Disaster Management Bill adds 'emerging disaster risks' from extreme climate events

This Bill amends the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to update definitions, expand the powers of the National Authority, and formally recognize existing committees for crisis management and financial assistance.

The law affects the Central Government, State Governments, the National Authority, State Authorities, District Authorities, Urban Authorities, and various Ministries and Departments of the Government of India.

• Clarifies that 'man made causes' of disaster do not include law and order situations.
• Adds new definitions for terms such as 'disaster database', 'disaster risk', 'evacuation', 'hazard', 'recovery', 'resilience', and 'Urban Authority'.
• Expands the functions of the National Authority to include coordinating the National Plan, providing technical guidance to States, monitoring implementation, and creating a national disaster database.
• Empowers the National Authority to recommend guidelines for minimum standards of relief, including provisions for widows, orphans, and ex gratia assistance.
• Formally recognizes the National Crisis Management Committee (chaired by the Cabinet Secretary) as the nodal body for major disasters.
• Formally recognizes the High Level Committee (chaired by the relevant Minister) for approving financial assistance to State Governments.
• Allows the National Authority to appoint officers, experts, and consultants with salaries prescribed by the Central Government.

Written from the document by AI, and checked against it. The original below is authoritative.

The original document