Background of the Disaster Management Act (DM Act)

• Enactment Context:
  • The DM Act was enacted following the 1999 Odisha super-cyclone and the 2004 tsunami.
  • It defines a disaster as a “catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence” due to natural or man-made causes, leading to substantial loss of life, destruction of property, or environmental damage.
  • The disaster must be beyond the coping capacity of the community.
• Funding Mechanisms:
  • The Act establishes the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
  • States use SDRF funds first and may seek NDRF funds if the disaster magnitude exceeds their capacity.
  • The central government fully funds the NDRF, while states contribute 25% (10% for special category states) to the SDRF, with the remainder from the Centre.
  • Funds are exclusively for response and management of notified disasters.
• Current Notified Disasters:
  • There are 12 categories: cyclones, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche, cloudburst, pest attack, and frost and cold waves.

Reasons for Exclusion of Heatwaves

• Historical Perspective:
  • Heatwaves, common during summer, were not seen as unusual weather events when the Act was created in 2005.
  • The severity and frequency of heatwaves have increased over the past 15 years.
• Increased Vulnerability:
  • Economic activities have expanded, exposing more people to the risk of heat-stroke.
  • 23 states are vulnerable to heatwaves.
• Heat Action Plans (HAPs):
  • States and cities have prepared HAPs involving measures like shaded spaces, cool water availability, oral solutions distribution, and adjusting working hours.
  • These measures require expenditure, and states currently cannot use SDRF funds for them.

Reasons for Current Non-Inclusion

• Finance Commission Reluctance:
  • States have requested the inclusion of heatwaves before the last three Finance Commissions.
  • The 15th Finance Commission, whose recommendations are currently applied, found the existing list sufficient and did not support the inclusion of heatwaves.
  • An enabling provision allows states to use up to 10% of SDRF money for local disasters, including heatwaves.
  • States like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Kerala have used this provision to declare heatwaves as local disasters.
• Practical Difficulties:
  • Financial Implications:
    • Adding heatwaves as a notified disaster would require compensation for every life lost due to heatwaves.
    • Heatwaves claim many lives each year, potentially revealing more deaths and increasing financial burden on the government.
  • Attribution Challenges:
    • It is difficult to attribute deaths directly to heatwaves as they often exacerbate pre-existing conditions.
    • This differs from other disasters where victim identification is more straightforward.
  • Budget Constraints:
    • For 2021-26, Rs 1,60,153 crore is allocated to various SDRFs.
    • States like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra receive substantial funds, which may become insufficient if heatwaves are added to the list.

Potential Benefits of Inclusion

• Improved Management:
  • Inclusion as a notified disaster could enhance heatwave management.
  • Heat-related illnesses and deaths would be better reported.
  • Authorities would be more vigilant in minimizing heatwave impacts.