Disaster amendment bill 2024

 The Bill only strengthens the top-down approach, affecting vital cooperative federalism in disaster management

Disaster amendment  bill 2024 

Why in news ?

On August 1, 2024, the central government introduced the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha. 

But bill has centralisation of an already heavily-centralised Disaster Management Act, 2005. 

क्या प्रावधान इसमें देखने को मिलता है ?

1 creation of many authorities and committees

This Act, in its current form, already mandates the creation of many authorities and committees at the national, State and district levels. 

2 statutory status to pre-act organisations

The proposed Bill further provides statutory status to pre-act organisations such as the National Crisis Management Committee and a High Level Committee, complicating the chain of action to be followed in case of disasters.

 3 A repercussion of this top-down approach is seen when there is a delayed response to disasters, antithetical to the intent and purpose of the Act.

4 to strengthen authority

the working of the National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities to prepare State and national level plans. 

5 It also establishes an ‘Urban Disaster Management Authority’ for State capitals and cities with municipal corporations. 

6 without finance ?

But this intended decentralisation of functions without the necessary financial devolution creates more problems than it solves.

Centralisation as a concern

और कौनसी प्रमुख कमियां हैं ?

1 redifine - National Disaster Response Fund 

The amendment Bill goes on to dilute the wording of the National Disaster Response Fund by removing the purposes for which the fund shall be used. 

2 excess centralisation 

of decision making on funds, especially in situations where the disaster is severe. 

3 आपदा की गंभीरता को देखते हुए केन्द्र सरकार द्वारा त्वरित प्रतिक्रिया आवश्यक है, जो वर्तमान में अधिनियम में अनुपस्थित है।

A similarly delayed response was witnessed when the disaster relief funds from the NDRF were denied to Tamil Nadu and disbursed much later to Karnataka.

Restricted definition of ‘disaster’

heatwaves not as a notified disaster ?

1 सरकार का क्या कहना है ?

On July 25, 2024, the Minister of State of Science, Technology and Earth Sciences, in response to questions posed in the Lok Sabha, said that the government is currently not planning to classify heatwaves as a notified disaster under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. 

.2 The notified list of disasters eligible for assistance 

under the National Disaster Response Fund/State Disaster Response Fund are cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche, cloud burst, pest attack, frost and cold wave.

. 3 पूरी दुनिया से भारत को सीख लेना चाहिए

 Globally, there is enough consensus to classify heatwaves as climate-related disasters, given their ramifications on ecosystems and human health. 

4 कितनी गंभीर समस्या है हीट वेव ?

According to the India Meteorological Department data, India had 536 heatwave days which is the highest number of heatwave days in almost 14 years. 

Rising heatwave days along with 10,635 human deaths due to heat or sunstroke in 2013-2022 portends a larger disaster in the making for the country.

5 सरकार हीट वेव को डिजास्टर में क्यों नहीं शामिल कर रही ?

This is because the notified list of disasters under the Act restricts the inclusion of climate-induced disasters such as heatwaves which display regional variability and gradation specific to a geographical area. 

For example, a normal summer temperature of 40° C in several north Indian States may classify as heatwave conditions in the Himalayas. 

Relevant issues

 some questions ?

Is the proposed Bill adept to tackle contemporary challenges arising due to the disproportionate power dynamics between the central and State governments? 

Do States have to largely depend on the central government for the disbursal of funds? 

WAY FORWARD 

There is a need to re-visit the Centre’s efforts in addressing the issue of financial preparedness when it comes to the management of and response to disasters. 

The conversation should not revolve around whether the Centre or State is responsible for the loss of lives in Wayanad, Kerala, but what is it that can be done to manage disasters and predict their future occurrence. 

After all, a blame game will only move away from realising the true spirit of cooperative federalism.

Source the hindu