New Bill to Improve Disaster Management in India Introduced in Lok Sabha
A new bill called the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was introduced in Lok Sabha on Thursday by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai. This bill aims to create Urban Disaster Management Authorities for state capitals and large cities with Municipal Corporations. It also seeks to strengthen the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the State Disaster Management Authorities.
The bill proposes the establishment of a ‘State Disaster Response Force’ by the State Government. This comes in response to recent natural disasters in Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, which have led to the loss of lives.
The Disaster Management Act, 2005, was originally enacted to provide effective management of disasters. It aimed to create necessary institutional mechanisms for disaster management plans, ensuring preventive measures, and coordinating prompt responses to disasters. The new bill seeks to amend this act to bring more clarity and convergence in the roles of various Authorities and Committees involved in disaster management.
The bill also aims to provide statutory status to pre-Act organizations like the National Crisis Management Committee and the High-Level Committee. It will empower the National and State Disaster Management Authorities to prepare disaster plans at the national and state levels, instead of the National Executive Committee and the State Executive Committee. Additionally, the bill proposes the creation of a disaster database at both the national and state levels.
Doubts Revealed
Bill -: A bill is a proposal for a new law. It needs to be discussed and approved by the government before it becomes a law.
Disaster Management -: Disaster management is how we prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters like floods, earthquakes, and cyclones.
Lok Sabha -: Lok Sabha is one of the two houses of India’s Parliament where laws are made. It is also called the House of the People.
Minister of State for Home -: The Minister of State for Home is a government official who helps manage the country’s internal affairs, like safety and security.
Nityanand Rai -: Nityanand Rai is a politician in India who is currently serving as the Minister of State for Home Affairs.
Urban Disaster Management Authorities -: These are special groups that will be set up in big cities to handle disasters more effectively.
National and State Disaster Management Authorities -: These are organizations that plan and coordinate how to deal with disasters at the national and state levels.
State Disaster Response Force -: This is a team of people trained to respond quickly to disasters in a state.
Disaster Management Act, 2005 -: This is a law made in 2005 to help India manage disasters better.
National and state disaster database -: These are collections of information about past disasters to help plan for future ones.
