Helping Hand, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• Cyclones Arnab (October 28) and Murasu (November 3) hit the Andhra Pradesh coast, resulting in seven deaths.
• Damage from Cyclone Arnab was estimated at ₹4,526 crore in Andhra Pradesh.
• Cyclone Murasu affected approximately 52,500 hectares of standing crops.
• The deployment of Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) and other technologies minimized casualties and property damage.
• The Union government is expected to release the first installment of funds to the affected states.

Detailed Insights:

• Cyclone Arnab also damaged nearly 90,000 hectares of standing crops in southern Odisha.
• Andhra Pradesh's disaster response has improved significantly since Cyclone Hudhud in 2014, which caused 63 deaths and ₹22,000 crore damage.
• The article advocates for greater collaboration between higher learning institutions and government agencies for effective disaster management.
• It highlights the need for an improved compensation framework for crop losses, citing shortcomings in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
• The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, launched in 2016, requires enhancements to provide comprehensive safety cover and encourage farmer participation.
• Following the 15th Finance Commission's recommendations, National and State Disaster Response Funds now include recovery and reconstruction components.
• The Centre is urged to provide additional financial assistance for permanent restoration projects, embodying cooperative federalism.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Real Time Governance Society (RTGS): An Andhra Pradesh initiative for real-time monitoring and quick response in governance, including disaster management.
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): A crop insurance scheme launched in 2016 by the Union government to provide financial support to farmers suffering crop loss due to unforeseen events.
• National and State Disaster Response Funds (NDRF/SDRF): Funds established under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to provide immediate relief and now recovery and reconstruction for disaster victims.
• Cooperative Federalism: A principle where the central and state governments collaborate and coordinate to achieve common goals, especially in policy implementation and disaster response.