The Disaster Management Act, 2005, marked a significant step in India's approach to handling disasters, leading to the establishment of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and state and district-level disaster management authorities. These bodies play crucial roles in the country's disaster preparedness, response, and mitigation efforts.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA):
- Structure: The NDMA consists of a chairperson and other members, not exceeding nine. The Prime Minister serves as the ex-officio chairperson. The other members are nominated by the chairperson of the NDMA, and one of them is designated as the vice-chairperson.
- Roles and Responsibilities: The NDMA is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing disaster management policies and plans at the national level. It provides guidelines and recommendations for effective disaster management strategies across the country.
- Status: The vice-chairperson of the NDMA has the status of a Cabinet Minister, while other members have the status of a Minister of State. The NDMA works under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA):
- Structure: Every state government must establish an SDMA for the state. It consists of a chairperson and other members, not exceeding nine. The Chief Minister of the state is the ex-officio chairperson of the SDMA.
- Responsibilities: The SDMA develops state-level disaster management plans and strategies in accordance with the guidelines provided by the NDMA. It is responsible for coordinating state-level disaster management efforts and ensuring efficient preparedness and response.
- Composition: The chairperson of the State Executive Committee is an ex-officio member of the SDMA, and one of the other members is designated as the vice-chairperson.
District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA):
- Structure: Every state government should establish a DDMA for each district. It consists of a chairperson and other members, not exceeding seven. The District Collector (or District Magistrate or Deputy Commissioner) serves as the ex-officio chairperson of the DDMA.
- Responsibilities: The DDMA is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing disaster management strategies at the district level. It ensures a prompt and coordinated response to disasters within the district.
- Composition: The elected representative of the local authority is the ex-officio co-chairperson of the DDMA. Other ex-officio members include the chief executive officer of the DDMA, the superintendent of police, and the chief medical officer of the district. The state government appoints other district-level officers as members of the DDMA.
Together, the NDMA, SDMAs, and DDMAs form a hierarchical structure for managing disasters at the national, state, and district levels. They work collaboratively to ensure that disaster management efforts are well-coordinated and effective across India.
