Amit Shah Chairs Parliamentary Meet, Highlights India’s Disaster Readiness Gains

Addressing the meeting, Shri Amit Shah said that prior to 2014, disaster management in India largely followed a relief-centric approach.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today chaired a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on the theme of "Disaster Management and Capacity Building." The session was attended by Ministers of State for Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai and Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Members of the Committee, the Union Home Secretary, and senior officials of NDMA, NDRF, NIDM, and the Directorate General of Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards.

Shifting Approach: From Relief to Rescue

Addressing the meeting, Shri Amit Shah said that prior to 2014, disaster management in India largely followed a relief-centric approach. Under the Modi government, this was transformed into a rescue- and preparedness-centric framework, supported by a long-term vision and institutional strengthening.

He highlighted that the disaster response policy of the government is anchored on four pillars – capacity building, speed, efficiency, and accuracy. This shift has drastically reduced casualties in major disasters.

• From the 1999 Odisha super cyclone with over 10,000 deaths, India has moved to events like Cyclone Biparjoy (2023 in Gujarat) and Cyclone Dana (2024 in Odisha), where zero casualties were reported.

• Cyclone-related damages have reduced by 98% in the last decade, while casualties from heatwaves have also dropped significantly due to early warnings and mitigation measures.

The Home Minister also spoke of recent cloudbursts and landslides, stressing that a national strategy is being prepared to manage these emerging threats.

Major Policy and Financial Support

Underlining the government's multi-dimensional approach, Shri Shah detailed institutional and financial measures taken since 2014:

• Allocation to State and National Disaster Response Funds (SDRF & NDRF) rose from ₹66,000 crore (2004–2014) to nearly ₹2 lakh crore (2014–2024).

• For the period 2021–22 to 2025–26, allocations stand at ₹1,28,122 crore for SDRF and ₹54,770 crore for NDRF.

• First-time creation of mitigation funds – with ₹13,693 crore for National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) and ₹32,031 crore for State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF).

• Under NDMF, projects worth ₹8,072 crore have already been approved.

Shri Shah said the Modi government's Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024, based on the PM's 10-point agenda, has strengthened transparency, accountability, and synergy in disaster governance.

Speeding Up Response Times

The Home Minister reported that the time for deployment of Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) to disaster-hit states has reduced from 96 days to just 8 days. In the last 10 years, 83 central teams have been dispatched, reflecting efficiency in response.

He also praised the NDMA for innovations in technology and policymaking, and the NDRF for its strong ground-level implementation.

Building Capacity: From Cyclones to Community Training

Under the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP):

• Multipurpose cyclone shelters have been built.

• 92,995 community volunteers and officials have been trained in cyclone response.

• Early warning systems have been installed across five coastal states.

The Aapda Mitra and Yuva Aapda Mitra Schemes have empowered communities:

• 1 lakh community volunteers trained across 350 disaster-prone districts.

• Volunteers serve as first responders, ensuring immediate support before official teams arrive.

Additionally, the government launched a ₹5,000 crore scheme for expansion and modernization of state fire services, covering new fire stations, training centres, and equipment upgrades.

Harnessing Technology and Early Warning

Highlighting progress in forecasting, Shri Shah said India's IMD and CWC can now issue accurate cyclone and flood forecasts seven days in advance.

For last-mile connectivity, the government has implemented the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) across India, delivering warnings via SMS alerts, coastal sirens, and the SACHET app.

He urged maximum public awareness of the SACHET app, which provides early warnings and disaster-related advisories.

Appreciation and Next Steps

Committee Members welcomed the progress made and offered suggestions for further strengthening capacity. Shri Amit Shah assured that detailed information on disaster funds, guidelines, and digital tools developed in the last 10 years will be shared with all Members of Parliament.

He closed the meeting with a reminder that disaster preparedness is not only a government responsibility but a shared national duty, requiring strong coordination between central, state, and community-level stakeholders.