Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-

(a)     whether Government have initiated any specific steps in ensuring that State Governments upgrade and expand capacities of their disaster management, civil Defense and fire service organizations apart from sharing of intelligence;

(b)     if so, the details thereof;

(c)     what is the total spending in these areas, State-wise and how much have these increased during the last two years;

(d)     whether Government conduct any form of civil Defense preparation audit of the States; and

(e)     if so, how frequently are these audits conducted and when was it last conducted?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
( SHRI S. REGUPATHY )

(a).Yes, Sir.

(b). The Disaster Management Act, 2005 was enacted on 23.12.2005, which provides for a institutional mechanism for laying down and monitoring the implementation of policy, guidelines and plans, financing of disaster mitigation and response, training and research and specialized response to disasters. The mechanism includes setting up of disaster management authorities at National, State and District levels. State Governments have also been advised to initiate necessary action for setting up of Search and Rescue units for Medical First Responder (MFR) and Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR) Teams. To facilitate this process, State Governments have been advised to the identify trainees to be trained by Master Trainers of Central Para Military Forces (CPMFs). The trainees so trained in the States would further train the personnel of State Governments. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Radiological, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (RNBC) emergencies have been formulated, which require the State Governments to initiate preparedness measures after preparing individual SOPs. Financial assistance, training support and technical guidance are also extended to States for building up their capacity for disaster management. Further, Government has set up a committee under a member of the National Disaster Management Authority for suggesting measures required to revamp the Civil Defense set-up in the country and its integration with the disaster management mechanism. States have been advised to make effective use of the services of Civil Defense volunteers for post disaster response and relief and pre-disaster activity towards mitigation and preparedness.

Fire Service is a State subject, however, Government is however, tendering technical advice to the States on Fire related matters from time to time besides imparting training to Fire Service personnel in all aspects of Fire Engineering in the National Fire Service College, Nagpur.

(c).Government of India reimburses specific part of expenditure incurred by the States on certain authorized items of expenditure for raising, training and equipping of the organization. State-wise details of funds released to institutes for disaster management activities and expenditure reimbursed on Civil Defense are annexed.

(d) & (e). Though no specific civil Defense preparation audit has been carried out, yet the Government has prescribed periodical returns to elicit the state of Civil Defense preparedness of the State Governments.

Annexure

Funds released by the Central Government to training institutions in States for disaster management activities and for reimbursement of expenditure on Civil Defence in last two years.

(Amount in thousands)