Lok Sabha Question No. 22 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-02
Subject: Disability-inclusive Disaster Preparedness Guidelines
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dr. D Ravi Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.*22

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  DECEMBER, 2025/ AGRAHAYANA 11, 1947 (SAKA)

DISABILITY-INCLUSIVE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS GUIDELINES

*22.    DR. D RAVI KUMAR:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  National  Disaster  Management  Authority  (NDMA)  has formulated  disability-inclusive  disaster  preparedness  guidelines  in  line with the Sendai Framework;
- (b) whether Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) have been actively involved in mock drills, training or emergency preparedness exercises conducted during the last three years; and
- (c) the number of disaster shelters and emergency relief centres which have  been  certified  as  accessible  under  NDMA  norms  or  audited  for accessibility  under  the  Accessible  India  Campaign  (Sugamya  Bharat Abhiyan), State-wise?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

Statement  referred  in  reply  to  the  Lok  Sabha  Starred  Question  No.  22 dated 2 nd  December, 2025

(a): National  Disaster  Management  Authority  (NDMA)  has  formulated 'Guidelines on Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (2019)' in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

These  guidelines  align  with  the  Sendai  Framework  in  emphasising importance of inclusion and accessibility, by involvement of persons with disabilities  and  their  organisations  in  Disaster  Risk  Reduction  (DRR) policymaking and implementation.

(b):      NDMA conducts annual Mock Exercises (MEs) in States based on possible catastrophic multi-hazard scenarios to operationalize and validate the 'All of Govt and Society' approach. These Mock Exercises are multi-agency events with active participation of community and stakeholders. Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), are therefore an inclusive element in these events.

During  the  exercise,  the  drills  and  response  are  evaluated  to  check accessibility in embedded disability scenarios: evacuation of wheelchair users,  people  using  white  canes,  people  who  are  deaf,  persons  with intellectual  disabilities,  children  with  special  needs,  and  persons  with psychosocial  disabilities.  Multi-channel  early  warning  is also tested for

meeting  the  needs  of  PwDs  in  these  scenarios:  loudhailers,  visual beacons, SMS, accessible apps, simple language, pictograms, etc.   Physical  and  procedural  accessibility  is  also  checked  during  the response: ramps, handrails, signage, lighting, safe refuge areas, queues at relief points, accessible toilets, and space for carers and guide dogs.

Mock Exercise, being multi-spectral events, can only address the PwDs related issues by including a few  scenarios. It is thereafter the responsibility  of  the  State  and  Districts  to  take  action  on  the  lessons thrown up by MEs and for preparedness. NDMA being an oversight agency that guides the States, encourages them to train responders, volunteers, school staff, and community leaders on disability inclusion, communication, and safe assistance techniques before the exercise and as a follow up. The States are also asked to provide tailored preparedness training for persons with disabilities and caregivers: personal evacuation plans, go-bags including device spares/medicines, and how to communicate needs in an emergency.

(c): This Ministry does not maintain any details about number of disaster shelter  and  emergency  relief  centres  which  have  been  certified  as accessible  under  NDMA  norms  or  audited  for  accessibility  under  the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan).

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