Parliament passes Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024

About The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024

• The Bill amends the Disaster Management Act, 2005.  
• The DM Act establishes: 
  • National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 
  • State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), 
  • and the District Disaster Management Authority.  
  • These authorities are answerable for disaster management at the national, nation, and district level, respectively.

Key Highlights 

• Preparation of disaster management plans: The Bill presents that NDMA and SDMA will prepare disaster management plans, which was in advance prepared through the National a State Executive Committee.
• Functions of NDMA and SDMA: The Bill adds those functions:
  • taking periodic stock of disaster risks, inclusive of emerging risks from extreme weather events, 
  • supplying technical help to government under them, 
  • recommending for minimum standards of comfort, 
  • and preparing national and state disaster databases, respectively.
• The Bill also empowers NDMA to make guidelines under the Act with previous approval of the imperative government.
• Disaster Database: The Bill mandates the advent of a complete disaster database at both national and state levels.
• Urban Disaster Management Authorities: It empowers the state government to constitute a separate Urban Disaster Management Authority for state capitals and cities with a municipal worker.  
• Formation of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF): The Bill empowers the country government to constitute a SDRF.
  • The state government will outline the capabilities of SDRF and prescribe the terms of provider for its individuals.
• Statutory reputation to existing committees: The Bill gives statutory status to present bodies which include the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and the High Level Committee (HLC).
  • The NCMC will feature as the nodal body for coping with important disasters with serious or national ramifications.  
  • The HLC will offer financial help to state governments during disasters.  
• Appointments to NDMA: It empowers NDMA to specify the wide variety and class of officials and personnel, with previous approval of the principal authorities.
  • NDMA may also hire professionals and specialists as important.

Concerns Raised

• Several opposition members argued that the amendments may centralize power and undermine the autonomy of state governments. 
• The Bill also offers more powers to a new authority, the Urban Disaster Management Authority, over the already current District Disaster Management Authority.

Conclusion

• The amendments had been had to tackle the new types of disasters rising in the wake of global warming and climate change.
• According to the government, to deal with those issues in an efficient way, we ought to strengthen our institutions and hold them accountable.

Source: The Indian Express

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. (2020)

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