces can help by removing people and property from a threatened location and by facilitating timely and effective rescue, relief and rehabilitation at the place of disaster. Sustainable Development preparedness can reduce hazard. There is need to link disaster management and development plans. Planned improvement in legal framework and bringing community consciousness is needed.