DISASTER MANAGEMENT ACT, 2005
The Government of India passed the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (DMA 2005) on 23 December 2005. The prime purposes of introducing this act are: 1) To ensure the efficient management of disasters; and 2) To deal with matters linked to disasters. This act came into the news with the onset of COVID-19 and the pan-India lockdown that followed, based on the provisions of this Act.
DEFINITIONS UNDER THE ACT
- Disaster: Any catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area caused naturally or by human intervention resulting in significant loss of life, destruction of property, degradation of environment or any other damage which is beyond the coping capacity of the community where such disaster took place.
- Disaster Management: The continuous and integrated process of planning, organising, coordination, and implementation of measures.
SALIENT FEATURES OF THE ACT
- Ministry of Home Affairs is designated as the nodal agency for giving directions to the entire national disaster management.
- Systematic structure of institutions at national, state, and district levels.
- Contains 79 sections and 11 chapters.
- Ensures that disaster management plans are effectively executed and monitored.
- Empowers Central Government to constitute the National Disaster Response Fund and National Disaster Mitigation Fund.
- Includes provisions for constitution of the National Disaster Response Force to carry out specialist response in emergency disaster situations.
GOVERNING BODIES ESTABLISHED UNDER THE ACT
Institutions at National Level
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
- Chairperson: Prime Minister of India
- Members: 9 members including Vice-Chairperson
- Tenure: 5 years
- Functions:
- Establish disaster management policies
- Give National Plan approval
- Accept plans created by government ministries/departments
- Suggest allocating funds for mitigation
- Establish comprehensive rules for National Institute of Disaster Management’s operations
National Executive Committee (NEC)
- Composition: Secretary level officers from Home, Health, Power, Finance, and Agricultural ministries
- Task: Preparation of National Disaster Management Plan; review and update annually
National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM)
- Purpose: Training and capacity development programs for managing natural calamities
- Head Office: New Delhi
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
- Purpose: Responding to threatening disasters or similar situations
- Head: Director-General appointed by Central Government
- Significant Contributions: Kashmir floods (2014), Kerala floods (2018)
Institutions at State and District Levels
State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)
- Chairperson: Chief Minister
- Members: 8 other members
- Functions: Create disaster plans and policies for disaster management in the state
District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)
- Chairperson: Collector/District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner of the district
- Co-Chairperson: Elected representative of the local authority
- Members: 7 members in total
- Functions: District planning, coordinating, and implementing body for disaster management
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ACT
- Helps in planning and implementation of disaster plans.
- Protects people from disaster-affected areas.
- Helps people recover from disaster events.
- Helps in making quick responses during disaster to reduce damage.
- Helps in coordination and management of disaster-affected areas.
- Helps in rehabilitation and recreation activities.
SUMMARY TABLE: GOVERNING BODIES AT A GLANCE
| Body | Level | Chairperson/Head | Key Functions |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDMA | National | Prime Minister | Policies, plans, guidelines for disaster management |
| NEC | National | Secretary level officers | Prepares National Disaster Management Plan |
| NIDM | National | Director | Training and capacity development |
| NDRF | National | Director-General | Specialist response to emergency disasters |
| SDMA | State | Chief Minister | State-level disaster plans and policies |
| DDMA | District | Collector/DM/Deputy Commissioner | District planning, coordinating, implementing |
Dr. Saint Paul is a pharmacy educator, Pharm.D graduate, and academic content creator from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada (JNTUK), where he completed his Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degree between 2015 and 2021.
He has more than 7 years of experience creating pharmacy educational content, writing study materials, and reviewing academic articles for pharmacy students. He has also contributed guest articles to pharmacy education platforms, including PharmD Guru.
At D.PharmGuru, his work focuses on simplifying complex Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharmacy) subjects into easy-to-understand notes, practical explanations, and exam-oriented educational resources for students across India.
His areas of focus include Human Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Hospital and Clinical Pharmacy, and other core D.Pharmacy subjects.
