Subject: Disaster Management

India's disaster management paradigm has witnessed a significant shift from a reactive post-disaster relief approach to a more proactive prevention-preparedness-mitigation framework. The recent measures by the Government of India reflect this transformation through comprehensive guidelines and community-based initiatives.

Recent Proactive Measures

Policy Framework and Guidelines

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued comprehensive guidelines covering multiple hazards including Forest Fires, Heatwave Management, Earthquakes, and Avalanches in 2025.
• Release of 38 hazard-specific disaster management guidelines in March 2025 demonstrates a multi-hazard approach to disaster preparedness.
• Enhanced financial allocation through Union Budget 2025-26 with ₹279 crore as grants to the Union Territory Disaster Response Fund for Jammu and Kashmir.

Early Warning Systems

• Implementation of advanced early warning systems showing varied effectiveness:
  • Cyclone warning systems achieving 100% coverage of exposed populations.
  • Flood warning systems reaching 33% of vulnerable areas.
• 14 out of 32 flood-prone states and 9 out of 17 cyclone-prone states demonstrate high resilience due to effective early warning mechanisms.

Community-Based Initiatives

• Collaboration between Government of India and UNDP (2002-2020) focusing on:
  • Local capacity building.
  • Development of emergency response protocols.
  • Community awareness programs.
• Indian Red Cross Society's (IRCS) programs in Maharashtra (2009-onwards) emphasizing:
  • Community participation in disaster preparedness.
  • Training programs for local stakeholders.
  • Establishment of communication networks.

Way Forward

• Need for strengthening flood warning systems to match cyclone warning efficiency.
• Focus on capacity building at local levels.
• Integration of technology and traditional knowledge.
• Enhancement of community resilience.

The transformation from a reactive to proactive approach is evident through these comprehensive measures, aligned with the principles of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The success of initiatives like IRCS programs and UNDP collaboration demonstrates the effectiveness of community-based disaster management in building resilient communities.