Following representation received from Vijendra Rawat through the Tehri MP Mala Rajya lakshmi Shah, the parliamentary committee on petitions headed by MP Bhagat Singh Koshyari presented its report in the lok Sabha regarding the deployment of rural/local youth in disaster management team in Uttarakhand.
Rawat, who is the patron of Uttarkashi based Social and Environment Welfare Association (SEWA) organisation, informed the media at the Press Club that the parliamentary committee had directed the ministry of home to take action on its recommendations within three months. Rawat said that the parliamentary committee had noted that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) have been created at the Central and State/District level under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Besides, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been created by the Ministry of Home Affairs to supplement efforts of the State Governments for specialised operations.
During disasters, the rescue operations are coordinated by the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), headed by the Cabinet Secretary and National Executive Council (NEC), headed by the Home Secretary. Similarly, at the State level, the State Executive Council headed by the chief secretary coordinates the disaster management works. While acknowledging the initiatives taken by the Union Government for formulating a mechanism of coordination with various ministries, departments and organisations to extend all the required support and help to States for efficient disaster management, the committee has recommended that the possibility of setting up of a separate Department of Disaster Management in the Government of India should be explored.
The committee also took note of the fact that whenever any disaster strikes, the local people are the first to respond, before any other outside agencies arrive to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts. The fact remains that many of these first responders, who struggle to save lives with limited resources and skills - at their disposal - are energetic young people. The committee, therefore, recommended that a comprehensive disaster management and emergency preparedness should be based on the concept of 'active participation' of youths in all phases of the disaster cycle. Furthermore, the committee also recommended that not only the government agencies and the non governmental organisations but also the local communities, especially the rural/local youths - in the form of volunteers - should be actively involved in the rescue and relief operations whenever any disaster occurs. All such volunteers should also be rewarded for their contribution in the disaster management work - monetarily or otherwise by way of promoting their contribution through media, organising award-giving ceremonies, giving certificates to them and sending them to other countries to share their experience in such situations.