A disaster is an extreme disruption of the functioning of a society that causes widespread human, material, and environmental losses that exceed the ability of the affected society to cope with its own resources.

India’s geo-climatic conditions—as well as its high degree of socio-economic vulnerability—make it one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. Disasters are sometimes classified according to whether they are natural disasters, or human-made disasters. For example, disasters caused by floods, droughts, tidal waves and earth tremors are generally considered natural disasters. Disasters caused by chemical or industrial accidents, environmental pollution, transport accidents and political unrest are classified as human-made or human-induced disasters since they are the direct result of human actions.

The super cyclone in Orissa in October 1999 and the Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat in January 2001 underscored the need to adopt a multi-dimensional endeavour involving diverse scientific, engineering, financial and social processes. Need was also felt to adopt a multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach and incorporation of risk reduction in the developmental plans and strategies.

Disaster Management Act, 2005 changed the definition of disaster which now includes not only the events emanating from natural and man-made causes, but even those which are caused by accident or negligence.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi released the first Disaster Management Plan of India on June 1, 2016 that seeks to provide a framework and directions for government agencies for prevention, mitigation and management of disasters.

This book provides a detailed account of disaster mitigation and management policies and programmes in India, including the social responsibility of corporates.

Dr. Niranjan Sahoo is currently Associate Professor in the Department of Rural Management, Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi. He did his M.A. from Visva-Bharati Central University, Santiniketan, West Bengal; M.Phil. from BANISS (an ICSSR Institute), University of Indore; and Ph.D. from Magadh University. He also holds STC on Human Resource Management from IIT-Kharagpur.

He is the recipient of many awards, notably International Intellectual Achiever’s Award conferred in Bangkok, Thailand (December 30, 2010); Visva-Bharati Snattakottar Award conferred by the then Prime Minister Shri I.K. Gujral (January 11, 1997); Rashtriya Gaurav Award (April 9, 2010) and Rajeev Gandhi Excellence Award (September 9, 2010).  Recently, he was selected a member to the Apex Committee of Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. Dr. Sahoo has visited a few South Korean universities—viz. University of Suwon, University of Sinhan, Vision University, Hwashin Cybercity University and Chanbuk National University—as guest professor.

Dr. Sahoo has authored a book titled Rural Development and Livelihoods in India and co-authored another book titled Demonetization, Digital India and Governance. He has published a number of research papers in academic journals of repute including International Journal of Multi-disciplinary Education and Research, and Journal of International Centre for Economics, Humanities and Management, Bangkok. His areas of research interest include rural financial services, corporate social responsibility (CSR), entrepreneurship development, and human resources management.