Context:

• The National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) is working on developing a comprehensive drought-proofing action plan for 24 districts in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka this year.

Background:

• The NRAA will develop similar action plans for other districts in a list of 151, including in Maharashtra, identified as drought-prone according to a study by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), based on parameters set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Role of Government:

• The primary responsibility of managing drought (or any other natural disaster) is that of the State Governments. The role of Central Government is to supplement the efforts of the State Government in effective management of disasters and provide additional resources (food grains / financial assistance etc.) to combat the situation.

What is Drought:

• Drought connotes a situation of water shortage for human, cattle and agriculture primarily on account of, though not limited to, significant shortfall in rainfall.

National Rainfed Area Authority:

• The Union Government has constituted a National Rainfed Area Authority on 3 November, 2006 to give focused attention to the problems of rainfed areas of the country.

Drought Management Plan:

• Drought Management Plan (DMP) is designed to help reduce the time taken in mobilizing resources for an effective response and enable a harmonious relationship among stakeholders.
• The goal of DMP is to facilitate overall management of the drought situation in a structured and planned manner with the most efficient and optimum utilisation of time, effort and resources so that adverse impact on the community is minimised.
• DMP helps in delineating roles and responsibilities of different Ministries/Departments of the Government of India involved in drought management for mitigation, preparedness and for relief measures in managing the drought.
• DMP ensures better preparation and timely communication among stakeholders, which is critical in managing a drought.

Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005:

• Section 11 of the DM Act, 2005 mandates that there shall be a National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) for the whole of India.
• While the national plan will pertain to the disaster management for the whole of the country, the hazard specific nodal ministries and departments notified by the Government of India will prepare detailed DM plans specific to the disaster assigned.

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR):

• The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 is a non-binding agreement, which the signatory nations, including India, will attempt to comply with on a voluntary basis.
• The four priorities for action under the SendaiFramework are:
  • Understanding disaster risk
  • Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk
  • Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience
  • Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and Reconstruction.