What is disaster resilience? How is it determined? Describe various elements of a resilience framework. Also mention the global targets of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030). (2024, 15 Marks)

Paper	GS Paper 3
Word Limit	250 words
Syllabus Topic	Disaster and Disaster Management

Model Answer

Disaster resilience is the ability of a community or system exposed to hazards to resist, absorb, adapt to and recover from their effects in a timely and efficient way (UNDRR). A resilient society bounces back faster and better.

How Is It Determined?

• Risk equation: Risk = Hazard × Exposure × Vulnerability ÷ Capacity.
• Physical: Quality of buildings, roads and lifeline services.
• Social: Literacy, health and awareness.
• Economic: Income, savings and insurance cover.
• Institutional: Plans, laws and early warning capacity.
• Ecological: Mangroves, wetlands and forests that act as buffers.

Elements of a Resilience Framework

• Understand risk: Hazard mapping and risk data.
• Governance: Disaster Management Act, 2005 and NDMA.
• Early warning: IMD alerts helped Odisha evacuate lakhs before Cyclone Fani (2019).
• Resilient infrastructure: India-led CDRI (Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, 2019).
• Community action: Trained volunteers under the Aapda Mitra scheme.
• Recovery: Build Back Better after disasters.

Sendai Framework: 7 Global Targets (2015–2030)

Reduce:

• Global disaster deaths.
• Number of affected people.
• Direct economic loss as a share of GDP.
• Damage to critical infrastructure and basic services.

Increase:

• Countries with national and local DRR strategies (by 2020).
• International cooperation for developing countries.
• Access to multi-hazard early warning systems and risk information.

These targets rest on four priorities: understand risk, strengthen risk governance, invest in resilience and improve preparedness.

Conclusion

Resilience shifts the focus from relief to risk reduction. Linking Sendai with the SDGs and the UN’s Early Warnings for All goal can protect lives and growth together.

Related PYQs

• What is the phenomenon of ‘cloudbursts’? Explain. (2024)
• Describe various measures taken in India for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) before and after signing ‘Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-2030)’. How is this framework different from ‘Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005? (2018)
• Discuss the recent measures initiated in disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. (2020)