Armed forces in disaster response - Disaster response; Police and other organizations

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Armed forces in disaster response - Disaster response; Police and other organizations

Disasters continue to strike unabated and without notice and are perceived to be on the increase in their magnitude, complexity, frequency and economic impact. Disasters strike in varying intensities - sometimes at will and other time after due warning and time frame. Civil Administration is development oriented and at best can tackle low and moderate intensity emergencies depending upon the resources at their disposal and capabilities permitting. Civil police, although first agency to be informed, due to their limited numbers, are rarely capable of surmounting the disaster.

From times immemorial, the Indian Armed Forces and Paramilitary forces have always done a commendable job, when called to aid civil authorities, especially, in the wake of natural calamities or man-made disasters. Although, the armed forces are supposed to be called upon to intervene and take on specific tasks only when the situation is beyond the capability of civil administration, in practice, they have been the “core of the government response capacity” in a major disaster.

The Armed Forces are trained to react in emergencies, and are the biggest rescue and succor providing organizations, capable of moving swiftly to any part of the country, in the shortest possible time. The ability to react in the emergencies and work against time is in built in their training schedule. Both the government and the public repose tremendous faith in the armed forces and believe that all emergencies and crises can be handled by the armed forces.

In the past decade, the country has witnessed frequent and intense Natural Disaster leading to large scale of destruction, death, disability, diseases, panic and fear among the people at risk. The growing tendency of over ensuring, and not having faith in own civil set-up to deal with emergencies, has led to frequent deployment of the armed forces sometimes, unjustified.

Over the years there is a paradigm shift in government approach from response, relief and rehabilitation to mitigation, prevention, and preparedness. The Government of India has enacted Disaster Management Act 2005 and set in motion a number of initiatives for concerted efforts to manage Disaster in holistic and integrated manner. The government has felt the necessity of capacity building for rapid professional response to disasters. In that process, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been constituted with advanced training, equipments, communication and mobility to respond to any type of natural or man made disasters including nuclear, chemical and biological disasters. The effectiveness of this force has been demonstrated during the recent flood in Bihar which affected nearly 3 million people, but the casualties were restricted to less than 100.

The Government of India, considering the changing global geo-political scenario, reducing the chances and occurrence of traditional wars, and steadily increasing threats from natural and man-made disasters, has envisaged greater role on the part of the Civil Defence (CD) from merely hostile act-centric responsibility to a holistic role in all the facets of Disaster Management in the country. The Civil Defence being a community-based voluntary organization can, in addition to rescue, relief and rehabilitation, also play a stellar role in the field of community capacity building and public awareness to face any disaster situation, as is being done by Civil Defence set-ups in many other countries.

In addition to the role assigned under the Civil Defence Act 1968, The Civil Defence set up can play a major role in assisting the District Disaster Management Authority, (DDMA) with the help of its volunteers at grass roots level, in different phases of disaster, particularly in pre-disaster (public awareness, community capacity building and community preparedness) and middisaster phases (response and relief) phases.

The frequency and intensity of natural and manmade disaster have increased in recent years. Though the Government paradigm shift from response & relief centric to preparedness, prevention and mitigation is in pipeline and yet to take its proper shape, the changing role of the various Response Agencies has to be reviewed and redefined and trained accordingly. The increasing propensity on the part of the civil administration to requisition Armed forces and Para military forces, need to carry out reappraisal of the role of the armed forces, especially in contingencies relating to disaster management . Sequential deployment of rescue and relief resources or a graduated response by various entities to emergencies is fraught with the dangers of delay, and the situation going beyond control.

Ideally, comprehensive assessment of the required response to a disaster or impending disaster is needed.

This will facilitate deployment of the necessary resources i.e. Civil Defence, National disaster Response Force, Para Military Forces and the Armed Forces, without loss of time, to limit the damage and losses to a minimum. Proceedings

Due to increase in population and search of livelihood, population density in urban areas has increased. Therefore, the urban areas with increased population remains vulnerable to disasters and the necessity of improved, professional Disaster Response Force need attention. Global statistics highlights the increasing numbers of the people affected by hydro meteorological disasters as 1/3 of the population lives near sea. The Armed forces should do Planning, preparation, early warning and carry out regular rehearsals of the effective early warning system and quick evacuation drills. The effective community response should be based on a bottom up approach and not top down approach.

The “Role of Civil Defence in Disaster Management” with specific emphasis on the revamping of CD in India with specific role in pre disaster and post disaster scenario is important. The inception of Civil Defence in India and the important role played by the civil defence volunteers during various wars and recurrent disasters since inception.

With help of volunteers at grass root level the Civil Defence set up can play a major role in assisting the authorities in different phases of disaster, particularly, in predisaster by public awareness, community capacity building & community preparedness and mid disaster phases (response and relief) phases). Integrating Civil Defence organization with various youth organizations, namely, NCC, NSS and NYKS.

“Origin and inception of NDRF”. On enactment of Disaster Management Act 2005, the process for creation of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) started. At present there are fully trained and equipped eight battalions of NDRF and are performing effectively in disasters and have earned laurels in particular Kosi Floods.

Role and responsibility of NDRF.  As per the DM Act, 2005(sec-44) NDRF is a specialist Force. NDRF comprises of eight units of CPMF, two each from CRPF, CISF, ITBP and BSF.   The organisation of NDRF:  each battalion of NDRF has 18 self- contained specialist search and rescue teams of 45 personnel.  Each team has CBRN emergency responders, search and rescue element, engineers, technicians’ electricians, and paramedics.  Out of these eight battalions four battalions have the capacity to respond to CBRN emergencies.  Location of NDRF units: i.e. at Pune, Ghandinagar, Guwahati, Arakkonam, Mundali, Bhatinda and Gr. Nodia.

NDRF become a highly skilled force for rescue and relief operations and has executed 67 disaster response operations in 13 states of the country and have saved 1,31,870 lives and retrieved 202 dead bodies. NDRF has also worked in many disasters like, Cyclone Aila in 2009, Kosi Flood in 2008, Flood in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, 2009. 

 “Role of Police in Disaster Management”. There is no defined role of police in disaster management but Police is always the first to reach Disaster site to provide Security and maintain law and order at disaster location and to prevent commission of cognizable offences against life, property and public tranquility. The advantages of police system in disaster management which has well developed communication system, wider reach, familiarity with local terrain and area and awareness about people’s sensitivities. The need for capacity building of police at grass root level, as central assistance takes time to reach. He stressed that the State Disaster Response Force be raised and be trained in collapsed structures search and rescue (CSSR), Medical First Response (MFR) and Flood Rescue Training (FRT). States has to follow the guidelines laid down by NDMA for raising, training, infrastructures and equipping the SDRF Battalions.

“Role of Armed Forces in Disaster Management”. The inherent strength of armed forces such as discipline, resources, quick decision making, Speedy dissemination of information and versatile capabilities makes army highly capable to respond to a disaster situation in a better and effective way. Army’s neutral, impartial and humane approach is an added asset in handling such situations.

“NCC Cadet can do better in Disaster Management”. Over the 60 years, the NCC has evolved into a highly disciplined youth organization. This organization has been installing high sense of discipline, Commitment and enthusiasm among the youth. “Unity and Discipline”, the motto of the NCC, symbolized the role played by the corps in grooming the future generation. The service of the youth workforce has been commendable during national calamities and communal strike. The NCC cadets have rendered services in Traffic management, First Aid, Evacuation of rescued people, setting up and helping in administration of relief camps, collection, loading and dispatch of medical aid material, food, and other articles of relief, distribution of relief material. By saying that involvement of NCC in disaster relief will provide an avenue to the youth in showing its commitment to the society and will result in growth and improved self image of the cadets.

The coordinated response by the armed forces, NDRF, Police and trained youth organizations like NCC, NSS and NYKS is the need of the hour in disaster.