The government emphasizes a holistic approach to disaster management

General Studies Paper 1

Context: The 3rd Session of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) has concluded in New Delhi.

About the Session:

• The session deliberated on  10-point agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction given by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Sendai Framework apart from other issues.
• Organized by: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)+ National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)+ National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)+ National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM)
• Theme: “Building Local Resilience in a Changing Climate

PM’s 10-Point Agenda:

• Importance of Local Resilience in Disaster Risk Reduction E.g.
  • Prime Minister’s 10-Point Agenda: Building local capacities and initiatives
  • Kutch (Gujarat):Bhunga houses of Kutch survived the earthquake to a large extent
  • Kerala:Traditional houses known as “Nalukettu,” are built with sloping roofs to prevent waterlogging during floods.
  • Local Disaster volunteers: Apada Mitra, Yuvak Mandal and Sakhi Mandal
• Need for Development Sectors to Imbibe Principles of Disaster Risk Management
• Importance of Risk Coverage for All
• Women’s Leadership and Greater Involvement in Disaster Risk Management
• Investment in Global Risk Mapping
• Leveraging Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction
• Developing a Network of Universities to Work on Disaster-Related Issues
• Utilizing Social Media and Mobile Technologies for Disaster Risk Reduction
• Learning from Disasters through Post-Disaster Studies
• Need for Greater Cohesion in International Response to Disasters E.g. in wake of the recent Earthquake in Syria and Turkey, United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) activated its emergency GIS mapping service

What is Disaster Risk Reduction?

• Disaster risk reduction is aimed at preventing new and reducing existing disaster risks and managing residual risk, all of which contribute to strengthening resilience and therefore to the achievement of sustainable development.

Initiatives for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

• Global:
  • Sendai Framework(2015): Successor instrument to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA)
  • Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2022
  • Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS)( Under the World Meteorological Organization): It provides access to early warnings in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
  • Sectoral Guide on Climate Information & Early Warning Systems (by Green Climate Fund): It identifies investment opportunities in him impact sector for DRR
• India’s Initiatives:
  • Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure Society (CDRIS): To increase the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks
  • National Disaster Management Plan2016 (NDMP): To coordinate response to natural or man-made disasters and for capacity-building in disaster resiliency and crisis response.
  • India aims to achieve zero mortality in all disastersin collaboration with state governments and response agencies
  • The Disaster Management Act, 2005, seeks to mainstream disaster risk reduction into development planning