The Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, unveiled the Manual for Disaster Management Plan (DMP) during the two-day national conference of Rural WASH Partners Forum at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The Disaster Management Plan (DMP) crafted by the Department of Potable Water and Hygiene focuses on safeguarding, ensuring uninterrupted access, and minimizing losses of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and services. This inclusive plan actively engages stakeholders at the national, state, district, and village levels to achieve its objectives effectively. The Plan is in alignment with two flagship programs, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), and Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G), implemented by the Department, to strengthen disaster preparedness and response in the WASH sector.
Fostering Resilience and Preparedness for Immediate WASH Response
The Disaster Management Plan is a crucial step towards enhancing WASH resilience and reducing vulnerability to disasters. Developed based on the advisory issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Plan caters to disaster preparedness, response, recovery, reconstruction, and mitigation. By considering the vulnerability of WASH assets and services under various types of disasters, the document addresses the impact of disasters on WASH infrastructure and services.
The Plan outlines a robust institutional mechanism for disaster preparedness and response, including comprehensive measures to ensure WASH service delivery during and post-disaster. It also emphasizes the inclusion of vulnerable groups, such as Gender-based vulnerabilities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST), elderly, children, and people with disabilities, in the disaster management approach.
Holistic Approach and Prioritizing Disaster Recovery
The Manual offers a holistic approach to disaster management, covering community preparedness, the use of technology, and international cooperation. It focuses on four stages of planning: preparedness, response, recovery & reconstruction, and mitigation, addressing the issues as per the 10-point agenda for risk reduction.
In the event of a disaster, three types of assessments need to be conducted:
- Before the Disaster: A Hazard-Vulnerability-Capacity mapping acts as a roadmap for pinpointing the most crucial preparedness activities.
- During Response: A Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) to identify the immediate needs of the affected population, which can be completed within a day.
- During Recovery & Reconstruction: A detailed Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) to highlight long-term needs and aid in building back better the damaged infrastructure and updating service delivery mechanisms to mitigate future disasters.
By prioritizing disaster recovery and adopting a proactive approach, the Disaster Management Plan seeks to establish a resilient WASH infrastructure that can withstand and effectively respond to various disaster scenarios. The comprehensive and inclusive strategies outlined in the Manual will play a significant role in strengthening disaster management efforts in the WASH sector, ultimately ensuring the safety and well-being of communities across the nation.
