Tech Platforms for Better Disaster Management

Syllabus: GS3/Disaster Management

In News

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched three major technology platforms to improve the speed and precision of disaster management.

About Platforms

• The Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response (ICR-ER), National Database for Emergency Management Lite 2.0 (NDEM Lite 2.0), and the Flood Hazard Zonation Atlas of Assam. 
• These tools aim to improve real-time disaster response, coordination, and flood preparedness using satellite data and digital mapping.

India’s Disaster Vulnerability 

• India has been vulnerable to natural disasters on account of its unique geo-climatic conditions.
  • Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides have been a recurrent phenomena.
• Around 58.6% of the country is prone to earthquakes, over 12% is at risk of floods and river erosion, and 68% of cultivable land is susceptible to drought.

India’s Disaster Management Approach

• The  Disaster  Management Act,  2005  provides  for  the legal and  institutional  framework  for  the  effective  management  of  disasters.  
• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has prepared the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) in 2016 and revised it in 2019.
  • NDMP incorporates national commitments in the domain of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) associated with the three major post-2015 Global Frameworks namely, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and Prime Minister’s 10-point Agenda.
• Government of India has also approved Rs. 1000 Crore National Landslide Risk Mitigation Programme which includes implementation of landslide risk mitigation activities / projects in 15 States including the State of Kerala. 
• Aapda Mitra Scheme has been implemented and 1,00,000 community volunteers have been trained in disaster rescue in 350 multi-hazards disaster prone districts, covering all States/UTs.  

Progress

• India has shown dramatic improvement in outcomes, e.g., zero casualties during Cyclone Biparjoy, compared to 10,000 deaths in the 1999 Odisha super cyclone.
• Budget allocations significantly increased: SDRF from ₹38,000 cr to ₹1.44 lakh cr; NDRF from ₹28,000 cr to ₹84,000 cr; overall from ₹66,000 cr to ₹2 lakh cr.
  • A ₹68,000 crore National Disaster Risk Management Fund has been created.
• Launch of Yuva Aapda Mitra scheme with ₹470 crore to train 1 lakh volunteers (20% women).
• India’s early warning systems, forecasting, and public awareness have improved markedly.
• Environmental conservation was cited as key to long-term disaster mitigation, with India leading initiatives like Mission LiFE, International Solar Alliance, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

Issues and Concerns 

• Despite improvements in response capacity, there is a critical gap in long-term resilience. 
• Disasters in Uttarakhand (2021) and Himachal Pradesh (2024) highlight the need for recovery efforts that empower communities and build resilient infrastructure.
• Over-reliance on central agencies can weaken local capacities.
• Environmental sustainability is often overlooked during relief operations, leading to long-term issues like pollution and resource contamination.

Suggestions and Way Forward 

• India’s disaster management framework has certainly come a long way, evolving into a comprehensive system that spans prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and reconstruction phases.
• With India’s long coastline vulnerable to cyclones and tsunamis, integrating ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (DRR) into policy is essential.
  • Nature-based solutions, such as mangrove plantations and wetland restoration, offer both protective and ecological benefits. 
• Coordinating disaster response with environmental and health crises can improve efficiency. 
• Empowering local leaders with training and resources can enhance self-reliance and reduce dependency.
• Eco-friendly shelters and better waste management should be priorities.

Source: TH