Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah chaired the third meeting of the Governing Body of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) in New Delhi, attended by senior officials from multiple central ministries and state governments including the Union Home Secretary, Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University, NDMA members, NDRF Director General, and representatives from agriculture, meteorology, and administration departments.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership over the past 12 years, India has undergone a comprehensive transformation in disaster management approach, shifting from solely relief and rehabilitation perspectives to a new era based on three pillars: risk reduction, early warning systems, and achieving Zero Casualty. The government has successfully tackled several disasters with Zero Casualty, representing a major achievement. The Modi government has completely transformed the entire disaster management system and set the goal of creating disaster-resilient villages and cities as a priority.
Financial allocations have significantly increased, with the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) allocation growing nearly fourfold and the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) allocation increasing nearly threefold. Approximately ₹2.5 lakh crore has been spent in this sector over the last 11 years, with the 16th Finance Commission providing ₹2 lakh crore for the current period.
Institutional reforms include the amendment of the Disaster Management Act after 20 years, introduction of Urban Disaster Management Authorities, initiation of digital disaster databases at national and state levels, and granting statutory status to the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC). NIDM has been allocated four acres of land and has transformed from its predecessor institution that was previously inactive in Krishi Bhavan, now emerging as a national center for research, innovation, policy support, training, and departmental cooperation.
Operational directives include developing a 'Whole of Government' approach to disaster management, with all stakeholders required to constitute dedicated cells in their respective departments for implementation of agenda items, with departmental heads conducting review meetings every three months. NIDM and NDMA are directed to jointly issue national guidelines specifying procedures for each disaster type, study global research for local implementation, and constitute joint teams after every disaster to study causes and prepare detailed reports.
The mobile application developed for disaster management should be widely promoted across primary, secondary, and higher education sectors. Environmental protection is emphasized as the most effective means of disaster prevention, with initiatives like Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), Pro-Planet People, and the International Solar Alliance contributing to disaster prevention.