Focus: GS III- Disaster management
Why in News?
The Prime Minister has greeted the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team on their Raising Day.
About NDRF
Nodal: Ministry of Home Affairs
- The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is an Indian specialized force constituted “for the purpose of special response to a threatening disaster situation or disaster” under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
- The “Apex Body for Disaster Management” in India is the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
- The Chairman of the NDMA is the Prime Minister.
- The responsibility of managing disasters in India is that of the State Government.
- National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is under the National Disaster Management Authority.
- Headquarter of NDRF located in Delhi.
- The head of the NDRF is designated as Director General.
- The Director Generals of NDRF are IPS officers on deputation from Indian police organisations.
- The NDRF is a top-heavy organisation which in addition to the Director General has several Inspector Generals (IG) and Deputy IGs, who fly flags and wear army-style badges of rank.
- National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is a force of 12 battalions, organised on para-military lines, and manned by persons on deputation from the para-military forces of India.
- These NDRF battalions are located at twelve different locations in the country based on the vulnerability profile to cut down the response time for their deployment.
About NDRF Functions
- The aim of the National Disaster Management Authority is to build a safer and disaster resilient India by developing a holistic, proactive, multi-disaster and technology driven strategy for disaster management.
- This has to be achieved through a culture of prevention, mitigation and preparedness to generate a prompt and efficient response at the time of disasters.
- This national vision inter alia, aims at inculcating a culture of preparedness among all stakeholders.
- NDRF has proved its importance in achieving this vision by highly skilled rescue and relief operations, regular and intensive training and re-training, familiarization exercises within the area of responsibility of respective NDRF Battalions, carrying out mock drills and joint exercises with the various stakeholders.
- In addition to this, there are four battalions capable of handling as follows;-
- Biological,
- Radiological,
- Nuclear and
- Chemical disasters.
