Description

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Context:

The union home minister and Minister of Cooperation attended the 20th Raising Day ceremony of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as the Chief Guest in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.

About National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

Aspect	Details
Establishment	Established under Section 44 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
Primary Focus	Specialized response to natural and man-made disasters.
Initial Formation	Established in 2006 with 8 battalions.
Current Expansion	Expanded to 16 battalions derived from the CAPF (Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Sashastra Seema Bal, Assam Rifles)
Role	Highly skilled and specialized unit capable of responding to floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, building collapses, train and road accidents, etc.
Characterized by	'Proactive availability' and 'pre-positioning' during imminent disaster situations.
Strategic Deployment	NDRF resources are strategically deployed to mitigate damage during natural disasters.
International Response	Actively responded during the triple disaster in Fukushima, Japan (2011) and the 2015 Nepal earthquake, within multilateral and bilateral frameworks.
Functioning Authority	Functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Leadership	Headed by a Director General.

Role and Mandate of NDRF

Specialized response during disasters through proactive response. Proactive force and community deployment during impending disasters.
Obtain and continuously improve disaster mitigation training and skills.
Cooperation, exploration, trials, and simulated exercises with potential disasters and post-disaster management. Provide basic and operational training to rapid response forces (police, civil defense, and home guard).
Community Capacity Building Program for building the capacity of communities to fight in times of disaster. Organize public awareness campaigns on disaster management and safety during a disaster.

The issue in NDRF

The effectiveness of the NDRF was limited by the lack of trained manpower and the absence of systematic training facilities and equipment.
A disaster-prone country like India needs comprehensive planning and implementation. It lacks the necessary funding and infrastructure from the center.
The main reason for the delay is the unavailability of staff, as the reward is not attractive enough. There is great ambiguity in the command-and-control structure.
While MHA controls funds and execution, NDMA has administrative control over the force. This leads to an argument between the two.
Since the NDMA is an autonomous body with members appointed by the government, the forces have to deal with two heads for anything that complicates and delays the processes.

Conclusion

Since its inception, NDRF has continued to win the hearts of millions of countrymen by demonstrating its expertise and compassion in dealing with disaster situations. Matters like findings should be handled by the government.

At present, the National Contingency Duty (NCCD) is levied to fund the NDRF, and additional budgetary support is provided when necessary. There is also a provision in the DM Act that invites any person or institution to contribute to the NDRF. However, this source has not yet been tapped.

Source:

PIB

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Discuss the role and effectiveness of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in disaster management in India. Highlight its organizational structure, key responsibilities and the challenges it faces in responding to natural and man-made disasters. (250 words)