Lok Sabha Question No. 1408 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-12
Subject: Natural Disasters
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Pradyut Bordoloi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1408

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  DECEMBER, 2023/ AGRAHAYANA 21, 1945 (SAKA)

NATURAL DISASTERS

1408. SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  there is  any  record  of  the  total  number  of  deaths  of  Women and Sexual Gender Minorities caused by natural disasters including floods, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(b) whether the Disaster Management Act of 2005 takes cognizance of the unique  vulnerabilities  and  specific  needs  of  Women  and  Sexual  Gender minorities during the process of relief and rehabilitation;

(c) if so, the details of the appropriate steps taken or likely to be taken by the Government in this regard;

(d)  whether  the  Annual  Report  by  the  said  Ministry  considers  protection from disasters and gender-sensitive rehabilitation as a component of the section on Women Safety; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

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

(a) to (e) The  record  of  the  total  number  of  deaths,  including  that  of Women  and  Sexual  Gender  Minorities caused by natural disasters, including  floods  is  not  maintained  by  this  Ministry  centrally,    since execution  of  rescue   measures   and   assessing loss of human lives on the ground is the responsibility of the State concerned.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 1408 FOR 12.12.2023

One of the objectives of the National Policy on Disaster Management 2009 is  to  ensure  the  efficient  response  and  relief  with  a  caring  approach towards the needs of the vulnerable sections of the society. The National Policy  on  Disaster  Management  has  addressed  the  issues  of  vulnerable groups  at  many  places  including  Preamble,  Approach  and  Objectives, Response & Reconstruction and Recovery. Further, the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) 2019 has also addressed the issues pertaining to  groups with higher vulnerabilities like gender based, children, weaker and marginalized communities, age related and for disabled persons.

Important  actions  taken  by  the  Government  of  India  and  the  National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) with regard to the issues related to vulnerable sections of the society, including gender based, in its Plan, Policy and National Guidelines on various disasters are as under:-

1. National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), 2009:-
- i. In  the  preamble  of  the  Policy  itself,  special  focus  has  been indicated for women.
- ii. Women  issues  and  their  participation  have  been  addressed  in other chapters of the Policy as well, e.g., in chapters on institutional and legal arrangements, disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness, reconstruction and recovery etc.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 1408 FOR 12.12.2023

Policy  also  has  a  provision  for  participation  of  women  in  State Disaster Response Forces (SDRFs).

2.   National  Disaster  Management  Guidelines  issued  by  NDMA -In different  National  Guidelines  issued  by  NDMA  for  management  of different  disasters  and  other  related  issues,  women  concerns  have been widely addressed.
3.   National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP), 2019:-
- i.  NDMP  2019  has  a  new  dedicated  chapter  on  Social  Inclusion (Chapter-4) focusing on inclusiveness of DRR for more vulnerable sections.  In  this  chapter  Gender  issues  in  DRR  have  been prominently addressed focusing on women.
- ii. Section  4.2  of  NDMP  2019  (in  the  chapter  on  Social  Inclusion) focuses  on  Gender  Perspective  and  DRR.  Its  sub-sections  focus on Gender Based Vulnerabilities (4.2.1) and Sexual and Gender Minorities (4.2.2) addressing issues of women  as well as transgender.
- iii.  With  the  objective  of  mainstreaming  gender  perspective  in  the Disaster  Management plan, a responsibility  framework (Sec 4.8) has  also  been  provided  in  Chapter  on  Social  Inclusion  which delineates roles and responsibilities of Central and State Government agencies.

- iv.  In  addition  to  a  dedicated  chapter,  focusing  on  more  vulnerable groups  including  women,  the  Plan  has  addressed  women  and gender issues extensively in different chapters of the Plan.
- v. Prime  Minister's  10  point  agenda  on  DRR,  enunciated  during AMCDRR 2016 has special focus on women's role in its point no. 3 - 'Women's leadership and greater involvement should be central to disaster risk management'. The PM 10 Point agenda has also been  one  of  the  guiding  forces  behind  the  development  of  the NDMP 2019.

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