(GIST OF YOJANA) Quick Disaster Response: A Specialized Task - March - 2017

International developments like the Yokohama Strategy and the Hyogo Framework coupled with national developments in the form of serious calamities in quick succession, like Odisha Super Cyclone(l999), Gujarat Earthquake (2001) and Indian Ocean Tsunami(2004), brought about the realization of the need of having a specialist response mechanism at the national level to effectively respond to disasters. This led to the enactment of the Disaster Management (DM) Act on December 26, 2005. This Act provides for the effective management of disasters. Consequently, National Disaster Management Authority was formed in the year 2006 to supervise disasters in India. A multi skilled, highly professional " National Disaster Response Force" comprising of eight battallions (two battallions each from BSF, CRPF, ITBP and CISF) were raised to tackle/mitigate all types of disaster. In 2010 two battalions (one each from CRPF and BSF) and in 2015 two more battalions from SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal) were added in NDRF. As on date, NDRF is having a strength of 12 battalions each with authorized strength of 1149 personnel.

Vision

The vision of NDRF is to emerge as the most visible and vibrant multi-disciplinary, multi-skilled; high-tech force capable of dealing with all types of natural as well as manmade disasters and to mitigate the effects of disasters.

Role of NDRF

NDRF is serving the needs of all classes of people irrespective of their caste, creed or economic position. The force is working with great enthusiasm and courage in various fields like CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense), floods, earthquakes, cyclones, tsunamis, major accidents, etc. The role of NDRF is as follows:

1. Provide specialized response for rescue and relief in case of disasters-natural and manmade.
2. Deployment in case of impending disasters.
3. Assistance to civil authorities in distribution of relief material during/after disaster.
4. Co- ordination with other agencies engaged in rescue/relief work.

NDRF Tasks

• Deployment in case of impending disaster.
• Provide specialist response in case of disasters which covers:
• NBC Disaster (Decontamination of the area and personnel).
• Removal of debris.
• Extrication of victims-live or dead.
• First medical response to victims.
• To extend moral support to victims.
• Assistance to civil authorities in distribution of relief material.
• Co-ordination with sister agencies.
• Providing assistance to foreign countries if asked.
• Capacity building.
• Imparting training to SDRF.
• Community awareness- Target groups-villagers, school children, NGOs, volunteers and state administration.

Training

The aim of disaster response training is to build the capacity of Responders of NDRF for improving preparedness and response at all levels before, during and after disasters and to give all components of the movement the means to work together in a coordinated manner. The focus of disaster management training is generally on improving the technical skills of the responders, but also on personnel and team management. It aims to encourage an exchange of experience and knowledge and the creation of networks amongst the disaster managers. It also aims to improve coordination of disaster response and the quality and availability of disaster management tools.

NDRF personnel undergo a variety of training where emphasis is being given on refreshing the skill acquired as well as to raise the expertise level up to international standards.

Training also includes imparting the knowledge to other stakeholders as well as the common population by various methods like conducting community awareness programmes, organising lectures, demonstrations and mock exercises.

Familiarization/Community Awareness Programme

• In respective Area of Responsibility to provide opportunity to the personnel to acquaint themselves and acquire knowledge about topography, demography, route, terrain and the availability of resources such as medical support, water points, earth' moving equipments etc.
• It also provides opportunity to the Commanders to acquaint themselves with local inhabitants and liaise/coordinate the officials who invariably are the first responders or stake holders at the time of disaster.
• To carry out Community Awareness programme.
Further, the team commanders are assigned particular area to collect information during Familiarization regarding important telephone numbers of the district, the resources. available in the district, the pattern of disaster that normally occurs in the area, etc. In case of any disaster, the same team is sent to the incident site where the team has conducted Familiarization! Community Awareness Programme/School Safety Programme as the team is well aware of the area. Till date over 47 lakh people have been benefitted from these programmes.
In 2016, 1623 Programmes (433 School Safety Programme and 1190 Familiarization Exercise/Community Awareness Programme) were conducted by NDRF.

Mock Drill

NDRF also' conducts Mock drill to ensure proper coordination among various agencies in disaster situation. Mock drills are also organizeds by state governments and various institutions/ NGOs with the help of NDRF and civilians are also part of such mock drills like a Mega Mock Drill on Earthquake/Cyclone/Train accident etc. was organized in which many civilians along with various state agencies and CAPF took part. Such type of mock drills helps to know about the Do's and Don'ts and the action required to be taken when any disaster happens. Till date total 879 mock exercises have been conducted in the Area of Responsibilities of respective NDRF battalions with the participation of over 5 lakh people,.

Operations

Since its raising NDRF has conducted many operations and saved many precious lives and retrieved dead bodies of victims. Some of the major operations of NDRF includes Kosi Flood in Bihar in 2008, AILA cyclone in May'2009 in WB, Train accident in Jhargram (WB) in May'2010, Chlorine leakage at Shiwadi, Mumbai (MH) in July'2010, Cloud Burst in Leh in 2010, Mayapuri Radiation, New Delhi in April 2010, Sikkim earthquake in 2011, Collapse of factory building in Jallandhar in 2012, Assam Flood in 2012. NDRF has also responded during Tsunami followed by leakage of radiation from the nuclear reactor in RifuCho, Japan, in the last week of March'2011. Uttarakhand Operation-2013', Mumbai building collapse, Cyclone Philine, Flood-2013, Mandi operation-2014, Chennai building collapse-2014, J&K flood, Assam & Meghalaya flood, Cyclone Hudhud, Pune land slide operation-2014, J&K Flood-2015, Kolkata Flyover collapse-2016, Flood-2016,Uttarakhand Forest Fire-2016, Shavitri bridge Collapse Mahad-2016 Train derailment-2016,Cyclone Vardah-2016 has also been responded to by NDRF .During these operations NDRF saved 5,50,641precious lives and retrieved 2551 dead bodies.

Current Status and Future Plans:

Disaster response calls for humanitarianism, fortitude and professionalism which are the hallmark of National Disaster Response Force. NDRF is possibly the single largest dedicated disaster response force in the world, trained and equipped as per international standards to handle.and manage disaster situations across the country or region.

NDRF has played a pivotal role in disaster management in the country. The emergency response as well as community capacity building programme conducted by NDRF has installed a sense of confidence in the countrymen regarding responsibility of Government machinery in providing quick response during disaster or disaster like situations.

It is appropriate to mention here that, .the frequency of disasters and the operational commitment of NDRF is increasing day by day. The present strength of NDRF is not adequate to give an immediate response across the country due to its vast geographical area and huge population. The area of responsibility of few battallions is too big for quick response. Hence after analyzing the vulnerability profile of the country carefully, there is a need to raise more NDRF battalions.

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Courtesy: Yojana