Page 1 of 8
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 02
February 2018
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 232
A Study of Disaster Management
Dr Anju Bala
Associate professor
Department of commerce
Arya Girls College
Ambala Cantt
E Mail:anjubathla2010.gmail.com
Mob : 9416327518
ABSTRACT
The Disaster is the event that occurs without any prediction. The term ‘Disaster’ is loosely
used to refer to as any incident, manmade accident, or natural occurrence that could affect the
operation of the project in whatever way. We do not assess the impact of upcoming disaster.
There are two type of disaster Natural and Manmade disaster. Disasters have adversely
affected not only humans but also animals and all lives on earth. Disaster cause mass damage
of construction or loss of economy. It gives very bad impact on the economy of the country.
Disaster also affected to the climate, which also adversely affects local or regional
climate. Today there is not any such develop technology which gives vulnerability of
upcoming natural disaster. Manmade disaster causes through any big accident that occurs
indoor or outdoor. Disaster management is important for minimized the loss or lives and
economy. India has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters on account of its unique
geo-climatic conditions. Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides have been a
recurrent phenomena. The study focuses on institutional and policy framework for Disaster
management by Government of India. Study also covers the prevention measures that how to
overcome the disaster effects. Thus, it focuses on the management of disasters to avoid
further future uncontrollable risks of heavy losses.
Page 2 of 8
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 02
February 2018
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 233
INTRODUCTION
‘Disaster management can be defined as “The organization and management of resources
and responsibilities for dealing with all humanitarian aspects of emergencies, in particular
preparedness, response and recovery in order to lessen the impact of disasters”.
India is traditionally vulnerable to Disaster because natural disaster causes due to its unique
geographical condition such as flood, drought, cyclone, earthquakes and landslides etc. and
manmade disaster causes due to untrained or unskilled people work in prone areas. In the
decade 1990-2000, an average about 4344 people lost their lives and about 30 million people
were affected by disaster every year. The subject of industrial and chemical disasters has to
be considered in the broader sense covering all the hazards/accidents and disasters occurring
within industrial premises, related to industrial products and processes, and disasters/mishaps
affecting industries and production. Thus, it includes chemical, manufacturing, automobile,
mining, power, agro-industries, waste handling, laboratories and research institutes, etc. focus
of industrial disaster management has to stem with the philosophy of ‘zero tolerance’ and it
means preventing and containing the trigger event or the hazards and vulnerability rather than
only preparing for worst case scenarios. It requires an overhaul of the industrial risk
management philosophy
Disaster management cycle includes the following stages/ phases:
Disaster phase
Response phase
Recovery/ Rehabilitation phase
Risk Reduction/ Mitigation phase
Preparedness phase
Disaster phase – The phase during which the event of the disaster takes place. This phase is
characterized by profound damage to the human society. This damage / loss may be that of
human life, loss of property, loss of environment, loss of health or anything else. In this
phase, the population is taken by profound shock.
Response phase – This is the period that immediately follows the occurrence of the disaster.
In a way, all individuals respond to the disaster, but in their own ways
Recovery phase – When the immediate needs of the population are met, when all medical
help has arrived and people have settled from the hustle – bustle of the event, they begin to
enter the next phase, the recovery phase which is the most significant, in terms of long term
Page 3 of 8
Journal for Studies in Management and Planning
Available at
http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04 Issue 02
February 2018
Available online: http://edupediapublications.org/journals/index.php/JSMaP/ P a g e | 234
outcome. It is during this time that the victims actually realize the impact of disaster. It is
now that they perceive the meaning of the loss that they have suffered.
Risk reduction phase – During this phase, the population has returned to pre-disaster
standards of living. But, they recognize the need for certain measures which may be needed
to reduce the extent or impact of damage during the next similar disaster. For example, after
an earthquake which caused a lot of damages to improperly built houses, the population
begins to rebuild stronger houses and buildings that give away less easily to earthquakes. Or,
in the case of tsunami, to avoid housings very close to the shore and the development of a
‘green belt’- a thick stretch of trees adjacent to the coast line in order to reduce the impact of
the tsunami waves on the land. This process of making the impact less severe is called
Mitigation.
Preparedness phase – This phase involves the development of awareness among the
population on the general aspects of disaster and on how to behave in the face of a future
disaster. This includes education on warning signs of disasters, methods of safe and
successful evacuation and first aid measures.
About 60% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes of various intensities; over 40 million
hectares is prone to floods; about 8% of the total area is prone to cyclones and 68% of the
area is susceptible to drought. In the decade 1990-2000, an average of about 4344 people lost
their lives and about 30 million people were affected by disasters every year. The loss in
terms of private, community and public assets has been astronomical. At the global level,
there has been considerable concern over natural disasters. Even as substantial scientific and
material progress is made, the loss of lives and property due to disasters has not decreased. In
fact, the human toll and economic losses have mounted. It was in this background that the
United Nations General Assembly, in 1989, declared the decade 1990-2000 as the
International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction with the objective to reduce loss of lives
and property and restrict socio-economic damage through concerted international action,
specially in developing countries. The super cyclone in Orissa in October, 1999 and the Bhuj
earthquake in Gujarat in January, 2001 underscored the need to adopt a multi dimensional
endeavour involving diverse scientific, engineering, financial and social processes; the need
to adopt multi disciplinary and multi sectoral approach and incorporation of risk reduction in
the developmental plans and strategies. Over the past couple of years, the Government of
India have brought about a paradigm shift in the approach to disaster management. The new
approach 4 proceeds from the conviction that development cannot be sustainable unless
disaster mitigation is built into the development process. Another corner stone of the
approach is that mitigation has to be multi-disciplinary spanning across all sectors of
development. The new policy also emanates from the belief that investments in mitigation are
much more cost effective than expenditure on relief and rehabilitation.
Institutional and Policy Framework
