Uttar Pradesh Revamps Disaster Management System With SDRF, Digital Command Centres & Faster Relief Payments
Lucknow, August 20: After the Yogi Government came to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, the disaster management framework in the state has moved beyond the traditional system of providing relief and transformed into an organised, rapid and technology-based system. Earlier, government assistance was available only for limited disasters and the state did not have its own dedicated rescue force. Now,…
In Uttar Pradesh, the disaster management framework has been significantly revamped under the Yogi Government, moving away from the traditional system to a more organized, rapid, and technology-driven approach. The government now offers assistance for a broader range of disasters, including snakebite, stray bull attacks, drowning incidents, boat accidents, and local emergencies.
This change was made possible with the formation of the Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in 2017, which includes medical and fire teams trained for various disaster scenarios.
The disaster management system in India was established by the Disaster Management Act-2005, following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) were created under this act. In Uttar Pradesh, the UPSDMA has been operational since January 12, 2011, but its ground-level capabilities were limited before 2017.
A key development was the creation of the SDRF, which provides relief payments within seven days post-disaster. The government has also standardized relief materials and expanded the definition of a disaster to include previously unnotified incidents. This expansion ensures that more families receive assistance during crises. Additionally, the state now has a hi-tech headquarters equipped with digital command-control facilities, facilitating better coordination and information flow during disasters.
The financial assistance provided to disaster-affected families has also seen substantial improvements. Ex-gratia amounts for death in a disaster have increased from around Rs 1.50 lakh in 2010-15 to Rs 4 lakh post-amendments. Assistance for damaged pucca houses and essential items like clothes and utensils has also been enhanced, ensuring better support for those impacted by disasters.
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