Revocation of Disaster Act

Revocation of Disaster Act

Subject: Disaster Management

Section:

Context: Two years on, with the country’s active caseload falling and cumulative vaccine doses administered, the MHA has asked states to “appropriately” discontinue the guidelines on containment of Covid-19.

Concept:

Background:

• Since March 24, 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been issuing orders and guidelines to contain Covid-19.
• The MHA has been issuing directions to states through the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), under The Disaster Management Act, 2005.

The Disaster Management Act, 2005:

• The law lays down the institutional mechanism for drawing up and monitoring the implementation of disaster management plans.
• Under the law, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister, has been constituted.
• A National Executive Committee, which has the Union Home Secretary and members from various ministries, assists the NDMA.
• The focus is on the prevention and mitigation of disasters, and on swift response to disaster situations.
• Section 10 of the Act deals with the powers and functions of this National Executive Committee. It also empowers the Committee to lay down guidelines or give directions to, the concerned Ministries or Departments of the GoI and the State Governments. The Union Home Ministry has been issuing guidelines for the containment of Covid-19 under this section.
• The last important order passed by the MHA under the act was the evidence-based containment measures, social distancing and imposition of Section 144 of CrPC in the backdrop of Omicron Variant.
• The latest order effectively signals a return to full normalcy from April 1 as the MHA has advised all states to “appropriately” discontinue after March 31 the guidelines that were issued under the DM Act. However, public health measures to detect a possible new surge in cases, have to be implemented.

Have the guidelines under the Act been imposed earlier?

Yes. Before the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, guidelines have been issued under the law on the management of earthquakes, chemical disasters, droughts, hospital safety, urban flooding, etc.

To know about NDMA, refer: https://optimizeias.com/national-disaster-management-authority/