National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

Context: The teams of rescuers from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are now a familiar sight at most of the natural calamities or man-made disasters in India.

Origins of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

  • The Parliament passed the National Disaster Management Act in 2005 as a step towards determining responsibility and accountability for disaster response.
  • The law laid down a legal framework for disaster response at the national, state and district level.
  • The Act paved way for establishing Disaster Management Authorities at the national, state and district levels.
  • The law also paved the way for setting up the National Disaster Response and Mitigation Funds, and formation of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Organization and Structure of NDRF

  • The National Disaster Management Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister.
  • The NDRF was raised in 2006, initially with eight battalions, and now has 12 spread across the country.
  • Each battalion caters to particular states as their areas of responsibility.
  • NDRF functions under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and is headed by a Director General.
  • The NDRF gets personnel and officers on deputation from the CAPF for a period of seven years.

Vision of NDRF

  • NDRF is to emerge as the most visible and vibrant multi-disciplinary, multi-skilled, high-tech force capable to deal with all types of natural as well as manmade disasters and to mitigate the effects of disasters.

Role and Mandate of NDRF

  • Specialized response during disasters
  • Proactive deployment during impending disaster situations
  • Acquire and continually upgrade its training and skills
  • Liaison, Reconnaissance, Rehearsals and Mock Drills
  • Impart basic and operational level training to State Response Forces (Police, Civil Defence and Home Guards)
  • Community Capacity Building Programme
  • Organize Public Awareness Campaigns

Source: The Indian Express

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