The Disaster Management(Amendment) Bill is knotty

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Last Updated04/09/2024

On August 1, 2024, the central government introduced the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, marking a significant shift in India's approach to disaster management.
This Bill, aimed at addressing the growing challenges posed by climate-induced disasters, has sparked considerable debate. While it proposes certain structural changes, it also raises concerns about further centralisation of disaster management, potentially undermining the very goals it seeks to achieve.

The original Disaster Management Act of 2005 established a framework for managing disasters through a multi-tiered system, involving national, state, and district-level authorities.
The proposed Bill, however, appears to deepen the centralisation of disaster management by granting statutory status to pre-existing bodies like the National Crisis Management Committee and a High-Level Committee.
This move, while intended to streamline decision-making, could complicate the chain of command during emergencies, leading to delayed responses—an outcome antithetical to the Act's purpose.
Moreover, the Bill's creation of an Urban Disaster Management Authority for state capitals and major cities seems to be a step toward decentralisation.
However, without adequate financial devolution, this could merely add another layer of bureaucracy, exacerbating existing issues rather than resolving them.

One of the most contentious aspects of the Amendment Bill is its treatment of the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
By removing specific purposes for which the fund can be used, the Bill risks further centralising control over disaster relief funds. This centralisation could lead to delayed disbursals, as seen in past instances where states like Tamil Nadu faced significant delays in receiving relief funds during emergencies.
In a federal system, such delays not only hinder effective disaster response but also strain Centre-State relations.
In the face of a growing climate crisis, it is imperative to reassess the financial architecture underpinning disaster management.
The current model, which heavily relies on central approval for fund disbursal, may not be agile enough to respond to the increasingly frequent and severe disasters that India faces.

The restricted definition of “disaster” under the Disaster Management Act is another area where the Amendment Bill falls short.
Despite overwhelming evidence of the devastating impact of climate-induced events like heatwaves, the government has yet to classify these as notified disasters.
This reluctance to expand the scope of what constitutes a disaster is at odds with global trends, where there is growing recognition of the need to include climate-related phenomena under disaster management frameworks.
India's experience with heatwaves, which have caused thousands of deaths over the past decade, underscores the need for a more inclusive and dynamic definition of disasters.
The current framework’s inability to recognise the localised and gradual onset nature of climate-induced disasters like heatwaves limits the effectiveness of disaster management efforts.

The proposed Bill raises several important questions about the future of disaster management in India. Is it equipped to address the contemporary challenges posed by the increasing centralisation of power? Will it enhance or hinder the ability of states to respond effectively to disasters?
The answers to these questions will determine whether the Bill is a step forward in improving disaster management or a step backward.
The spirit of cooperative federalism should guide India’s approach to disaster management. Instead of focusing on the division of responsibilities between the Centre and the states, the emphasis should be on building a robust, responsive, and flexible disaster management system that can anticipate and respond to the evolving challenges posed by climate change.
The lessons learned from past disasters should inform this process, ensuring that future amendments to the Disaster Management Act strengthen rather than weaken the nation’s preparedness and resilience.
In conclusion, while the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024 introduces important changes, it must be scrutinised to ensure that it does not inadvertently create new challenges.
A balanced approach that combines central oversight with local empowerment, financial autonomy, and an expanded definition of disasters is essential for India to effectively manage the growing threats posed by climate change. Only then can the true spirit of cooperative federalism be realised in disaster management.