Disaster Preparedness and management has become an important component of district administration in India. Discuss with suitable example .

[McGregor]

.

[McGregor]

UN Disaster management report defines disaster as a serious and sudden disruption in normal functioning of the society which results in widespread loss of property, lives and environment and which goes beyond the capacity of the people to cope with it. 

According to CAG report, in India , we have 80% of the landmass prone to multiple disasters such floods, cyclones, earthquake etc. Further, Disastr leads to loss of 2.5 % to 3% GDP which can otherwise be used for growth and development.

Role of District administration in Disaster Preparedness

1. Has vast experience, exposure, and expertise in achieving  diaster prepareness which could reduce the vulnerability e.g District led mock drills in Haridwar 

2. Can integrate disaster preparedness as special component in Distric planning (243ZD)

3. Help in capacity building of local government and people to take effective 

4. Leverage upon ICT, GIS maping , MIS, Big data analytics, augmented reality etc to improve diaster prediction and disaster risk reduction 

5. Can facilitate hazard mapping of the district area such as in KERELA

6. Inter District cooperation to institutionalize best practices such as separate division of vulnerable section in disaster preparedness. 

Sendai framework of disaster risk reduction has given due importance to district administration in securing effective and outcome oriented disaster preparedness through district administration. IT says that every dollar saved in preparesness saves 5 Dollar post disaster. Thus, District Administration has to be change and innovation oriented such as in case PHAILIN Cyclone preparedness which reduced the casualties to remarkably low levels. For that, it needs to develop effective District -local self government partnerships while vertical integration with higher tier of government.