ROLE OF NGOS COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS & MEDIA IN

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
DISASTER
Disaster is a sudden, calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, and destruction and
devastation to life and property. The damage caused by disasters is immeasurable and varies
with the geographical location, climate and the type of the earth surface/degree of
vulnerability. This influences the mental, socio-economic, political and cultural state of the
affected area. Generally, disaster has the following effects in the concerned areas,
1. It completely disrupts the normal day to day life
2. It negatively influences the emergency systems
3. Normal needs and processes like food, shelter, health, etc. are affected
Thus, a disaster may have the following main features:o
Unpredictability
o
Unfamiliarity
o
Speed
o
Urgency
o
Uncertainty
o
Threat
Approach to Disaster Management
A typical Disaster Management continuum as shown below, comprising of six elements i.e.,
Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness in pre-disaster phase, and Response, Rehabilitation
and Reconstruction in post-disaster phase, defines the complete approach to Disaster
Management.

Role of State Government Departments /Agencies in Disaster Management

National Policy on Disaster Management(NPDM)
1. Preamble -Disasters disrupt progress and destroy the hard-earned fruits of painstaking
developmental efforts, often pushing nations, in quest for progress, back by several decades.
Thus, efficient management of disasters, rather than mere response to their occurrence has, in
recent times, received increased attention both within India and abroad. This is as much a
result of the recognition of the increasing frequency and intensity of disasters as it is an
acknowledgement that good governance, in a caring and civilised society, needs to deal
effectively with the devastating impact of
Objectives
The objectives of the national policy on disaster management are:
_ Promoting a culture of prevention, preparedness and resilience at all levels through
knowledge, innovation and education.
_ Encouraging mitigation measures based on technology, traditional wisdom and
environmental sustainability.
_ Mainstreaming disaster management into the developmental planning process.
_ Establishing institutional and techno-legal frameworks to create an enabling regulatory
environment and a compliance regime.
_ Ensuring efficient mechanism for identification, assessment and monitoring of disaster
risks.
_ Developing contemporary forecasting and early warning systems backed by responsive and
failsafe communication with information technology support.
_ Promoting a productive partnership with the media to create awareness and contributing
towards capacity development.
_ Ensuring efficient response and relief with a caring approach towards the needs of the
vulnerable sections of the society.
_ Undertaking reconstruction as an opportunity to build disaster resilient structures and
habitat for ensuring safer living.
Institutional and Legal Arrangements

Disaster Management Act, 2005

The Act lays down institutional, legal, financial and coordination mechanisms at the national,
state, district and local levels.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
The NDMA, as the apex body for disaster management, is headed by the Prime Minister .
The National Executive Committee
The National Executive Committee (NEC) comprises the Union Home Secretary as the
Chairperson, and the Secretaries to the GOI in the Ministries/Departments.
State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)
At the State level, the SDMA, headed by the Chief Minister, will lay down policies and plans
for DM in the State. The State Government shall constitute a State Executive Committee
(SEC) to assist the SDMA in the performance of its functions. The SEC will be headed by the
Chief Secretary to the State Government and coordinate and monitor the implementation of
the National Policy, the National Plan and the State Plan. The SEC will also provide
information to the NDMA relating to different aspects of DM.
District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)
The DDMA will be headed by the District Collector, Deputy Commissioner or District
Magistrate as the case may be, with the elected representative of the local authority as the CoChairperson.
Local Authorities
For the purpose of this policy, local authorities would include Panchayati Raj Institutions
(PRI), Municipalities, District and Cantonment Boards and Town Planning Authorities which
control and manage civic services. National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM)
National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC)
The NCMC, comprising high level officials of the GoI headed by the Cabinet Secretary, will
continue to deal with major crises which have serious or national ramifications. It will be
supported by the Crisis Management Groups (CMG) of the Central nodal Ministries and
assisted by NEC as may be necessary. The Secretary, NDMA may be a member of this
Committee.
Other Important Institutional Arrangements
Armed Forces
Conceptually, the Armed Forces are called upon to assist the civil administration only when
the situation is beyond their coping capability. The armed forces will participate in imparting
training to trainers and DM managers, especially in CBRN aspects, heli-insertion, high

altitude rescue, watermanship and training of paramedics. At the national level, the Chief of
the Integrated Defence Staff and the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee has already been
included in the NEC.
Central Para Military Forces
The State Police forces and the Fire Services are crucial immediate responders to disasters.
The police force will be trained and the Fire Services upgraded to acquire multi-hazard rescue
capability.
Civil Defence and Home Guards
The mandate of the Civil Defence and the Home Guards will be redefined to assign an
effective role in the field of disaster management. They will be deployed for community
preparedness and public awareness. A culture of voluntary reporting to duty stations in the
event of any disasters will be promoted.
State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)
States will be encouraged to create response capabilities from within their existing resources.
To start with, each state may aim at equipping and training one battalion equivalent force.
They will also include women members for looking after the needs of women and children.
Role of National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS) and Nehru Yuva
Kendra Sangathan (NYKS)
Potential of these youth based organisations will be optimised to support all community
based initiatives and DM training would be included in their programmes.
International Cooperation
Disasters do not recognise geographical boundaries. Major disasters may often
simultaneously affect several countries. It will be the national endeavour to develop close
cooperation and coordination at the international level in all spheres of DM.
Communications and Information Technology (IT) Support
The basic communications and IT support requirements for disaster management correspond
to the following three levels:
_ Decision makers and disaster managers at all levels.
_ Real time dissemination of advance warnings and information to the concerned authorities
at various levels and threatened community.
_ Last mile connectivity at the disaster site for control and conduct of rescue and relief
operations.
Role of National Executive Committee (NEC)

NEC will coordinate response in the event of any threatening disaster situation or disaster.
While disaster specific guidelines will be formulated by NDMA, NEC may give directions to
the concerned Ministries/Departments of the Govt. of India, the State Governments and the
State Authorities regarding measures to be taken by them in response to any specific
threatening disaster situation or disaster.
Role of State, District and Local Authorities
It is the primary responsibility of the State Governments/SDMAs to monitor and assess any
developing situation and keep NDMA and NEC apprised of the same. The States/UTs will
also be responsible to develop their own response potential progressively and complete the
process at the earliest. This will comprise training and equipping of state response forces,
community preparedness, training and creation of response caches at the district level.
District level preparations will provide the cutting edge to all response activities. Local
authorities, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) will play a
significant role in the entire process, particularly in response and rescue operation, relief and
rehabilitation, awareness generation and disaster preparedness, restoration of livelihood
options and coordination with Non-Governmental Organisations and civil society.
Role of NGOs in Disaster Management
The National Disaster Management Guidelines on the Role of Non-Governmental
Organisations (NGOs) in Disaster Management, as uploaded here with, has been formulated
by NDMA in consultation with eminent humanitarian assistance practitioners, civil society
representatives and senior administrators in the country. NGOs have more competitive
advantages and flexibility of operations in fields like awareness generation, community level
preparedness and capacity building of communities.
Recognizing the need of the hour, a National NGO Task Force on Disaster Management was
established by NDMA in 2006 and several meetings of this Task Force were held to discuss
strategies for consolidating and clarifying the Role of NGOs in DM.

National NGO Task Force

Purpose
To promote Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) in all spheres of
disaster management.
Objectives

Mapping of NGOs at state and district levels.

Training and capacity building of various stakeholders.

Mainstreaming vulnerability reduction through CBDRM in civil society initiatives.

Assisting the transition from relief codes to Disaster Management codes through
Policy and Guidelines.

The list of Institutions to be the members of the Task Force

1. UNDP
2. CARE, India
3. OXFAM
4. EFICOR
5. SEEDS
6. PGVS
7. ABCD
8. TNTRC
9. RVC
10. RedR India
11. CARITAS
12. World Vision
13. Indian Red Cross Society
14. BJS
15. UNICEF
16. MHA, GoI
17. NIDM
18. Ramakrishna Mission
19. VANI

20. SPHERE India

Role of Media in Disaster Management
The role of media, both print and electronic, in informing the people and the authorities
during emergencies thus, becomes critical, especially the ways in which media can play a
vital role in public awareness and preparedness through educating the public about disasters;
warning of hazards; gathering and transmitting information about affected areas; alerting
government officials, helping relief organizations and the public towards specific needs; and
even in facilitating discussions about disaster preparedness and response. During any
emergency, people seek up-to-date, reliable and detailed information.These modern means of
communication systems that can be used in early warning are as follows:
PROVIDING ANALYTICAL INFORMATION: AS A MEANS OF PREPAREDNESS.
In summary then, early warning systems, disaster preparedness, analytical information, and
the coordination and readiness for responses are all factors determined by people rather than
Acts of gods beyond human control.
Disaster Management would be
To discuss the role of media in public safety/ emergency management
To discuss benefits of media in generating public awareness about disaster risk
reduction
To suggest measures to bridge gap between disaster managers and media
officials before, during and after disasters
To discuss the ethical issues involved in media reporting
To identify key issues in establishing good coordination and efficient flow of
information from government sources for media during emergencies
To recommend measures that can sustain media interests before and after
disasters
Abbreviations
ARMVs Accident Relief Medical Vans
BIS Bureau of Indian Standards
CBOs Community Based Organizations
CBRN - Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
CCMNC Cabinet Committee on Management of Natural

Calamities
CCS Cabinet Committee on Security
CSR Corporate Social Responsibility
CRF Calamity Relief Fund
DDMA District Disaster Management Authority
DM Disaster Management
GIS Geographic Information System
GoI Government of India
GPS Global Positioning System
HLC High Level Committee
HPC High Powered Committee
IAY Indira Awas Yojana
ICS Incident Command System
ICT Information and Communication Technology
IDRN India Disaster Resource Network
IITs Indian Institutes of Technology
IMC Inter-Ministerial Committee
IMG Inter-Ministerial Group
IT Information Technology
ITIs Industrial Training Institutes
ITK Indigenous Technical Knowledge
MHA Ministry of Home Affairs
NBC Nuclear, Biological and Chemical
NCC National Cadet Corps
NCCF National Calamity Contingency Fund
NCMC National Crisis Management Committee
NDEM National Database for Emergency Management

NDMA National Disaster Management Authority

NDMRCs National Disaster Mitigation Resource Centres

by Aditi Gupta
References
Different Wiki sites and Class notes.