From Approving ₹12,554 Crore to Enhancing ERSS:
The narendra modi government 3.0 is actively enhancing India’s disaster management capabilities and infrastructure.
The cabinet has sanctioned ₹12,554 crore for various funds, including the ‘National Disaster Mitigation Fund,’ ‘National Disaster Response Fund,’ ‘State Disaster Mitigation Fund,’ and ‘State Disaster Response Fund.’ This funding aims to support urban flood management, firefighting services, and other disaster mitigation efforts. Additionally, the Union home Ministry allocated ₹890.69 crore to five states to strengthen their fire services through the Scheme for Expansion and Modernisation of fire Services.
The government also introduced the ‘Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme,’ an extension of the existing ‘Upscaling of Aapda Mitra Scheme,’ with an allocation of ₹470.50 crore.
Furthermore, the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS 2.0) has been rolled out in states and union territories, providing a single emergency number (112) for citizens to report emergencies via voice calls or SMS.
In a legislative push, the Modi government has introduced the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the lok sabha to amend the Disaster Management Act of 2005. This bill aims to clarify the roles of various central agencies involved in disaster management, such as the National Disaster Management Authority and the National Executive Committee, while providing statutory recognition to organizations like the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) and High-Level Committee (HLC).
By improving clarity and coordination among government bodies, the bill seeks to enhance disaster management efficiency, particularly benefiting vulnerable populations and promoting self-reliance (Atmanirbhar) in this field.
In response to recent floods in telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the central government has formed an expert team to address the situation effectively.