The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill (GS Paper 2, Polity)
Introduction
- On August 1, 2024, the central government introduced the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha.
- This proposed legislation, coming in response to an increase in climate-induced disasters, represents a shift towards greater centralization in disaster management.
- The current Disaster Management Act of 2005, which already features a complex web of authorities at the national, state, and district levels, may face further centralization under this Bill.
Key Details of the Bill
The Bill introduces several significant changes:
- Complicated Chain of Action: It grants statutory status to pre-existing bodies such as the National Crisis Management Committee and a High-Level Committee. This move could lead to confusion and delays during disasters due to an overly complex hierarchy.
- Planning Powers: The Bill aims to enhance the role of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) in creating disaster management plans at both state and national levels.
- Creation of Authorities: It proposes the establishment of an ‘Urban Disaster Management Authority’ specifically for State capitals and cities with municipal corporations.
Concerns with Centralization
The centralization trend raises several concerns:
- Ambiguity in Financial Provisions: The Bill dilutes the specifics regarding the use of the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), which may weaken its effectiveness.
- Centralized Decision-Making: Centralizing decisions on fund allocation has been a recurring issue, particularly in severe disaster situations, leading to delays in aid distribution.
- Absence of Severity Coding: The Bill lacks provisions for categorizing the severity of disasters, which is crucial for a timely and appropriate response from the central government.
- Denial of Funds: Historical delays in fund distribution, such as the denial of relief funds to Tamil Nadu and later disbursement to Karnataka, highlight the problems of centralized control.
Expanding the Definition of Disasters
A core concern is the Bill’s static definition of disasters:
- Restricted Definition: The Disaster Management Act of 2005 and the Bill do not currently classify heatwaves as a disaster. Despite their severe impacts, including 536 heatwave days and over 10,000 deaths between 2013 and 2022, heatwaves are not included in the list of notified disasters eligible for assistance.
- Climate-Induced Events: The narrow definition fails to encompass climate-related disasters such as heatwaves, which have varying regional impacts and may not fit traditional disaster classifications. For example, a temperature of 40°C might be typical in some regions but could be classified as a heatwave in cooler areas like the Himalayas.
- Impact of Heatwaves: The existing Act and the Bill’s definition inadequately address the severe consequences of prolonged heatwaves, which can be as devastating as floods or other recognized disasters.
Conclusion
- The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, while intended to refine and strengthen the existing framework, appears to fall short in addressing the evolving nature of disasters in the context of climate change.
- It perpetuates a top-down approach that undermines the cooperative federalism essential for effective disaster management.
- Instead of focusing on centralized control and procedural complexities, there is a pressing need to enhance financial preparedness and embrace a more inclusive definition of disasters that reflects contemporary climate challenges.
- Moving forward, both central and state governments must work synergistically, focusing on practical measures for disaster management and prediction rather than engaging in a blame game.
- Addressing these issues in a cooperative manner will be crucial as disaster events become more frequent and severe due to global climate change.
