DROUGHT MANAGEMENT MANUAL RELEASED

The manual prepared by the National Institute of Disaster Management has drawn upon the rich and diverse past experience of drought management and suggests an extensive list of procedures and measures that need to be taken for alleviating the impact of drought. Here is the backgrounder of the manual:

Drought as one of the major natural calamities has posed a big threat to the food security and elimination of poverty and hunger all around the world, including India. India has witnessed 22 major droughts in the past 120 years. Increased climate variability coupled with global warming has made rainfall pattern more inconsistent and unpredictable leading to increase in the recurrence of droughts and drought like situations. Of the 22 major droughts, last seven have occurred during 1982, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1999, 2000 and 2002. In 2009, 14 States phases drought in 334 districts.

Apart from resultant fall in agricultural production, droughts have other multifarious long drawn impacts, such as shortage of drinking water, fodder, deficiency of water in dams/reservoirs for power generation severely affecting overall growth of the economy.

Over a period of time India has accumulated substantial experience of handling droughts in the country and providing not just immediate relief but also undertaking long-term mitigation measures. In fact, one of our most positive achievements since Independence has been complete avoidance of famines due to Government’s emphasis on food production, distribution of foodgrains through the PDS and public works programmes.

Evidently, effective and comprehensive management of droughts encompassing early warning, monitoring, relief and mitigation is a major concern in the domain of public administration. Coping with this natural malady requires extensive planning presentation and management entailing willing and active participation of role players from diverse segments, especially within the central and state governments.

Viewed in this context, there was a long felt need to bring together at one place all conceptual issues, detailed institutional framework and operational details related to drought management. Accordingly, the National Disaster Management Institute was requested by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation to prepare a manual reflecting a comprehensive and coordinated approach to management of drought recommending measures, which need to be implemented for effective drought relief and mitigation.

MP:SB:CP: droughtmanual (4.1.2010)