Govt takes cognizance of vulnerable groups for disaster management

NEW DELHI, Aug 2: In a bid to make disaster risk management gender inclusive, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Ray on Monday informed that the government has taken appropriate measures to give special attention to higher level vulnerability groups of women and children during natural disasters and climate induced shocks.
According to the National Policy of Disaster Management, 2009 vulnerable groups, elderly persons, women, children, especially women rendered destitute, children orphaned on account of disasters and differently abled persons are exposed to higher risks and the need of these persons require special attention, the minister said.
He was replying to a question of NPP MP Agatha Sangma in Lok Sabha who wanted to know what special measures the Government is taking for this vulnerable section of the society during natural disasters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ten Point Agenda for Disaster Risk Reduction also envisages to encourage greater involvement and leadership of women in disaster risk management to support special needs of women affected during disasters
A decision has been taken in the Ministry of Home Affairs to have one Mahila team each in 10 battalions of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), he added.
All the stakeholders in disaster management are required to follow the provisions of the plan which focuses on special needs of vulnerable sections such as pregnant women and lactating mothers, children, the elderly and physically and mentally challenged persons, he said
In a specific query of provision on sanitary napkins, the minister said that the same are included in the Dignity Kit for women as an essential disaster relief item under the National Disaster Response Reserve.
Further, NDMA in its guidelines on “Temporary Shelter for Disaster Affected Families” has, inter-alia, emphasised for making adequate provisions for female menstrual needs i.e. cleaning and disposal of sanitary napkins.