CENTRE FOR LAND WARFARE STUDIES (CLAWS)
DISASTER MANAGEMENT: INTEGRATED RESPONSE STRATEGIES
04 SEPTEMBER 2014
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction
A seminar on “Disaster Management: Integrated Response Strategies” was conducted on 04
September 2014 by Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS). The seminar was attended by
officers from Indian Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), research faculty from
think tanks and academicians. Conducted over one session, the seminar focused on the existing
disaster management mechanisms at national and state level and need for a comprehensive
integrated model for timely and responsive response strategy. The panellists for the seminar
were:-
Gen NC Vij - Former COAS and Vice Chairman NDMA.
Lt Gen Anil Chait, former CISC, HQ IDS.
Dr Satendra, Executive Director, NDIM.
Dr Amarjeet Kaur, Director, University Centre for Disaster Management Studies, IP
University.
Key Recommendations
Restructuring NDMA
The NDMA has not been able to fulfil its deemed role due to various unrelated factors. It must be
constituted of serving professionals from all key departments. It must be a vibrant entity to forecast
likely disasters, coordinate resources and take timely steps to mitigate their effect. The designated
officials must not have dual responsibility. In many states, disaster management effort is
coordinated by Secretary Revenue. It indicates low level of priority for disaster relief.
Integrating Armed Forces into Disaster Management Structure
The Indian armed forces need to be given a charter, an institutionalised role for managing
disasters in the country. For state governments the first preference for any disaster management
is army. It is self-contained body, well-laid, has its own command structure. The army should have
an institutional place in disaster management. Though CISC is part of NEC, senior functionaries of
armed forces must be part of NDMA and SDMA. The army must not be the first respondent except
for major disasters.
