Workshop On

Disaster
Management
with CESC
ROLE OF STATE DISASTER MANAGEMENT
AUTHORITY
 The State of West Bengal is vulnerable to
natural calamities like: flood, cyclone, hail storm,
thunder squall, drought, landslide, and
earthquakes.
In addition man-made disasters have been
witnessed like large fires like AMRI Hospital,
Stephen Court etc. which have led to substantial
loss of life
.
 U/S 14 of the Disaster Management Act 2005,
State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has
been established in West Bengal.
State Disaster Management Authority &
District Disaster Management Authority
constituted under the Disaster Management Act,
2005.
The SDMA consists of the Chief Minister of the
State, who is the Chairperson, and no more than
eight members appointed by the Chief Minister.
 SDMA is mandated u/s 28 of the DM Act
2005 to ensure that all the departments of
the State integrate disaster management
aspect in their development plans as
prescribed by the National and State
Authorities and work in a coordinated
manner to respond to disasters.
 Aim of the WBSDMA is to establish necessary
plan, policy, systems, structures, programs,
resources, capabilities and guiding principles for
reducing disaster risks and preparing for and
responding to disasters and threats of disasters in
the State of West Bengal in order to save lives and
property, avoid disruption of economic activity and
damage to environment and to ensure the
continuity and sustainability of development.
Objectives of the SDMA are as follows:
To assess the risks and vulnerabilities associated with
various disasters;
To develop appropriate disaster prevention and
mitigation strategies.
To provide clarity on roles and responsibilities for all
stakeholders concerned with disaster management so
that disasters can be managed more effectively.
To develop and maintain arrangements for accessing
resources, equipment, supplies and funding in
preparation for disasters that might occur.
Contd..
To create awareness and preparedness and
provide advice and training to the agencies
involved in disaster management and to the
community.
To strengthen the capacities of the community, to
establish and maintain effective systems for
responding to disasters.
To ensure that arrangements are in place to
mobilize the resources and capability for relief,
rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery from
disasters.
Contd..
To ensure co-ordination with agencies related to
disaster management in other Indian States and
those at the national and international level.
To ensure relief assistance to the affected
without any discrimination of caste, creed,
community or sex.
To establish and maintain a proactive
programme of risk reduction. This programme is
to be implemented through existing sectoral
development programmes as a part of the overall
development process in the state .
Contd..
To develop and implement programmes
for risk sharing and risk transfer for all
types of disasters;
To address gender issues in disaster
management with special thrust on
empowerment of women towards long
term disaster mitigation;
To develop disaster management as
distinct management discipline and
creation of a systematic and streamlined
disaster management cadre.
Responsibilities:
Administration of Disaster Management
Act, 2005 and its provisions.
Responsibility for the declaration of a
disaster at any level in the State rests
with State Government.
Responsibility for initiation and execution
of emergency relief measures and
rehabilitation in times of disasters rests
with DM Department, in conjunction with
other Government Departments. The DM
Department shall act through its
functionaries at the State level (State Relief
Commissioner) and the district level
(District Magistrate).
Contd..
Overall responsibility for facilitation, coordination
and monitoring of the development and
implementation of reconstruction and
rehabilitation activity following disasters rests with
WBSDMA, utilizing the resources and expertise of
relevant Government Departments, district
administration, local authorities, non-governmental
organizations (NGO), the public sector, the private
sector, international development agencies, donors
and the community .

Contd..
Crisis Management, in case of Natural
Calamities i.e. arrange for rescue, relief and
rehabilitation of people affected by Natural
Calamities.
Arrange for Risk Management by
coordinating among all concerned
departments of the State Government &
promoting the culture of Preparedness,
Mitigation and Prevention for reducing
disaster risks in the State.
Contd...
Preparation and approval of State Disaster
Management Plan.
Coordinate and monitor the
implementation of National Policy, National
Plan, State Policy and Sate Plan.
Approval of District Disaster Management
Plan.
Promotion of Culture of preparedness,
Mitigation & Prevention of effecting factors
which are against Sustainable Development .

Contd..
Coordination with Nodal Departments of the
State Government for preparation of Crisis
Management Plan in respect of those disasters,
which are monitored by the National Crisis
Management Group.
Recommend provision of funds for mitigation
and preparedness measures.
Development of awareness campaign
strategy and its implementation in the state.
Development of Human Resource Plan
and implementation thereof.
Contd..
Development of training modules and
material.
Ensuring the conduct of mock drills
regularly.
Ensuring the communication system is in
order.
Setting up and strengthening of State
Emergency Operation Centre and District
Emergency Operation Centres.
Contd..
To initiate risk and vulnerability assessments
and preparation of annual vulnerability and
risk reduction reports.
Laying down guidelines to integrate DRR into
development process.
Follow up with various line departments to
ensure that DRR issues have been addressed in
their development plans.
Preparation of Disaster Risk Reduction
Projects in various sectors.
Contd..
Guidance for the preparation of DMP by
various departments.
Preparation of Minimum Standards of
Relief.
Preparation of Disaster Management
Policy.
Preparation of Mitigation plans vis a vis
various hazards.
Provide necessary technical assistance or
give advice to District Authorities.
Contd..
 Organisational Support for Disaster Management
Suitable organization has been evolved in this State
at all appropriate level to draw up coordinated plans
for setting up Disaster Management operations. The
Disaster Management organization of the State is
running under the Department of Disaster
Management, Government of W.B. The Secretary,
Disaster Management Department, is the State Relief
Commissioner. S/he is assisted by Joint Secretary and
other officials.The Directorate of Disaster
Management, headed by a Director, assists the
Secretary of Disaster Management for execution of all
Disaster Management Operations at the State level.
 Role of State Relief Commissioner:
The State Relief Commissioner through the office of
the Department of Disaster Management plays a direct &
active role in the Disaster Management programme of the
State. For a disaster that impacts more than one district in
the State, the State Relief Commissioner leads the Disaster
Management measures using appropriate action plan.
The State Relief Commissioner either directly or
through District Magistrates, co-ordinates and monitors
the disaster management measures using all the resources
available with the State Government.

Contd..
Role of District Magistrate
The District Magistrate plays a co-ordinating role
at the district level to ensure that the various
Government functionaries in the district
effectively carry out the Disaster Management
activities in this phase working in close co-
operation with Government Departments and
local bodies. The role of the District Magistrate in
this phase includes:
Ensuring that preparedness, mitigation &
prevention-activities are carried out in accordance
with the appropriate guidelines.
Contd..
THANK
YOU