Meghalaya State Disaster Management Authority

State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA)

The State Disaster Management Authority was established in the State under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister with 8 other members under section 14 of the Disaster Management Act,2005 by a Government notification dated 26th June, 2008. It is the apex body for disaster management in the State.

The State Executive Committee headed by the Chief Secretary with 4 other Secretaries as members was also set up to assist the State Disaster Management Authority in the performance of its functions.

The District Disaster Management Authorities under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioners and Chief Executive Members of the District Councils as Co-Chairmen with 5 District Officials as members were also set up for the better management of disasters in the Districts.

Similarly at the Block and Village levels Block Disaster Management Committees and the Village Disaster Management Committees were set up headed by the respective Block Development Officers and the Village Headmen. The State Disaster Management Authority, has set up the State Disaster Management Secretariat in 2011 which is located in the Office of the Director of Land Records and Surveys, Lower Lachumere, Shillong. The day to day functioning of the SDMA is looked after by the Executive Officer of the Secretariat who is assisted by the Nodal Officer.

Functions of SDMA:

Framing of Disaster Management Policy and the preparation of the State Disaster Management Plan, reviewing the preparedness, prevention, mitigation and capacity building measures in the State.

Activities of SDMA:

Implementation of thepreparedness, prevention, mitigation and capacity building programmes in the State.

The Disaster Risk Reduction Project funded by the UNDP which focuses on the awareness programmes, capacity building, strengthening of the disaster management institutions are being implemented in the three districts of East Khasi Hills, West Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills, while the Urban Risk Reduction Programme is being implemented in the capital city Shillong through the SDMA Secretariat. Besides, various awareness and capacity building programmes under the State Plan and the National Disaster Management Authority National School Safety Programme and the Capacity Building Programme under the 13th Finance Commission are also being implemented through the SDMA Secretariat
State Disaster Response Fund is available for management of disasters in the State. An advance amount from the fund is made available to the Deputy Commissioners to meet any emergency arising out of disasters.