Lok Sabha Question No. 2542 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-02
Subject: Disaster Management Policies
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Agatha K. Sangma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2542

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  AUGUST, 2022/ SRAVANA 11, 1944 (SAKA)

DISASTER MANAGEMENT POLICIES

2542. KUMARI AGATHA K. SANGMA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  higher  level  of vulnerability  of  women  and  children  to  natural  disasters  and  climate induced shocks like floods and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  steps  to  make  disaster  risk management  and  risk  gender  inclusive  and  it  has  also  conducted  or intends to conduct a gender audit of current disaster management policies and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the gender ratio in the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and whether any steps are being taken to involve more women in disaster planning and management processes;

(d)  whether  the  Government  intends  to  include  sanitary  napkins  in  the essential list of disaster relief items; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) and (b):    The National Policy of Disaster Management, 2009 inter alia acknowledges that within the vulnerable groups, elderly person, women, children,  especially  women  rendered  destitute,  children  orphaned  on account of disasters and differently abled persons are exposed to higher risks and the need of these persons require special attention.

## L.S.US.Q.NO.2542 FOR 02.08.2022

Hon'ble Prime Minister's Ten Point Agenda for Disaster Risk Reduction envisages to encourage greater involvement and leadership of women in disaster risk management to support special needs of women affected by disasters.

In terms of the aforesaid policy and vision, the Central Government has  taken  following  steps  to  make  disaster  risk  management  gender inclusive:

- (i) National  Disaster  Management Plan, 2019 (NDMP) has a chapter on  'Social  Inclusion  in  Disaster  Risk  Reduction  (DRR)'  which focusses on inclusiveness of DRR for more vulnerable sections.  This chapter has a section on Gender Perspective and DRR, which addresses issues concerning Gender Minorities.  This chapter also contains a Responsibility Framework which delineates roles and responsibilities of central and state Government  agencies  for  addressing  their  concerns.   All  the stakeholders are required to follow the provisions of the plan.
- (ii) The  Guidelines  issued  by  the  National  Disaster  Management Authority  (NDMA)  for  'Preparation  of  State  Disaster  Management Plans (SDMPs)'  focusses  on  special needs of vulnerable sections

## L.S.US.Q.NO.2542 FOR 02.08.2022

such  as  pregnant  women  and  lactating  mothers,  children,  the elderly and physically and mentally challenged persons.

- (iii)   NDMA is implementing upscaling of Aapda Mitra scheme under which 9032 community volunteers  have  been  trained  so  far.  Out  of  these trained volunteers, 1028 are women.
- (c): A decision has been taken in the Ministry of Home Affairs to have one Mahila  team  each  in  10  battalions  of  National  Disaster  Response  Force (NDRF). At present, 243 women personnel in various ranks are posted in NDRF.

(d) and (e):    Sanitary napkins are included in the Dignity Kit for women as an  essential  disaster  relief  item  under  the  National  Disaster  Response Reserve(NDRR). Further, NDMA in its guidelines on 'Temporary Shelter for Disaster Affected Families' has, inter-alia, emphasized for making adequate provisions for female menstrual needs i.e. cleaning and disposal of sanitary napkins etc.

******