Lok Sabha Question No. 3096 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-22
Subject: Coordination between NDRF and SDRF
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3096

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22 ND  MARCH, 2022/ CHAITRA 1, 1944 (SAKA)

COORDINATION BETWEEN NDRF AND SDRF

3096. SHRI KANUMURU RAGHU RAMA KRISHNA RAJU:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  been  stressing  the  need  for  better coordination  between  the  National  Disaster  Response  Force  (NDRF)  and State Disaster Response Forces (SDRF) in States; and

(b) if so, the details of meetings held in this connection and the outcome thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) and (b):    The primary responsibility of disaster management rests with the  State  Government  concerned.  The  Central  Government,  wherever required,  supplements the efforts of the State Governments by providing logistic  and  financial  support  in  cases  of  natural  disasters  of  severe nature.

Under  section  44  of  the  Disaster  Management  Act,  2005  National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was constituted. At present, NDRF has 16 Battalions, which are located as per vulnerability profile of the country to provide immediate response during disasters. NDRF is equipped with state

of art equipment to provide specialist response to a threatening disaster situation or disaster.

As per the National Policy on Disaster Management, raising of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and equipping them rests with the State/ UT  Government  concerned.  The  Central  Government  has  been  pursuing with  the  State/UT  Governments  to  raise  SDRF  and  equip  them  with adequate disaster response capabilities. To facilitate the State Governments, the Central Government has also shared the list of disaster response equipment with them, with the request to equip their SDRF in line with NDRF.

For  better  coordination  and  synergy  between  NDRF  and  SDRF  following steps are taken:

- i. NDRF organizes annual conference of SDRF including other stakeholders concerned. The conference provides an opportunity to share  best  practices  to  improve  the  response  capabilities  through mutual cooperation/ coordination in case of any disaster.
- ii. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) organizes annual conference of Relief Commissioners  and Secretaries of the Department of Disaster Management of States and Union Territories to review the status of

## L.S.US.Q.NO.3096 FOR 22.03.2022

preparedness  to  deal  with  disaster  or  impending  disaster  situation before South-West Monsoon.

- iii. NDRF regularly conducts mock drills/ exercises involving SDRF and other stakeholders. These mock drills/ exercises provide platform for effective coordination between NDRF and SDRF.
- iv. NDRF  is  relentlessly  engaged  in  Community  Capacity  Building  and public awareness and preparedness programmes.
- v. NDRF  renders  necessary  assistance  for  capacity  building  of  the SDRF.  The  Government  of  India  has  also  established  a  premium institute  i.e.  NDRF  Academy  at  Nagpur  to  impart  training  to  NDRF personnel  and  other  stakeholders  including  SDRF.  Besides,  NDRF Battalions  are  also  imparting  training  to  SDRF  personnel  in  various disaster management courses.
- vi. In the wake of disaster/ impending disaster situation, NDRF officials also participate in the coordination meetings organized by the State Governments/local administration.

## L.S.US.Q.NO.3096 FOR 22.03.2022

- vii. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also advices States/UTs regarding training, equipment and prepositioning of their SDRFs.

The Government with its continuous efforts have significantly improved its preparedness  to  deal  with  the  natural  calamities.  With  the  coordinated efforts at various levels, the disaster response mechanism has improved substantially and the loss of human lives due to natural disasters has been substantially reduced in the country.

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