National Disaster Management Authority Of India

National Disaster Management Authority of India aims to build a safer and disaster resilient India by developing a holistic, pro-active, multi-disaster and technology-driven strategy for disaster management through collective efforts of all Government Agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations.
NDMA as the apex body is mandated to lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for Disaster Management to ensure timely and effective response to disasters. Towards this, it has the following responsibilities:-
a) Lay down policies on disaster management; b) Approve the National Plan;c) Approve plans prepared by the Ministries or Departments of the Government of India in accordance with the National Plan;d) Lay down guidelines to be followed by the State Authorities in drawing up the State Plan;e) Lay down guidelines to be followed by the different Ministries or Departments of the Government of India for the Purpose of integrating the measures for prevention of disaster or the mitigation of its effects in their development plans and projects;f) Coordinate the enforcement and implementation of the policy and plan for disaster management;g) Recommend provision of funds for the purpose of mitigation;h) Provide such support to other countries affected by major disasters as may be determined by the Central Government;i) Take such other measures for the prevention of disaster, or the mitigation, or preparedness and capacity building for dealing with the threatening disaster situation or disaster as it may consider necessary;j) Lay down broad policies and guidelines for the functioning of the National Institute of Disaster Management.
National Disaster Response Force
The Concept. The Disaster Management Act has mandated the constitution of a Specialist Response Force to a threatening disaster situation or a disaster. This Force will function under the National Disaster Management Authority which has been vested with its control, direction and general superintendence. This will be a multi-disciplinary, multi-skilled, high-tech force for all types of disasters capable of insertion by air, sea and land. All the eight battalions are to be equipped and trained for all natural disasters including four battalions in combating nuclear, biological and chemical disasters.
Present Organization. Presently this Force is constituted of eight battalions, two each from the BSF, CRPF, CISF and ITBP.
Deployment. These NDRF battalions are located at nine different locations in the country based on the vulnerability profile to cut down the response time for their deployment. During the preparedness period/in a threatening disaster situation, proactive deployment of these forces will be carried out by the NDMA in consultation with state authorities.
Four phases of Disaster Management