Disaster Management

The district management well be more effective and sustainable if it is institutionalized. For this purpose Government of India has already pass the Disaster Management Act.2005 Act No. 53 of 2005, on 23rd December 2005, Which has already been adopted by gov. Of West Bengal .The Gov. Of West Bengal, in exercise of powers conferred by the Act. has established the West Bengal State Disaster Management Authority vice Notification No- 1281-FR-1 st August 2007 and also established District Disaster Management Authority vice Notification No-1291 FR-1st August 2007 District Magistrate is overall in charge for the entire disaster management activities in the District. As per Section 28 of the Disaster Management Act.2005 the District Authority may constitute one or more advisory committee and District Disaster Management Committee for better implementation of Disaster Management activities in the District.

District Disaster Management Authority

As per Notification No- 1291-FR 1st August 2007 the District Disaster management authority consisting Chairperson and six members having Head Quarter at District level has been established. It acts as the district planning, coordinating and implementing body for disaster management and takes all measures for the purpose of Disaster Management in accordance the guidelines laid down by the National and the stat authority.

District Disaster Management Authority (D.D.M.A) (GO no- 1308-FR dated 01/08/2007)

1. Collector of the District :- CHAIRPERSON
2. Sabhadhipati of Zilla Parisad : CO-CHAIRPERSON
3. Addl. District Magistrate (District Management) : CEO , Ex-Officio Member
4. Superintendent of Police : Ex-Officio Member
5. Chief Medical Officer of Health : Ex-Officio Member
6. Executive Engineer, Irrigation : Ex-Officio Member
7. All Sub-Divisional Officers : Ex-Officio Member

At the district level there should be a District Disaster Management Committee, at Block Level there should be a Block District Disaster Management Committee and at village there should be village level the should be village Disaster Management Committee.

Apart from these Disaster Management Committee. At each level should be a Disaster Management plan as per vulnerability to Disaster of that particular area along with the various task forces like search and rescue, first aid early warning system, food management, shelter management dead disposal force etc.

Village (Gram Panchayat) Level:

Panchayat are the decision making bodies of all development activities in the village. Therefore every panchayat should have a Village level Disaster Management Committee (VDMC) headed by the Pradhan which is responsible for carrying out activities from planning to Execution in Disaster Management there should be a separate village disaster management plan for the every village as per vulnerability to disaster of the particular village. The plane encompasses prevention, mitigation and preparedness measures. The VDMC chaired by pradhan includes ware member gramsevak, local Government Functionaries including doctors/paramedics of primary health centers located in the village, primary School Teacher etc. also a search and rescue team as well as first aid team have to be set up and trained at every village. The disaster management teams at the village level will consist of member of youth organization like Nehru Yuva Kendra and other non-governmental organizations as well as able bodies volunteers from the village. The teams are to be provided basic training in evacuation, search and rescue, first aid trauma counselling etc.

Sansad Level:

Village where Sansad member are member of VDMC they should get involved in taking all sort of major decision related to Disaster Management, whether it is the Disaster Management Preparedness Plan or preparetion to respond during the disaster. They are important identities in the village representing the community. The Disaster Management Committee will review the disaster management plan at least once in a year. It would also generated awareness among the people in the village about do’s and do not do’s for specific hazards depending on the vulnerability of the village. Sansad Level : Village where Sansad member are member of VDMC they should get involved in taking all sort of major decision related to Disaster Management, whether it is the Disaster Management Preparedness Plan or preparation to respond during the disaster. They are important identities in the village representing the community. The Disaster Management Committee will review the disaster management plan at least once in a year. It would also generated awareness among the people in the village about do’s and do not do’s for specific hazards depending on the vulnerability of the village.

Block Level :

every Block in the district should have a Block Disaster Management Committee headed by Chairperson Panchayat Samiti and all line departments at block level are its members.

District Level :

The District Disaster Management Authority and and district disaster management committee should be constituted under the chairmanship of District Magistrate and Sabhadhipati respectively.

The District Disaster Management Authority shall act as the District Planning coordinating and implementing body for disaster management and take all measures for the purpose of disaster management in the district in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the National Authority and the State Authority.