Parliament Passes Bill for Proactive, Tech-Driven Disaster Management

The bill also mandates the creation of comprehensive disaster databases at the national and state levels to enable real-time data-driven planning and response.

In a significant legislative move aimed at overhauling India’s disaster response framework, the Rajya Sabha passed the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, following an extensive reply by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah. With the bill already cleared by the Lok Sabha, its passage in the Upper House marks a milestone in modernizing India’s disaster management approach to one that is proactive, technology-integrated, participatory, and inclusive of every tier of governance and citizen involvement.

A Vision for Decentralized and Proactive Disaster Management

Addressing the Rajya Sabha, Shri Amit Shah underscored the core philosophy behind the amendments: to bridge the gap between Centre, State, Panchayat, and citizens in disaster preparedness and response. He assured the House that the bill does not centralize power but, instead, strengthens the federal structure by empowering District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), which fall under the purview of state governments.

He explained that the bill seeks to shift from a reactive approach to a proactive, participatory, and innovation-led disaster governance model, integrating modern technology, community participation, and localized planning into the national framework.

A Global Vision: India’s Leadership in Disaster Risk Reduction

Shri Shah highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s global leadership in disaster resilience, citing the widely accepted Ten-Point Agenda for Disaster Risk Reduction, endorsed by over 40 nations. He also referenced international initiatives like the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), comprising 43 countries and several international organizations, which underscores India's growing global influence in this domain.

India’s proactive international collaboration includes MoUs on disaster management with countries such as Japan, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Maldives, and Italy. Furthermore, the NDRF has conducted humanitarian missions across the globe — Operation Maitri (Nepal), Operation Dost (Turkey and Syria), and Operation Karuna (Myanmar) — reflecting India’s commitment to global solidarity in disaster response.

Institutional Strengthening and Local Empowerment

The amendments aim to enhance institutional accountability and efficiency. The bill empowers NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) and SDMAs (State Disaster Management Authorities) with statutory powers to implement the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission. It introduces Urban Disaster Management Authorities under state governments to handle city-specific disasters like heatwaves, urban flooding, and infrastructure collapses.

The bill also mandates the creation of comprehensive disaster databases at the national and state levels to enable real-time data-driven planning and response.

Major Reforms and Key Features of the Amendment Bill

1. Tech Integration: Transition from manual monitoring to AI-based, real-time systems and dissemination of warnings through mobile apps, social media, and digital platforms.

2. Disaster-Resistant Infrastructure: Prioritizing construction norms, retrofitting, and nature-aligned infrastructure.

3. Transparency & Accountability: Clearly defined institutional roles, financial transparency, and moral responsibility embedded in disaster protocols.

4. Capacity Building: Expansion of community-based programs such as Aapda Mitra, with plans to train over 3.37 lakh volunteers, including women and youth from organizations like NCC, NSS, and Scouts.

5. Urban Focus: Establishment of Urban Disaster Management Authorities, emphasizing city-centric planning.

6. Sendai Framework Alignment: The bill aligns closely with global best practices for disaster mitigation, preparedness, and response.

Massive Increase in Budget and Financial Support to States

Shri Shah presented a comprehensive comparison of disaster relief funding between the two decades:

• From 2004–2014, SDRF allocation was ₹38,000 crore. From 2014–2024, it increased to ₹1.24 lakh crore.

• NDRF saw a jump from ₹28,000 crore to ₹80,000 crore in the same periods.

• Total funding surged from ₹66,000 crore to over ₹2 lakh crore, reflecting the Modi government’s commitment to disaster resilience.

He also emphasized the equitable allocation of funds across states without political bias, listing substantial disbursements to Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and others.

Building Back Better: Learning from Past Disasters

Reflecting on the tragic 2001 Bhuj earthquake, Shah recalled how then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi pioneered the first Climate Change Department and State Disaster Management Act (2003) in India. Gujarat's early actions became templates for national policies. The Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan (2013), India’s first city-level heat response strategy, was also initiated during Modi’s tenure as CM.

Shah emphasized that disaster response now targets zero casualties, a radical shift from the earlier approach of "minimum casualties." For instance:

• In the 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone, 10,000 people died.

• During Cyclone Fani (2019), only one life was lost.

• Cyclone Biparjoy (2023) resulted in zero deaths, human or animal — a testament to India’s preparedness and proactive planning.

Apps and Digital Tools Empowering Citizens

To increase public awareness and safety, the government has launched multiple mobile apps for weather and disaster alerts:

• Mausam, Damini (lightning warnings), Meghdoot (farmers' advisories), Sachet, FloodWatch, India Quake, and more.

• These tools have reached millions, including farmers, fishermen, coastal communities, and residents of landslide-prone areas.

Aapda Mitra: Community Volunteers Saving Lives

The Aapda Mitra scheme, with over one lakh trained volunteers, has already saved 129 lives and evacuated 78,000 people from disaster zones. Now being expanded, it will soon include 2.37 lakh more trained youth, enhancing grassroots-level resilience.

Environmental Stewardship and Global Leadership

Shri Shah emphasized how disaster management and climate change are closely linked. The Modi government’s parallel environmental agenda includes:

• Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2070

• Completion of 20% ethanol blending target ahead of schedule

• Green Hydrogen Mission

• Ujjwala Yojana: 10 crore LPG connections reduced biomass burning

• Swachh Bharat: From 39% to 100% sanitation coverage

• ISA, GBA, One Sun-One Grid, and global tree plantation movements like “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”

PM Modi was recognized as a Champion of the Earth by the United Nations — a testament to India’s holistic approach to climate and disaster resilience.

COVID-19: Showcasing India’s Disaster Management Strength

Citing India's acclaimed COVID-19 response, Shri Shah said that the PM CARES Fund played a crucial role in funding vaccinations, oxygen plants, and public health infrastructure. Under Modi’s leadership, vaccines were developed, produced, distributed, and tracked through tech-enabled platforms, including CoWIN.

He lauded the use of telemedicine in rural hospitals through video conferences with AIIMS doctors, a life-saving initiative during lockdowns. India’s vaccine rollout and pandemic response were praised globally as a model of efficiency, unity, and technology use.

Conclusion: A New Era in Disaster Governance

The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is not just a statutory upgrade — it is a visionary shift toward sustainable, tech-powered, inclusive, and anticipatory disaster management. By integrating community efforts, institutional strengthening, climate consciousness, and digital innovation, India is positioning itself as a global leader in disaster risk reduction.

The bill, as Shri Amit Shah summed up, is an embodiment of “synergy between preparedness, coordination, and innovation”, and a commitment to ensuring every Indian life is safeguarded from disasters — natural or man-made — from the villages to the capital.