Odisha disaster response body restructured to address climate change

OSDMA has emerged as a unique institution, creating professional manpower and acquiring disaster equipment. Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and Odisha Fire Service personnel are routinely deployed during disasters in other States. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Nearly 25 years after its establishment, the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), India’s first dedicated disaster response body, is being restructured to address challenges posed by climate change.

The Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority was founded after the super cyclone that hit Odisha in 1999, claiming close to 10,000 lives. It affected 1.3 crore people in 12 districts and caused immeasurable damage to infrastructure and homes. Subsequently, it underwent minor changes in nomenclature, becoming Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) in 2008.

The magnitude of the disaster exposed the Odisha Government’s lack of rescue and rehabilitation assets. It did not have even basic equipment to clear roads blocked by uprooted trees during the super cyclone that made landfall on October 29.

Unique institution

OSDMA has emerged as a unique institution, creating professional manpower and acquiring disaster equipment. Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and Odisha Fire Service personnel are routinely deployed during disasters in other States.

It is widely recognised that since its inception, OSDMA has successfully taken up capacity-building, preparedness, and disaster management planning activities, which have led to effective management of significant disaster events. The State is prone to cyclones, floods, tsunamis, earthquakes, storm surges, landslides, heatwaves, droughts, thunderstorms, lightning, and forest fires.

The Revenue and Disaster Management department has passed a resolution pressing for restructuring of OSDMA stating that climate change is adding to the woes of the State leading to an increase in disasters like cyclones, associated rainfall, and flash floods,

“The current global policies focus on synergy between disaster risk management and climate change. It has become crucial to strengthen the organisational structure of OSDMA in line with national frameworks and guidelines and build its own capacity with a view to move from mitigation, preparedness, response, and reconstruction to disaster risk reduction and resilience in a holistic manner,” says the resolution.

There will be four broad divisions in OSDMA: general, capacity building, project and technology, and finance, which will be headed by an executive director each. Each division will have core staff on deputation, technical experts, and consultants.

Out of a total of 102 staff positions in OSDMA at present, 10 posts will be abolished and 37 new posts created. The staff strength will be 129.