Page 1 - Lesson 17.xps

Module -VI
Armed Forces in Disaster Management
Armed Forces and its Role
in Internal Security

17

Note
ARMED FORCES

IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT

The armed forces of India, have an important role to play in managing disasters
especially providing relief to the affected people and restoring essential services like

water, communication connectivity and power supply. You must be aware of natural
disasters that have occurred in India. The Latur earthquake, floods in Chennai in
2015, Uttarakand floods of 2013, Tsunami in 2004, Kerala floods of 2018, etc. In all
these incidents, the armed forces of India had a major role to play.

Though Armed Forces are principally involved in the security of the Nation against
external threats, they are now being involved more and more in managing disasters
with in the country and even in other countries in the neighbourhood. Their capability
and capacity to respond quickly and efficiently and handle such situations make the

armed forces the ideal choice as the first line of response.

Objectives

After studying this lesson, you will be able to:

• define disaster and the need for disaster management;
• appreciate the role of Indian Armed Forces in managing disasters;

• explain the compositions and function of NDMA and
• Practice do's and don'ts before and after cyclones.

17.1 What are Disasters

`Disasters' are occurrences that are sudden and cause huge destruction to humans,
animals and environment. There are heavy losses that could be human, material,

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MILITARY STUDIES 75