Lok Sabha Question No. 96 (STARRED), answered on 2019-11-22
Subject: South East Asia Health Emergency Fund
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Bhola Singh, Vinod Kumar Sonkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 96 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22 nd NOVEMBER , 2019 SOUTH EAST ASIA HEAL TH EMERGENCY FUND

## *96. SHRI BHOLA SINGH: SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government actively participated in the 72nd Session of the Regional Committee for South East Asia in Delhi recently and if so, th e details thereof;
- (b) whether the Delhi Declaration on Emergency Preparedness to strengthen operationalise  cross  border  capacities  for  disaster  reduction  and  respon unanimously adopted at the above meeting and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to contribute $ 2,00,000 for the WHO Sou East Asia region's health emergency fund meant for rapid response towards both natural disasters and human - generated hazards, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the other ste ps being taken by the Government to minimise disaster reductio and improve response rate in India?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) to ( d):  A statement is laid on the Table of the House

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 96* FOR 22 nd NOVEMBER , 2019

(a)  India  participated  and  chaired  the  72 nd Session  of  the  WHO  Regional Committee for South East Asia andthe Ministerial Round - table Meeting held in New Delhiduring 2 nd to 6 th September , 2019.

Emergency

(b)Yes, HealthMinisters  of  the  Member  States  of  the  WHO  South - East  Asia Region had unanimously adopted the Delhi Declaration on Preparedness in the South - East Asia Region on 3 rd September 2019

(c ) Government of India has proposed to contribute US $2,00,000 per biennium to establish  a  preparedness  stream  for  the  South  East  Asia  Regional  Hea Emergency  Fund  of  World  Health  Organization,  South  East  Asia  Region. Accordingly, a sanction of US $2,00,000 has been issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.

(d) Primary responsibility of disaster management rests with the States. Ho to strengthen the existing disaster management practices, preparedness, prev and  enhance  the  response  mechan ism  and  minimizing  the  effects  of  natural calamities in the country, the Central Government has consistently supported in disaster management and response.

The Disaster Management Act 2005 articulates the need for mainstreamin Disaster Risk Reduct ion (DRR) into development planning. As per provisions of the  Act,  National  Disaster  Management  Authority  (NDMA),  National  Disaster Response Force (NDRF), National Institute of Disaster Management were creat in 2006 at national level.

The National Pol icy on Disaster Management 2009 seeks to build a safe and disaster resilient India. Some of the major measures taken by Government of for improving disaster response and disaster risk reduction are given as unde

- Release of National Disaster Managem ent Plan in 2016
- Publication  of  30  guidelines  on  different  disasters  by  National  Di Management Authority (NDMA) on various disasters. These guidelines are available on NDMA's website:www.ndma.gov.in
- Setting  up  of  National  Disaster  Response  Force  (NDR F)  for  prompt response  and  pre - positioning  of  NDRF  in  disaster  vulnerable  areas  and preposition them across various vulnerable locations in the country.
- Strengthening of State and District Disaster Management systems throu various schemes of Central Gov ernment.
- Capacity  buildings  of  various  stake  holders  including  State  Disa Response Force of States/UTs by providing training through NDRF.
- Construction of multi - purpose cyclone shelters in coastal States and traini of coastal communities on shelters during 2011 - 2020.
- Carrying out capacity building of disaster professionals and communitie NDMA, NDRF and National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM).
- The early warning is provided by the forecasting agencies of Government India  on  real  time  bas is  for  the  impending  disasters  to  all  the  concerne stakeholders for taking appropriate precautionary measures.