ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a workable and optimistic scenario of disaster laws in India. The author highlights that the Disaster Management Act of December 2005, which came around the same time as in other neighbouring countries except in Pakistan where it came up as late as 2010, Afghanistan in 2012 and in Bhutan much later in 2013, indicates that the consciousness graph is rising in this region. The acts in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh immediately established the Disaster Management Authority at the apex level, which is responsible for all policy formulation on disaster-related issues. Institutional building processes are on way. So a lot of progress has taken place over the last nine years. The SAARC Centre for Disaster Management was also set up during this decade. But is it enough? Could more have been done? Is the act adequate? Have the states moved in unison? Is the international community ready to shed their political insecurities and collaborate on preparedness and mitigation as enshrined in the Sendai Declaration: ‘The realization of the new framework depends on unceasing and tireless collective efforts.’ Disaster management is a field-specific subject, and if changes and improvements do not take place on the ground, the act and the rules would remain impotent. In this chapter that focuses on the findings from India, attempt is made to seek replies to the questions raised here and to chalk out the way forward.
