Institutionalizing Climate Resilience: Inclusion of Heatwaves and Lightning under the Disaster Management Framework
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The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has formally categorized heatwaves and lightning as notified disasters, enabling states to utilize the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for mitigation and relief.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has taken a significant policy step by officially classifying heatwaves and lightning as 'notified disasters' under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. This administrative shift is a critical response to the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in India, driven largely by climate change. Previously, these phenomena were often treated as localized weather events, limiting the scope of financial intervention from the central government.
By bringing these events under the ambit of the Disaster Management Act, the government has unlocked the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for states to undertake relief and mitigation measures. This allows for the provision of ex-gratia assistance to victims and the funding of infrastructure projects aimed at reducing vulnerability, such as early warning systems for lightning and heat-resilient urban planning. The move acknowledges that the socio-economic impact of these 'silent disasters'—which often result in high mortality rates among vulnerable populations, including outdoor workers and the rural poor—is comparable to traditional disasters like floods or cyclones.
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