Responsibilities of Ministries or Departments of Government of India

Section 36 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 deals with responsibilities of Ministries or Departments of Government of India. It shall be the responsibility of every Ministry or Department of the Government of India to--- (a) take measures necessary for prevention of disasters, mitigation, preparedness and capacitybuilding in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the National Authority; The Act came into force on 28 Jul 2006.

It shall be the responsibility of every Ministry or Department of the Government of India to---

(a) take measures necessary for prevention of disasters, mitigation, preparedness and capacitybuilding in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the National Authority;

(b) integrate into its development plans and projects, the measures for prevention or mitigation of disasters in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the National Authority;

(c) respond effectively and promptly to any threatening disaster situation or disaster in accordance with the guidelines of the National Authority or the directions of the National Executive Committee in this behalf;

(d) review the enactments administered by it, its policies, rules and regulations, with a view to incorporate therein the provisions necessary for prevention of disasters, mitigation or preparedness;

(e) allocate funds for measures for prevention of disaster, mitigation, capacity-building and preparedness;

¹[(f) provide assistance to the National Authority and State Government for drawing up mitigation, preparedness and response plans, capacity building, data collection and identification and training of personnel in relation to disaster management;]

(g) make available its resources to the National Executive Committee or a State Executive Committee for the purposes of responding promptly and effectively to any threatening disaster situation or disaster, including measures for---

(i) providing emergency communication in a vulnerable or affected area;

(ii) transporting personnel and relief goods to and from the affected area;

(iii) providing evacuation, rescue, temporary shelter or other immediate relief;

(iv) setting up temporary bridges, jetties and landing places;

(v) providing, drinking water, essential provisions, healthcare, and services in an affected area;

²[(vi) carrying out rescue and relief operations in the affected area;

(vii) assessing the damage from any disaster; and

(viii) carrying out the rehabilitation and re-construction;]

(h) take such other actions as it may consider necessary for disaster management.

Section 36, The Disaster Management Act, 2005 (Act 53 of 2005).