Counting people is not counting disaster risk, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• The 16th Finance Commission reduced Odisha's disaster funding share by 1.57 percentage points, despite the state being highly disaster-prone.
• The Commission allocated ₹2,04,401 crore to State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF), a 59.5% increase.
• The new formula uses a Disaster Risk Index (DRI) based on Hazard, Exposure, and Vulnerability.
• Exposure is measured using the total population of each state, scaled between 1 and 25.

Detailed Insights:

• The Finance Commission's allocation formula has a structural problem, as it rewards demographic size rather than actual disaster risk.
• Exposure should be measured by the number of people living in defined hazard zones, not the total population.
• Vulnerability is currently measured by per capita Net State Domestic Product (NSDP), which doesn't accurately reflect disaster vulnerability.
• A composite index should be used for vulnerability, incorporating housing quality, health infrastructure, and early warning reach.
• The National Disaster Management Authority should publish an annual State Disaster Vulnerability Index.
• Climate projections indicate increasing disaster frequencies, particularly affecting states like Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Assam.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Disaster Risk Index (DRI): A measure of disaster risk based on hazard, exposure, and vulnerability.
• State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF): Funds allocated by the Finance Commission to states for disaster management.
• Exposure: The presence of people in places that could be adversely affected by hazards.