Last Updated on: August 03, 2023

District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) is a district-level authority established under the National Disaster Management Act of 2005 to enable effective disaster management and response. The DDMA serves as the planning coordinating, and implementing body for Disaster Management at the district level, taking compliance with the NDMA and ASDMA recommendations.

The DDMA ensures that all State Government Departments at the District level, as well as municipal governments in the District, follow the NDMA and ASDMA recommendations for prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response actions.

Historical Background

• In August 1999, the Government of India established a High-Powered Committee (HPC) to make recommendations on the preparation of Disaster Management plans and suggested effective mitigation mechanisms, in recognition of the importance of Disaster Management as a national priority.
• After the Gujarat earthquake (2001), the Government of India established a National Committee to make recommendations on the preparation of Disaster Management plans and suggested effective mitigation mechanisms.
• For the first time, a thorough chapter on disaster management was included in the Tenth Five-Year Plan document.
• The Twelfth Finance Commission was also tasked with reviewing the disaster management funding arrangements.
• The Government of India enacted the Disaster Management Act on December 23, 2005, which established the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), led by the Prime Minister and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), led by respective Chief Ministers and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) - to spearhead and implement a holistic and integrated approach to disaster management in India.
• The DDMA ensures that disaster-prone areas in the district are identified and that disaster prevention and mitigation measures are implemented.
• As well as that all departments follow the National Authority and State Authority's guidelines for disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response measures.
• The DDMA also coordinate response to any threatening disaster situation or disaster, coordinate with and provide necessary technical assistance or advice to local authorities in the district in order to carry out their functions.
• To examine construction in any area of the district and issue directions to the concerned authority to take such action as may be necessary to ensure compliance with such standards as may be requisitioned.

The DDMA encourages non-governmental organisations, voluntary social-welfare institutions working at the grassroots level in the district to participate in disaster management by ensuring that communication systems are in place and that disaster management drills are conducted on a regular basis, government departments at the district level for the purpose of integrating disaster prevention, mitigation measures into their development plans and projects and monitoring their implementation. DDMA reviews the state of capabilities and preparedness level for responding to any disaster or threatening disaster situation at the district level and take steps to upgrade them as necessary and organise disaster relief efforts.

Helplines :

0374-2338656