National Disaster Response Force Academy

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Ministry of Home Affairs’ proposal to create one (01) Director in Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) position at the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Academy in Nagpur. With the introduction of the job of Director, NDRF Academy, the organization’s command and control will be entrusted to a senior and experienced officer who can guide the institution toward its goals.

The Academy will yearly provide skill-based practical training to around 5000 employees from the NDRF, SDRF, CD volunteers, other stakeholders, and SAARC and other countries’ disaster response organizations.

It will also analyze and improve training programs in response to changing stakeholder demands and requirements. It will vastly increase the quality of disaster response training provided to NDRF, SDRF, and other stakeholders.

About National Disaster Response Force Academy in Nagpur

• The National Disaster Response Force Academy was created in Nagpur in 2018 when the National Civil Defence College was merged with it (NCDC).
• The Academy’s main campus is under construction, hence it is now operating from the NCDC campus.
• The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Civil Defence volunteers, and other stakeholders are now trained at the Academy, which is expected to expand into a renowned training institution of world reputation.
• It would also provide specialized training to SAARC and other countries’ disaster response staff.

About National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

• The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is an Indian specialized force established in 2006 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 “for the purpose of a particular response to a threatening disaster situation or disaster.” The National Disaster Management Authority is India’s “Apex Body for Disaster Management” (NDMA). The Prime Minister is the Chairman of the NDMA.
• The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is part of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The Director-General is the NDRF’s top official. IPS personnel on deputation from Indian police organizations serve as Director Generals of the NDRF. A three-star officer is the Director-General.
• The NDRF is a top-heavy organization, with many Inspector Generals (IG) and Deputy Inspector Generals, who are flag officers and wear rank badges, in addition to the Director-General.

• Two national calamities, the Orissa Super Cyclone (1999) and the Gujarat Earthquake (2001) occurred in close succession, highlighting the necessity for a professional response structure at the national level to properly respond to catastrophes. The DM Act was enacted on December 26, 2005, as a result of this discovery.
• The National Disaster Management Authority’s mission is to create a safer and more disaster-resilient India by building a comprehensive, proactive, multi-disaster, and technology-driven disaster management plan. This must be accomplished through a culture of disaster prevention, mitigation, and preparedness in order to provide a quick and effective reaction in the case of a disaster. This national vision intends to instill a culture of preparation among all stakeholders, among other things.
• By conducting highly skilled rescue and relief operations, regular and intensive training and re-training, familiarization exercises within the areas of responsibility of respective NDRF Battalions, and mock drills and joint exercises with various stakeholders, the NDRF has demonstrated its importance in achieving this vision.

The NDRF’s Composition

• The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is a paramilitary force of 12 battalions manned by deputies from India’s paramilitary forces: three Border Security Forces, three Central Reserve Police Forces, two Central Industrial Security Forces, two Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and two Sashastra Seema Bal.
• Each battalion has a total strength of 1149 soldiers. Engineers, technicians, electricians, dog squads, and medical or paramedics are among the 45 members of each battalion’s self-contained specialized search and rescue teams.
• Currently, NDRF is situated in the following states.
  1. Assam (Guwahati)
  2. Andhra Pradesh (Vijayawada)
  3. Arunachal Pradesh (Itanagar)
  4. Bihar (Patna)
  5. Gujarat (Gandhinagar)
  6. Maharashtra (Pune)
  7. Odisha (Cuttack)
  8. Punjab (Bathinda)
  9. Tamil Nadu (Arakkonam)
  10. Uttar Pradesh (Ghaziabad)
  11. West Bengal (Kolkata)

NDRF’s Role and Mission:

• In the event of a disaster, a specialized response is provided through a proactive reaction.
• Proactive deployment of military and the community in the event of a calamity.
• Acquire and continue to improve its own disaster mitigation training and abilities.
• In the case of potential disasters and post-disaster management, liaison, reconnaissance, rehearsals, and mock drills are used.
• State Response Forces should get basic and operational training (Police, Civil Defence, and Home Guards).
• Community Capacity Building Program aimed at enhancing communities’ ability to respond to disasters.
• Organize public awareness campaigns concerning catastrophe preparedness and disaster safety.
• To combat all-natural disasters, including those that are radiological, biological, chemical, or nuclear.
• In the event of a natural disaster, conduct search and rescue activities.

Some issues in NDRF which need to be resolved:

• The NDRF’s efficiency has been impeded by a shortage of trained personnel and a lack of well-organized training facilities and equipment.
• A country like India, which is prone to disasters, requires extensive preparation and implementation.
• The Centre denies it the finances and infrastructure it requires. The shortage of employees is a key cause of the delay, as is the lack of attractive remuneration.
• The control and command structure is highly ambiguous. The MHA is in charge of finance and execution, while the NDMA is in charge of the force’s administration. This leads to a fight between the two. Because the NDMA is a self-governing body with members selected by the government, the force needs to deal with two bosses for everything that causes delays and complications.
• The Disaster Management Act of December 2005 required most governments to establish a disaster response framework, although most have been slow to do so. Only 16 states have taken action so far, and only six states have a structure in place to deal with calamities. Odisha is the only state that has raised an ultra-efficient force that, in collaboration with the NDRF, effectively controlled destruction during the recent cyclones.

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