Meghalaya State Disaster Management Authority

A Note on Disaster Management

Our State is prone to various kinds of natural calamities of recurrent nature. These disasters result in loss of life and property (public and private) and disrupt economy activities besides causing immense misery and hardship to the affected population.

It is not possible to stop the incidence of natural calamities. However, the damages caused by natural calamities can be minimised by way of comprehensive preparedness plan.

Taking into consideration of the above factors, the State Govt. has welcomed the UNDP initiative on Disaster Management and has signed a MoU with UNDP on 30th May, 2003 for implementation of the GoI-UNDP Disaster Risk Management Programme in all the 7 districts covering 39 blocks and 5780 villages for a project period of 2003-2008. The programme was formally launched by the then Chief Minister on the 12th August, 2003 at Shillong. The project is being implemented through the Revenue and Disaster Management Department and the Deputy Commissioners.

Under this programme various activities have been taken by the Department in the matter of Disaster Management preparedness. The activities so far taken are listed below:-

1. With Cabinet’s approval, the nodal Department i.e. Revenue Department has been re-designated as Revenue and Disaster Management Department
2. The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), formed on 18th November, 2003 also functioning as the State Steering Committee to look after the State run DRM Programme has been replaced by the Meghalaya State Disaster Management Authority as per the DM Act-05, notified on 26th of June 2008 vide letter no - RDG. 32/2005/124. Similarly the Govt. of Meghalaya has notified the State Executive Committee (SEC) and all the District DM Authorities.
   
3. One State Project Officer, 7 District Project Officers have been appointed by Govt. Further, 1 ASPO and 7 ADPOs have been provided by UNDP since April, 2004 till December, 2008. However, UNDP has withdrawn the services of ADPOs from all the districts but from January, 2009 they were appointed by the State Govt. on contract basis till 18th July, 2010, thereafter from 19th July, 2010 4 ADPOs who were still serving have been appointed in the State Govt. under Regulation 3(f) of the MPSC (Limitation of Functions & Regulations) 1972 and they are still working till date. Regarding filling up of the 3 vacant posts of ADPO, the matter is still in process and will be finalised soon.
4. Constitution of Disaster Management Committees (DMC) at Urban, Block and Village Levels are in different phases. So far, all Seven District DM Authorities, 39 Blocks DMCs and 5329 out of 5780 Village DMCs and 9 ULB DMCs have been formed.
5. The State Hazard Safety Cell to examine the recommendations of the Experts Committee of GOI on Techno Legal Regime has been constituted.
6. A Committee on DRM/IEC has been formed on 09.03.2004. the function of the Committee shall be to prepare I.E.C. materials in order to generate awareness, disseminate information and educate the masses in the matter of preparedness, prevention, mitigation and relief measures in the event of a natural calamity.
7. A State Level Steering Committee for NPCBEERM & NPCBEARM was constituted on 10.01.2005. The function of the Committee is to monitor and review the progress of the implementation of the National Programme for Capacity Building of Engineer and Architects in Earthquake Risk Management.
8. Line Departments of the State Govt. have been identified to assist the Revenue and Disaster Management Department in the implementation of the programme. All line Departments have nominated a Nodal Officer each for the purpose.
9. The State Disaster Risk Management Plan Committee under the Chairmanship of the Commissioner & Secretary, Agriculture Department was formed on 09.03.2004. The function of the Committee is to prepare the State Disaster Risk Management Plan.
10. The Committee for preparing a pamphlet on building design and structure was constituted on 28.06.2004. The function of the Committee shall be to prepare the pamphlet highlighting the safety features/norms that need to be adopted in order to make building resistant to hazards such as earthquake etc., including retrofitting measures.
11. At the district level also, Disaster Risk Management Committee have been constituted in all the 7 districts. Disaster Management Committee have been constituted at the Urban, Block and village levels also.
12. The MATI, Shillong has been identified as the State Training Institute for DRMP.
13. The Central Training Institute (CTI) Shillong, Home Guard & Civil Defence has been identified as the Nodal Institutes for training initiatives on Search and Rescue.
14. The State Disaster Management Authority under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister as envisaged in the Disaster Management Act, 2005 was constituted in 2008.
15. The State Executive Committee under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary was constituted on 2008.
16. At the District Level, the DDMA was constituted in all the 7 districts of the State.
17. The Directorate of Land Records & Surveys have been nominated as the State Disaster Management Authority Secretariat and the Director of Land Records & Surveys as the Executive Officer of the SDMA.

Funding

1. On 26.6.2003, an amount of Rs.26,67,888/- was released by UNDP as the first trench of funds to the Revenue Department for the implementation of the Programme. The amount was deposited with the SBI (Secretariat Branch) on 22.7.2003 under the Current Account No.CA/C&I/46.
2. The second trench of money amounting to Rs.63,87,624/- was released to the Revenue Department by UNDP on 18.11.2003. The said amount was deposited into the project Account on 26.11.2003.
3. As no specific guidelines on how to maintain and administer the fund were provided by UNDP, the Revenue Department formulated the guidelines, with the concurrence of SDMC and the Finance Department, for this purpose. The guidelines have been circulated to all concerned for their guidance.
4. On 11.1.2005, an amount of Rs.57,81,780/- was released by UNDP as the third trench of funds to the Revenue & Disaster Management Department. The amount was deposited with the State Bank of India (Secretariat Branch) into the project Account on 13.1.2005
5. On 9.12.2005, another amount of Rs.2,14,59,904.32 was released by UNDP as the fourth trench of funds to the Revenue & Disaster Management Department. The amount was deposited into the project Account on 24.1.2006.
   
6. On 31.1.2007, an amount of Rs.72,10,305.56 was released by UNDP for purchase of emergency equipments for both State and District level Emergency Operation Centre. The amount was deposited into the project Account on 31.1.2007.
7. On 18.1.2008, another amount of Rs.72,44,134/- was released by UNDP as the fifth trench of funds to the Revenue & Disaster Management Department. The amount was deposited into the project Account on 18.1.2008.
8. The total amount released by UNDP to Revenue & Disaster Management Department for Disaster Risk Management Programme comes to Rs.5,07,51,635.88.
9. For the purpose of implementation of the programme at the District Level, an amount totalling to Rs.5,37,999/- was released to all the (7) seven Districts of the State at the rate of Rs.76,857/- per district on 11th February, 2004. Further, an amount totalling to Rs.10,33,500/- and Rs.57,80,000/- meant for the Block Level and Village Level activities respectively are under process for releasing it to all the 39 Blocks and 5780 Villages of the State.
10. For one City Plan (Shillong City) an amount of Rs.1,00,000/- was released to the Deputy Commissioner, Shillong on 13.8.2004.
11. On 6.12.2005 an amount of Rs.57,81,780/- was released to the Chief Engineer, PWD as part payment for construction of EOCs. Again on 24.9.2008 another amount of Rs.31,51,220/- was released to the Chief Engineer, PWD being the balance amount for construction of EOCs.
12. On 23.8.2006, an amount of Rs.1,03,04,752/- was released to the Districts as additional fund for implementation of the programme in all the 7 districts, 39 blocks and 5780 villages. Again on 16.7.2008, another amount of Rs.36,42,425/- was released to 5 districts as additional amount for implementation of the programme.
13. In the course of implementation of the Disaster Risk Management Programme, expenditure to the tune of Rs.4,04,39,683/- have been incurred by UNDP under various items of the Work Plan. Thus leaving a balance of Rs.1,03,12,952/- which is yet to be sanctioned at present. However, out of the said balance amount an amount of Rs.60,00,000/- have been earmarked for purchased of equipments for EOC and Rs.21,95,672/- for purchased of 2 Ambulance for use during Mock Drills exercises and other related trainings. Thus, there is a balance amount of Rs.21,17,280/- only.
14. From the year 2010-2011 expenditure for Disaster Management has been met from the State Budget. For the Current Year i.e. 2011-2012, funds provided in the Budget for Disaster Management are Rs.1,00,00,000/- under Non-Plan and Rs.60,00,000/- under Plan under the Head mentioned below and as per break up below :-

2245-Relief on Account of Natural Calamities	General	Sixth Scheduled Part-II Areas
80-General	Non-Plan	Plan	Non-Plan	Plan
101-Centre for Training in Disaster Preparedness	-	5,00,000	-	-
(01)-Creation of Website for Disaster Management	-	5,00,000	-	-
26-Advertising and Publicity
50-Other Charges
Total (01)	-	10,00,000	-	-
(02)-Training on Disaster Management
02-Wages	12,000	-	84,000	-
11-Domestic travel expenses	95,000	5,00,000	4,20,000	-
13-Office Expenses	1,50,000	-	10,50,000	-
21-Supplies and Materials	10,000	-	70,000	-
26-Advertising and Publicity	1,00,000	-	7,00,000	-
50-Other Charges	1,45,000	12,00,000	12,25,000	-
Total (02)	5,12,000	17,00,000	35,49,000	-
(03) Establishment of Libraries
21-Supplies on Materials	-	1,00,000	-	-
50-Other Charges	-	5,00,000	-	-
Total (03)	-	6,00,000	-	-
800-Other Expenditure
(01) Human Resource Support in Disaster Management
01-Salaries	4,90,000	-	25,55,000	-
02-Wages	12,000	-	84,000	-
06-Medical Treatment	1,00,000	-	7,00,000	-
11-Domestic Travel Expenses	1,00,000	25,00,000	7,00,000	-
13-Office Expenses	1,50,000	2,00,000	10,50,000	-
16-Publications	5,000	-	35,000	-
26-Adversiting and Publicity	1,00,000	-	7,00,000	-
50-Other Charges	25,000	-	1,75,000	-
Total (01)	9,82,000	27,00,000	59,99,000

Policy and Plan

1. Disaster Management Policy has been finalized and circulated.
2. The Disaster Management Act has received the assent of the President on 23rd December, 2005. The Act has been published in the Gazette of India, Extra-Ordinary, Part – II, Section – I on 26th December, 2005. The provisions of the Act are being followed by the State.
3. The State Disaster Management Plan has been prepared in 2006 and circulated to all concerned. However updating of the State Plan, as per the guidelines of NDMA under initiation. IIT Guwahati has been engaged as consultant for preparation of the SDMP.
4. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of key line Departments have been prepared and incorporated in the State Disaster Management Plan.
5. All the 7 District DMPs (District Disaster Management Plans), Block DM plans and Village DM Plans and 5 ULB Plans finalized.
6. The Draft Shillong City Plan has been prepared and circulated to the stakeholders for feedback before finalization. The planning team members have been divided into Technical and Non-Technical Groups and they are also supported by Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Shillong 101 Area (Defence), MATI, NESAC, IMD, UNDP and NEHU.
7. Rules on Disaster Management has been finalized and circulated.
8. Meghalaya Building By-laws (2001 upgraded as per the High Power Committee and UNDP recommendations and would be finalized soon.
9. Warden Service Plans for Shillong, Jowai, Tura have been prepared by Director General, Civil Defence & Home Guards.
10. Action has been taken with the Govt. of India for raising of 2 coys of Civil Defence & Home Guards as State Disaster Response Force to dealt with any eventuality during disasters.

Training and Capacity Building

1. Search and Rescue Teams comprising Officers from Line Departments at the State, District & Block Levels constituted and trained. State Search and Rescue Team formed and trained at NISA, Hyderabad.
2. Training of Trainers (ToT) of 59 Officers at State Level and 239 Block Level Master Trainers (MTs) have been trained.
3. 319 District DMC Members, 1340 Block DMC Members & 21274 Village DMC Members have been trained.
4. 3776 numbers of traditional Village Headmen have been trained at the Block Hqs.
5. At the District Level, 347 Teachers and 566 numbers of NSS/NYK/Scout and Guide Volunteers have been trained.
6. At the Block Level, 3894 College/School Teachers, 7391 Volunteers trained on DM and community planning. At the village level, 11904 Village level Task Force members trained in First Aid (69%) and 13998 (61%) TFs trained in Search and Rescue. Further 8849 Nos. of volunteers undergone training on Health and Sanitation. At the Urban (District HQ) level 2382 (95% of the total target and 32% female participated) volunteers & 879 volunteers (which is 88% of the target and 75% female) undergone specialised training on Search and Rescue and First Aid respectively.
7. In the absence of any Engineering School, the Shillong Polytechnic has been nominated to organize the training at the State level. So far 2 no of trainings of Engineers under NPCBEERM held at Shillong Polytechnics from 18th – 31st July 2007 and 10th – 25th July 2008 and 71 no of Engineers and 6 Architects were trained in total.
8. 23 Nos. of District, 57 Nos. of Block and 1259 Nos. of Village Level Mock Drills have been organised. Similar exercises are also being held at school level.
9. Specialised training of Engineers taken up (19 Engineers including 2 Architects) who would further act as master trainers of other trainings on Earthquake Resistant Building Construction Technology for Engineers and Masons.
10. A State Level Sensitization Programme on earthquake vulnerability reduction for elected representatives & senior level officials of this State Govt. was held on 11.11.2006.

a. 77 Nos. of Doctors & Paramedics trained on First Aid (FA) and Emergency Health Management and ToT of 31 Engineers/Architects on Disaster Management and safe Housing Technology trained in MATI.

b. Training on Earthquake Risk Mitigation and Management Organized by Geo-Hazard Society, New Delhi for 13 numbers of private Engineers and Architects and 42 numbers of Junior Engineers in MATI.

c. Regular Trainings on Collapse Structure, Search & Rescue Operations, Medical First Responder and First Aid, Trauma Counselling, Health & Sanitation being conducted at the District, Block and Village level.

Establishment of Multi-Hazards Resistant Emergency Operation Centres (EOC)

1. Construction of Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has been completed in all the 7 Districts. Construction of the State Control Room is in finishing stage. Additional amount of Rs.17,84,500/- released to PWD for completion of the remaining work of the State Level EOC.
2. Equipments received from UNDP dispatched to all the Districts. The additional list of Emergency Equipments for EOCs to be purchased out of DRM Fund finalized and approved by UNDP and MHA. Procurement of the equipments is being taken up by Civil Defence & Home Guards.
   
3. The EOC of West Garo Hills (Tura) has been inaugurated by Chief Secretary on 29th of July 2008. Prior to that the District Administration used the same as Control Room for the State General Election. Similarly the EOC of Ri-Bhoi District has been used during the recent District Council Election
4. India Disaster Resource Network (IDRN) & other database-created and being updated from time to time by the various Districts.

Awareness Generation

1. 3 lakhs Booklets, 10,000 Leaflets and 30,200 posters containing information on Do’s & Don’ts on various hazards have been developed in 3 local languages and distributed to all the Districts and important line Departments.
2. Talk show on various hazards aired by PCN, Door Darshan, All India Radio.
3. Regular media coverage of District/Block level DRM Programme in the local newspaper, AIR, TV.
4. 450 Nos. of CDs on EQ preparedness translated to Khasi and Garo language distributed.
5. The State has fixed two days i.e. 10th May & 11th October every year for carrying out mock drills by the Administration. Mock Drills are carried out during Independence Day and during various other occasions. Rallies and school level competition are also undertaken.
6. Department of Science and Technology has incorporated DM in their regular science exhibitions at various levels.
7. Few chapters on DM have been incorporated in the school Curriculum (MBOSE-Meghalaya Board of School Education).
8. Wall painting on different disasters has been made all over the State by Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity. Hoardings at strategic locations erected. Till date 4379 (76% covered) Village Wall Painting realized under the DRM Programme.
9. Miss Garo Hills was made the Brand Ambassador for DRM Awareness and accordingly Hoardings prepared/displayed in East Garo Hills.
10. Project Works on DM taken up at various Teachers Training Institutes (PGT, St. Mary’s CTE and Tura TTI).
11. CCP Formats, step by step guidelines etc. have been prepared in 3 different languages and distributed for the Block Master Trainers, Gram Sevaks, Village Headmen and Volunteers.
12. Representatives from Revenue and Disaster Management Department and the ADPOs attending various Awareness, Training Programme requested by Educational Institutions/MATI.
13. Manual on School Safety Planning prepared and circulated to Education Department and all Districts.
14. Basic techniques on FA/S&R and Earthquake Resistance Building Designs and DOs and Don’ts on various hazards included in the Village Plan Formats.
15. DRM Tableau prepared during the Discover Jaintia 2007 Carnival & during Independence and Republic Days in Tura. Mock Drills at Village/Block/ Urban/ District and School level organised and the same was aired through local TV networks.

Mock drills

Regular mock drills are being carried out at the District Level, as per the instruction of the State Government (10th May and 11th October are the two official days notified by the Government for conduction of mock drills). It is also conducted during the National Disaster Reduction Days and other special occasions.

Emergency Support Function:-

Emergency Support Function (ESF) Plan for emergency response in the State is being drawn up. All the line Departments and District Administration have been asked to provide the relevant information regarding their support in terms of man power, materials, service, equipments etc., their location and contact persons.

Specific Emphasis on Women

• The State level Workshop, first of its kind in the whole of North East, on Gender and Disaster was organised for the Govt. officials. In which, out of total 26no of participants 11nos were women officers. The East Garo Hills District has also conducted the similar programme for its officers etc., at the District Headquarter. Till now all the Districts of Meghalaya have already conducted week long specialized training on Search and Rescue & 3 days long specialised training on First Aid and Health and Sanitation for urban level volunteers, out of which participation of women volunteers were 32 & 75 % respectively.
• Total 244 Nos. of officials (15% women) undergone training on Search and Rescue and 344 no of members (22% women) on First Aid, organised by District Administration. District East Garo Hills has organized a training programme on Trauma Counselling for its 41 Nos. of officers (22 women) All the Block Disaster Management Committees have been formed and Training /Orientation of 1359 members (16% women) completed. More than 1000 Nos. of Women SHG members have been trained on DRM Concept and Community level Disaster Management interventions.
• At the District Level 239 (15% women) Nos. of Block Level Master Trainers (BMT) have been trained by DC, DPO, ADPO and ASPO – State Level Resource Person on the various aspects of DRMP with special emphasis to CBDM and Block Disaster Management Plan. So far, 544 Nos. of Block level DMT members trained in FA (22% women) and 409 Nos. of Block level DMT members trained in S&R (16% women). And, 4203 Nos. of volunteers (19% women) had specialised training in S&R and 3660 volunteers trained (41% women) in FA & Health and Sanitation at the block level
• So far 22,886 members of whom 11% women have been oriented on CBDM. At the village level, 11904 Village level Task Force members trained in First Aid (women 32 %) and 13998 (women 18 %) TFs trained in Search and Rescue. Further 8849 Nos. of volunteers (women 25%) undergone training on Health and Sanitation. At the Urban (District HQ) level 2382 (32% female) volunteers undergone specialised training on Search and Rescue & 879 volunteers (75% female) in First Aid respectively.
• As pointed out before, Miss Garo Hills was made the Brand Ambassador for DRM Awareness and accordingly Hoardings prepared/displayed. During the month of July 2008 the District Administration of East Khasi Hills organised a 3 days exclusive training programme on First Aid and Health and Sanitation for 300 women in Shillong.
  

National Disaster Management Authority

The National Disaster Management Authority on the year 2007 released an amount of Rs.4,00,000/- and the said amount was released to MATI and all the Districts for conducting workshop/mock drill on Disaster Management and putting up of hoardings through out the State.

Further, on 2008 another amount of Rs.6,00,000/- was received from NDMA for the same purpose as indicated above and the fund was released to MATI, NEHU and all the Districts. Utilization Certificate, Bills and Technical Report for both the amount have been sent to NDMA.

For conduct of Mock Drill on behalf of NDMA at Ri-Bhoi District, Nongpoh an amount of Rs.1,00,000/- only was released by NDMA and the balance amount of Rs.1,31,146/- was met out of the Disaster Risk Management fund available in the State. Utilization Certificate along with Bills and Technical Report was sent to NDMA.