National Plans

Information from the National Disaster Management Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India  


National Policy

Traditionally, relief in the wake of natural calamities has been treated as the primary responsibility of the States. Successive Finance Commissions have also reiterated this position. Even though the States are primarily responsible for relief activities, the Central Government associates itself with measures aimed at ameliorating the sufferings of the people on account of natural calamities. Towards this end, the Central Government, with its resources, physical and financial does provide the needed help and assistance to buttress relief efforts in the wake of major natural calamities. The dimensions of the response at the level of National Government are determined in accordance with the existing policy of financing the relief expenditure and keeping in view the factors like (i) the gravity of a natural calamity, (ii) the scale of the relief operation necessary, and (iii) the requirements of Central assistance for augmenting the financial resources at the disposal of the State Government.

Types of Response:

The Central response can be:

(i) Policy response, and

(ii) Administrative response.

Policy response:

The policy response to a natural calamity would be provided by the Prime Minister, Cabinet Committees and the Agriculture Minister. The objectives of policy response would be:

1. to empathise with the sufferings of the people affected by natural calamity., and
2. to sub-serve long term and short term policy objectives of the Government.
3. visits of the calamity affected areas by President, Prime Minister and other dignitaries;
4. activating the administrative machinery for assisting in relief measures; and

setting up a machinery for implementing, reviewing and monitoring of relief measures.

Administrative response:

The response of the administration to a situation arising out of a natural calamity can be on account of: 


1. a follow-up of a policy objective of the Government;
2. the need for an assessment of the situation and for a central response;
3. States’ requests for central assistance; and
4. the need for information as a governance objective.
5. operational requirements; and
6. provision of Central assistance as per existing policy.
 


The operational aspects of the administrative response could, further, be classified into:-

Primary relief functions, and

Secondary relief functions.

The primary relief functions of the Central Government would relate to:

1. Forecasting and operation of warning system;
2. Maintenance of uninterrupted communication;
3. Wide publicity to warnings of impending calamity, disaster preparedness and relief measures through TV, AIR and Newspapers;
4. Transport with particular reference to evacuation and movement of essential commodities and petroleum products;
5. Ensuring availability of essential commodities at reasonable prices particularly the commodities through the Public Distribution System;
6. Ensuring availability of medicines, vaccine and drugs;
7. Preservation and restoration of physical communication links;
8. Investments in infrastructure; and
9. Mobilisation of financial resources.

The secondary functions of the Central Government which supplement the States’ relief efforts, would relate to:

1. Flood/inflow forecasts from the Central Water Commission;
2. Relief, rehabilitation and restoration through military aid to civil authorities;
3. Contingency plans for crops, cattle preservation nutrition and health measures;
4. Technical and technological inputs for provision of drinking water;
5. Technical assistance in the water budgeting and water management for various uses; and
6. Coordination of the activities of the State agencies and voluntary agencies.
 


Cabinet Committee

For effective implementation of relief measures in the wake of a natural calamity, the Cabinet may set up a committee. On the constitution of such a committee of the Cabinet, the Agriculture Secretary shall provide all necessary information to and seek directions if any, of the Cabinet Committee in all matters concerning relief in the wake of natural calamity and take steps for effective implementation of its directions. In the absence of such a Cabinet Committee, all matter relating to relief shall be reported to the Cabinet Secretary.

National Crisis Management Committee(NCMC)

A National Crisis Management Committee(NCMC) has been constituted in the Cabinet Secretariat. The composition of the Committee is as under:-

(1) Cabinet Secretary Chairman

(2) Secretary to Prime Minister Member

(3) Secretary(MHA) Member

(4) Secretary(MCD) Member

(5) Director(IB) Member

(6) Secretary(R&AW) Member

(7) Secretary(Agri, & Coopn.) Co-opted Member

(8) An officer of Cabinet Secretariat. Convenor

When a situation is to be handled also by the NCMC, it will give such directions to the Crisis Management Group of the Ministry as deemed necessary. The Secretary(A&C) will be responsible for ensuring that all developments are brought to the notice of the NCMC promptly.

Crisis Management Group

There shall be a Crisis Management Group (CMG) for dealing with matters relating to relief in the wake of major natural calamities, consisting of the following:-

(i)  Relief Commissioner Chairman

(ii) OSD, Cabinet Sectt, or a Representative of the .Cabinet Sectt.

(iii) A representative of P.M.O.

(iv) to (xiii)

Joint Secretaries in the Ministries/Deptts. of Finance, Food, Civil Supplies, Power, Urban Development, Rural Development, Health, Petroleum, Planning Commission and Deptt. of Women & Child Dev.

(xiv) Director General, India Meteorological Department.

(xv) to (xvi)

Senior officers of the Ministry of Railways/Railway Board and Ministry of Water Resources.

(xvii) A senior officer from the Ministry of Communications

(xviii) A senior officer from the Ministry of Transport dealing with road communication

(xix) Director General, Civil Defence

(xx) Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence.

(xxi) Joint Secretary (SR) & Addl. Relief Commissioner

The Resident Commissioners of the States affected by major natural calamity may be coopted on the CMG during the period of crisis.

The names, addresses of office and residence telephone Nos. of all the members will be maintained by the Scarcity Relief Division and the Control Room.

CMG  - Meeting

The CMG will meet atleast twice in a year in the months of December/January and May/June and as often as may be required by the Relief Commissioner. The CMG will meet in the chamber of Relief Commissioner in Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi unless otherwise indicated.

The CMG will: -

Review every year Contingency Plans formulated by the Central Ministries/Departments;

Review the measures required for dealing with a natural calamity

Coordinate the activities of the Central Ministries and the State Governments in relation to disaster preparedness and relief, and

Obtain information from the Nodal Officers on measures relating to the above. 


PROCEDURE FOR EXTENDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STATES

The present scheme of financing the relief expenditure arising out of natural calamities has come into force w.e.f. 1st April, 1990, consequent upon the acceptance of the recommendations of the Ninth Finance Commission. Under this scheme, a Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) is constituted for each State with certain amount allocated to each State. 75% of this amount is to be contributed by the Central Government in four quarterly instalments and the balance 256 is to be provided by the State Governments from its own resources. Following the constitution of the CRF, it is the responsibility of the State Government to meet all expenditure arising out of the natural calamities.

Monitoring the progress of relief measures

An Export Group has been constituted on the recommendations of the Ninth Finance Commission to monitor the relief work done, utilising the CRF. Further, the State Level Committee(s) are to keep the Ministry of Agriculture informed of the amount of damage caused due to drought, floods etc. as well as the broad details of relief measures undertaken by them. The Scarcity Relief Division, in the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, the requested the State Governments to furnish the progress of relief measures in the prescribed proforma on quarterly basis.

State Relief Organisation and Response

Most of the States have Relief Commissioners who are in charge of the relief measures in the wake of natural calamities in their respective States. In the absence of the Relief Commissioner, the Chief Secretary or an Officer nominated by him shall be in overall charge of the relief operations in the concerned State. The effectiveness of communication links with field agencies may be reviewed through periodical exercises.

State Crisis Management Group

There will be a State Crisis Management Group(SCMG) under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Relief Commissioner. This Group will comprise of Senior Officers from the Departments of Revenue! Relief, Home, Civil Supplies, Power, Irrigation, Water Supply, Panchayat (local self Government), Agriculture,. Forests, Rural Development, Health, Planning, Public Works and Finance. The Chief Secretary/Relief Commissioner may also co-opt on the Group, depending upon the requirements of the situation, one or more of the following persons:

Sub Area Commander/Section Commander

Station Commander of Air Force

Flag Officer Command—in—Chief

Chairman/Secretary, Indian Red Cross, State Branch

Representative of Meteorological Department Officer-in-charge, Cyclone Warning Centre, CWC and Flood Forecasting Organisations.

General Manager, Railways of the zone concerned.

General Manager, Telephones

Chief General Manager, Telecommunications

D.G. of State Police

Chief Engineer, Roads & Buildings

Chief Engineer, Major irrigation

Chief Engineer, Panchayati Raj

Chief Engineer, Urban Water Supply

Chief Engineer,

Director of Agriculture

Director of Horticulture

Director of Medical Health Services

Director of Animal Husbandry

Secretary of the State Electricity Board

Secretary, Deptt. of Women & Child Development.

P.H.E., Deptt./Water Supply and Sewerage Board

Station Director AIR/DDK

Chief Engineer, Border Road Organisation

Director, Civil Supplies

Regional Manager, Indian Oil Corporation

Director, Local Bodies.

SCMG Responsibilities

The SCMG will, take into consideration the instructions and guidance received, from time to time, from the Government of India and formulate action plans for dealing with different natural calamities. The SCIAG will also have the district level plans for relief formulated by Collectors! Deputy Commissioners.

Sate Level Control Room

The Relief Commissioner of the State shall establish a Emergency Operation Centre(Control Room) as soon as a disaster situation develops. The Control Room shall have alt information relating to the forecasting and warning of disaster, action plans for implementation and details of contact paints and various concerned agencies. It shall have updated information about the Air Force, the Navy and the Army for quick interaction in times of

State level control room responsibilities

The Control Room will be responsible for:

Transmitting to the Central Relief Commissioner information as to the development of a crisis situation as a result of natural disaster on continue basis till the situation improves;

Receiving instructions and communicating to the appropriate agencies, for immediate action;

Collection and submission of information relating to implementation of relief measures to the Central Relief Commissioner; and

Keeping the State level authorities apprised of the developments on a continuing basis.

DISTRICT LEVEL RESPONSE

Focal Point

The collector or Deputy Commissioner will be the focal point at the district level for preparation of the district level plans and for directing, supervising and monitoring relief measures for natural calamities.

Contingency Plans

At the district level, the disaster relief plans shall provide for specific tasks and agencies for their implementation in respect of the areas given in Annexure  in relation to different types of calamities.

A contingency plan for the district far different disasters shall be drawn up by the Collector/Deputy Commissioner .and got approved by the State Government. The Collector/Deputy Commissioner should also coordinate and secure the input from the local defence forces unit in preparation of the contingency plans. These Contingency plans must lay down specific action points key personnel and contact points in relation to mail aspects including, in particular, the areas detailed in Annexure.

District Relief Committee

The relief measures shall be reviewed by the district level. relief committee consisting of official and non-official members including the local legislators and the members of Parliament

District Control Room

In the wake of natural calamities a Control Roan shall be set up in t4i e district for day to day monitoring of the rescue and relief operations on a continuing basis.

Coordination

The Collector shall maintain Close liaison with the Central Government authorities in the districts, namely Army, Air Force and Navy, Ministry of Water Resources etc., who could supplement the effort of The district administration in the rescue and relief operations.

The Collector/Deputy Commissioner shall take all steps for enlistment of voluntary efforts and channelising the non-Government organisations response to natural calamities.

The Collector shall closely interact with different implementation agencies and furnish information on a daily basis to the State Relief Commissioner on the implementation of rescue and relief measures.

Review of Contingency Plans

The district level contingency; plans and the State Actin Plans should be reviewed annually and updated in the light of lessons learnt in dealing with natural calamities from time to time. Copies of the revised / updated contingency plans at State and district level should also available in the Ministry of Agriculture (Control Room)