The Concept.
The Disaster Management
Act has mandated the constitution of a
Specialist Response Force to a threatening
disaster situation or a disaster. This Force
will function under the National Disaster
Management Authority which has been vested with
its control, direction and general
superintendence. This will be a
multi-disciplinary, multi-skilled, high-tech
force for all types of disasters capable of
insertion by air, sea and land. All the eight
battalions are to be equipped and trained for
all natural disasters including four battalions
in combating nuclear, biological and chemical
disasters.
Present Organization.
Presently this Force is
constituted of eight battalions, two each from
the BSF, CRPF, CISF and ITBP. Each battalion
will provide 18 self-contained specialist search
and rescue teams of 45 personnel each including
engineers, technicians, electricians, dog squads
and medical/paramedics. The total strength of
each battalion will be approximately 1,158.
Deployment. These
NDRF battalions are located at nine different
locations in the country based on the
vulnerability profile to cut down the response
time for their deployment. During the
preparedness period/in a threatening disaster
situation, proactive deployment of these forces
will be carried out by the NDMA in consultation
with state authorities.
Functional Parameters -
Regular and intensive training,
familiarization with the area of responsibility,
carrying out mock drills and joint exercises
with the various stakeholders will form the key
functional parameter of this Force. Four
training centres will be set up in Kolkata,
Latur, Bhanu and NISA (Hyderabad) by respective
paramilitary forces to train personnel from NDRF
battalions of respective forces. The NDRF units
will impart basic training to the State Disaster
Response Forces (SDRF) in their respective
locations. Further, one national-level
Disaster Management Academy will be set up at
Nagpur to provide training for trainers and to
meet other national and international
commitments.
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