AMN
The Parliament passed the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024, with the Rajya Sabha approving it today. The Lok Sabha had passed it in December last year. The Bill amends the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and intends to strengthen the efficient working of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMA).
The bill empowers the NDMA and SDMA to prepare the disaster plan at the national and state levels instead of the National Executive Committee and the State Executive Committee. The Bill also empowers the state government to constitute a separate Urban Disaster Management Authority for state capitals and cities with a municipal corporation. The Bill will provide for the creation of a disaster database at the national and state levels.
Replying to a discussion on the bill, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the size and scale of disasters have changed, and the responses must change accordingly. He said that with this bill, the government aims to go from reactive response to proactive risk reduction.
The home minister said that from manual monitoring, the government wants to move towards AI-based real-time monitoring. He said that through the bill, it wants to move from a government-led response to a multi-dimensional response in which the society and citizens are involved. Mr Shah said that India has made a place internationally for advances in disaster management. On the opposition’s allegation of centralisation, Mr Shah said the greatest power under the bill has been given to the District Disaster Management Authority. He said disaster management is in the concurrent list, and it is a subject for both the Centre and the State.
Earlier, initiating the discussion, Neeraj Dangi of Congress asked that the bill does not specify details on the PM CARES fund or how it will be used. The treasury benches protested Mr. Dangi’s comment on the government’s COVID-19 management.
Taking part in the debate, Brij Lal of the BJP said that the main responsibility of disaster management lies with the state governments. He said the Centre provides all help to states in case of disasters. Mr Lal said NDRF battalions have been established in disaster-prone regions for quick response. He said the central government has given six thousand one hundred ninety-four crore rupees for the establishment of SDRF battalions in 19 states on 23rd June 2023.
Ritabrata Banerjee of TMC accused the NDA-ruled central government of withholding funds from opposition-ruled states. He said it is a violation of constitutional principles.
Praful Patel of NCP lauded the efforts of the government to strengthen disaster preparedness at every level. He said Climate change is also Citing the example of Kerala, A A Rahim of CPI (M) alleged that the central government is allocating very few funds to states which are suffering natural disasters. CPI MP Sandosh Kumar P. suggested sending the bill to the joint parliamentary committee for more scrutiny.