Mains Practice Questions

Approach

• Start your answer by briefly introducing effects of natural disasters in India.
• Discuss challenges faced by India in managing natural disasters and suggest measures to overcome them.
• Conclude accordingly.

Introduction

• Natural disasters are events that cause widespread destruction, disruption, and distress to human lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems. They are often triggered by natural phenomena such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones, droughts, landslides, avalanches, etc., that are beyond human control.
  • However, human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, climate change, etc., can also increase the vulnerability and exposure of people and places to natural hazards.

Body

• Background:
  • India is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, due to its diverse geography, climate, and population. According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), India is vulnerable to 30 different types of natural disasters, of which 12 are classified as major disasters.
    • India has witnessed several devastating natural disasters in its history, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, the 2013 Uttarakhand flash floods, the 2018 Kerala floods, etc., that have claimed thousands of lives and caused huge economic losses.
• Managing natural disasters is a complex and challenging task that requires effective coordination and cooperation among various stakeholders at different levels. Some of the major challenges faced by India in managing natural disasters are:
  • Lack of preparedness and early warning systems: India lacks adequate preparedness and early warning systems to deal with natural disasters.
    • Many disaster-prone areas do not have proper disaster management plans, risk assessments, contingency plans, evacuation plans, that can help in reducing the impact of disasters.
    • Moreover, many people do not have access to timely and accurate information and alerts about impending disasters, which can help them in taking preventive and protective measures.
  • Inadequate response and relief operations: India faces difficulties in providing prompt and effective response and relief operations to the affected people and areas during and after natural disasters.
    • There are gaps in the availability and accessibility of resources such as personnel, equipment, vehicles, communication systems, medical facilities, that are needed for rescue and relief operations.
      • Moreover, there are issues of coordination and accountability among various agencies and organizations involved in disaster response and relief.
  • Poor recovery and rehabilitation measures: India faces challenges in ensuring long-term recovery and rehabilitation of the affected people and areas after natural disasters.
    • There are delays and deficiencies in the provision of financial assistance, compensation, insurance, livelihood support, housing reconstruction, infrastructure restoration, that are essential for restoring normalcy and resilience.
    • Moreover, there are problems of corruption, mismanagement, and lack of transparency in the utilization of funds and resources allocated for disaster recovery and rehabilitation.
  • Lack of awareness and participation: India faces a lack of awareness and participation among the public and communities in disaster management.
    • Many people do not have adequate knowledge and skills about disaster risk reduction, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
    • Moreover, many people do not participate in disaster management activities such as drills, mock exercises, volunteering, that can enhance their capacity and confidence to cope with disasters.
• To overcome these challenges, India needs to adopt a holistic and proactive approach to disaster management that involves the following measures:
  • Strengthening the institutional and legal framework for disaster management at national, state, and local levels.
  • Enhancing the scientific and technological capabilities for disaster risk assessment, early warning, monitoring and forecasting.
  • Developing and implementing comprehensive and integrated disaster management plans, policies, and programs for prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, relief, recovery, and rehabilitation.
  • Improving the coordination and collaboration among various stakeholders such as government agencies, non-governmental organizations, private sector, media, academia, etc, in disaster management.
  • Building the capacity and awareness of the public and communities in disaster management through education, training, and awareness campaigns.
  • Promoting the participation and empowerment of the vulnerable groups such as women, children, elderly, disabled, in disaster management.
  • Incorporating the principles of sustainability, equity, and inclusiveness in disaster management.

Conclusion

• India is vulnerable to various natural disasters that cause huge losses of life and property. India faces several challenges in managing such disasters and further needs to adopt a comprehensive and proactive approach to disaster management that involves enhancing the institutional and legal mechanisms.
  • Further, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a crucial step towards instilling resilience and sustainability into our infrastructure amidst turbulent times, as it will help in striding towards building a disaster-resilient future.