Today, we are observing the 10th anniversary of the one of
the most catastrophic disasters, the tsunami in 2004, which had caused
enormous loss of life, property, ecology and environment, infrastructure in
number of countries including India. This disaster has made significant
changes in preparedness and response system in large number of countries.
In India, we could see two major disasters before tsunami as
Orrisa Super Cyclone 1999 and Gujarat Earthquake 2001 and High Powered
Committee on Disaster Management gave their report in 2002 so this disaster
sensitized the Government of India and entire bureaucracy to take suitable
measures. The Disaster Management Act 2005 was the most significant
achievement. The National Disaster Management Authority was constituted and
National Institute for Disaster Management was started by upgrading the
existing National Centre for Disaster management at IIPA for capacity building
in the country.The states and Districts were asked to form the State Disaster
management Authorities and District Disaster management Authorities
respectively, throughout the country.
Today, we can be proud of few things-
1. A world class Tsunami warning system is functional, which
gave us scientific supremacy in the region and Government intention for
spending on preparedness.
2. National Disaster Management Authority is existing, which
is great opportunity for the country to give policy, planning, direction to the
nation in disaster preparedness, mitigation and response. The guidelines
prepared by NDMA can be used by the practitioners by making specific
adaptations/modifications.
3. The NDRF is unique force to assist states in
response.
4. National Institute of Disaster management is doing good
job in capacity building in the country.
We still need to focus on following aspects-
1. Strengthen the District Disaster management Authorities
in at least all vulnerable districts.
2. Making State Disaster Response Force in every state for
quick response.
3. All states should have active State Disaster management
Authorities with full time Vice Chairman and few members.
4. Every state and district should have 'Emergency Operation
Centre' which can be used for other developmental purposes.
5.Mainstreaming of DRR in more planned manner.
India can contribute a lot in the region as it is having
many disaster experts and scietific capabilities. I am sure that this
capabilities will be utilized in future.
Vinod Sharma
Executive Vice Chairman, Sikkim State Disaster Management
Authority, Gangtok
Sikkim
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