Civil Society Groups Urge Rajya Sabha to Review Disaster Management Bill

New Delhi: 

Civil society organizations have urged Rajya Sabha members to hold a thorough debate on the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, demanding its withdrawal or referral to a Parliamentary Committee for further scrutiny. The Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha last year, is set to be discussed in the ongoing Parliament session.

The appeal follows an open letter endorsed by 190 organizations, warning that the Bill weakens disaster management policies instead of strengthening them. One of the primary concerns is the removal of Clause 13, which allowed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to provide loan relief to disaster-affected individuals. Activists argue that this change will severely impact recovery efforts and are demanding its reinstatement, including full waivers for agricultural, housing, and livelihood loans.

Another major issue is the replacement of the term "compensation" with "relief," making financial aid discretionary rather than a guaranteed right. The Bill also lacks explicit provisions for livelihood restoration, often overlooking affected workers like farm laborers and artisans while focusing solely on asset owners. Additionally, the legislation centralizes decision-making by strengthening national committees while sidelining state and local governments, which activists argue undermines federalism and delays disaster response.

Civil society groups have also raised concerns about the lack of transparency, demanding public disclosure of disaster plans and databases to improve accountability. The Bill further fails to address slow-onset climate disasters such as heatwaves and coastal erosion, which are becoming more frequent. Moreover, it does not ensure a rights-based approach, neglecting vulnerable communities like Dalits, Adivasis, fishworkers, and migrant laborers, who are often the worst affected.

Calling the Bill a missed opportunity, activists insist on a more inclusive and climate-resilient framework aligned with the Sendai Framework and India’s constitutional obligations. They have urged the government to either withdraw the Bill or send it to a Rajya Sabha Select Committee for broader consultation and necessary revisions.