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Context

A High-Level Committee (HLC) chaired by the Union Home Minister approved Rs. 507.37 crore for a national project aimed at strengthening community-based Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

Details about the Project

Project Scope and Implementation

• Coverage: The project will be implemented across 20 states, covering 81 disaster-prone districts.
• Village-Level Impact: Each of the 81 districts will include 20 Gram Panchayats, totaling 1,620 participating local bodies.
• Model Gram Panchayats: The initiative will create 20 Model Gram Panchayats (one per state) as replicable templates for specific hazards.
• Collaboration: This is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). 

Key Objectives

• Bottom-Up Approach: Integrates DRR practices directly into local governance and development planning, targeting Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs).
• Capacity Building: Focuses on training members of State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), and PRIs through information, education, and communication (IEC) activities.
• Institutional Strengthening: Focuses on formalizing grassroots disaster preparedness instead of ad hoc interventions.

Finance

The total outlay of Rs. 507.37 crore is funded through a combination of central and state contributions: 

• Central Share (NDMF): Rs. 273.38 crore from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund.
• Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) Contribution: Rs. 151.47 crore.
• State Contributions: Commensurate state shares of Rs. 30.37 crore (for NDMF) and Rs. 52.15 crore (for MoPR). 

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in India 

India's disaster management has shifted from a reactive, relief-focused model to a proactive, holistic, and technology-driven strategy, prioritizing prevention, mitigation, and preparedness. 

The strategy is legally based on the Disaster Management Act of 2005 and aligns with international commitments, specifically the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Institutional Framework for Disaster Management

The Disaster Management Act, 2005, created a three-tier structure to ensure coordinated and effective disaster management across the country.

Key Government Initiatives for DRR

National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP): Released in 2016 and updated in 2019, it is a comprehensive plan aligned with the Sendai Framework, guiding all phases of disaster management.

National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF): Established in 2021, this fund finances mitigation (e.g., seismic micro-zonation and capacity building), emphasizing proactive risk reduction over mere response.

Prime Minister's 10-Point Agenda on DRR: This integrates DRR across development sectors, leveraging technology, funding risk mapping, and promoting social inclusion by empowering women's leadership.

Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): Launched by India in 2019, the CDRI is a global partnership to promote the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks.  

Strengthening Community and Local-Level Resilience

• Community-Based DRR in Panchayats: A national project worth ₹507.37 crore was approved to integrate Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs).
• Aapda Mitra Scheme: This centrally sponsored scheme aims to train 1,00,000 community volunteers in disaster response skills across 350 disaster-prone districts.  

Challenges in Disaster Mitigation

Institutional & Structural Issues

• Over-centralization: Disaster management is still a top-down process; DDMAs often lack the autonomy, expert staff, and dedicated budgets necessary for effective local mitigation.
• Coordination Gaps: The multi-tiered disaster management structure (NDMA, SDMA, DDMA) often causes communication breakdowns and overlapping agency responsibilities.
• Delayed Funding: States often experience delays in the disbursal of funds from the National and State Disaster Response Funds (NDRF/SDRF), which hampers timely relief and recovery. 

Infrastructure & Planning Failures

• Unplanned Urbanization: Unregulated, rapid growth has damaged natural drainage, causing chronic urban flooding in cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai.
• Weak Building Code Enforcement: Despite high seismic risks (59% of India's landmass is prone to earthquakes), the National Building Code (NBC) 2016 is poorly enforced.
• Lack of Resilience: Critical infrastructure (power grids, bridges, hospitals) needs retrofitting to withstand modern, high-intensity disasters.

Technological & Strategic Gaps

• Last-Mile Connectivity: Early warning systems (EWS) often lack the localized granularity for non-cyclonic threats (flash floods, landslides), leaving rural and tribal communities without real-time alerts.
• Reactive vs Proactive Approach: National strategy prioritizes post-disaster relief over long-term mitigation and ecological investment.
• Excluded Hazards: Intense hazards like heatwaves and lightning are not yet "notified disasters" in all states, preventing them from accessing dedicated federal mitigation funds.

Socio-Economic Vulnerability

• Disproportionate Impact: Poor and marginalized groups, often on high-risk lands with minimal safety nets, face much harder recovery.
• Climate Change Intensification: Erratic monsoons and warming oceans intensify extreme weather, constantly raising the bar for preparedness.

Way Forward

Mainstreaming DRR into Development: All development projects, especially in infrastructure, must incorporate disaster resilience standards.

Strengthening Local Governance: Empowering Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) with dedicated funds, functions, and functionaries for disaster management is crucial.

Nature-Based Solutions: Increasing focus on "blue-green infrastructure," such as restoring mangroves and wetlands to serve as natural buffers against floods and storm surges.

Enhancing Disaster Financing: Scaling up innovative financial mechanisms, such as disaster risk insurance, to protect vulnerable households, farmers, and small businesses.

Hyper-Local Warnings: Transitioning to Impact-Based Forecasting using AI/ML and IoT sensors to provide site-specific alerts through the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) directly to mobile phones.

National Disaster Database: Mandating a comprehensive national and state-level database to track fund allocation, risk assessments, and preparedness in real-time.

Conclusion

India builds a resilient and secure future by intrinsically integrating disaster risk reduction into its development process, using strengthened local governance, advanced technology, and international collaboration.

Source:  NEWSONAIR