UPSC 2017-18: PIB Summary and Analysis Aug 13

UPSC 2017-18: PIB Summary and Analysis Aug 13 for IAS Exam Preparation.

PM expresses grief over the loss of lives due to landslide in HP

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives due to landslide related accidents in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district.

Team of NDRF is going to Mandi to take part in the rescue and relief operations and provide all possible assistance required.

Basic Info:

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF):

Context in which NDRF came into existence:

The mid nineties and the subsequent decade saw much international debate & discussion around Disaster Response & Preparedness.

Some of the notable and more impactful ones were the Yokohama Strategy Plan (1994) & the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005), adopted by the UN.

During the same period India faced some of its most severe natural calamities like Orissa Super Cyclone (1999), Gujarat Earthquake (2001) and Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004). This succession of events and the International environment brought to fore, the need of comprehensive disaster management plan.

This led to the enactment of the Disaster Management Act on December 26th , 2005. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was constituted to lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management.

Mandate:

The Disaster Management Act has statutory provisions for constitution of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for the purpose of specialized response to natural and man-made disasters.

Accordingly, in 2006 NDRF was constituted with 8 Battalions.

NDRF is a dedicated force for disaster response related duties, under the unified command of DG NDRF.

The practice of “proactive availability” of this Force to the States and that of “pre-positioning”, in a threatening disaster situations have immensely helped minimise damage, caused due to natural calamities in the country.

Examples where NDRF responded:

The first major test of disaster for NDRF was Kosi Floods in 2008.

In September 2014, the Jammu and Kashmir region suffered disastrous floods across many of its districts caused by torrential rainfall. This was the first-ever experience for NDRF to handle urban flooding on such a massive scale.

When the Cyclone Hud-hud pounded the eastern Indian coast in October 2014.

When on 25 April 2015, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 and a depth of 15 km struck Nepal.

Today NDRF is a distinguished, unique Force across the country functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, within the overall command, control and leadership of the Director General, NDRF.

Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot Inaugurates ‘Inclusive Independence Day 
Celebrations of National Trust’

In news:

Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment inaugurated the ‘Inclusive Independence Day celebrations’ organised by the National Trust here today.

The categories of Divyangjans have been increased from Seven to Twenty One to cover more Divyangjans.

‘Inclusive India Initiative’

It is an awareness campaign organized by National Trust to raise awareness about including every section of the society including Divyangjans into the developmental mainstream.

It saw participation of around 2500 people from all walks of life along with 500 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Inclusive Independence Day celebrations is a pan-India effort and similar activities were also conducted at many other places like Bangalore, Guntur, etc.

The theme of the day was “Freedom from Bias”.

National Trust

It is a statutory body of Government of India under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.