Indian government released a national disaster management plan for animals. Under the plan, rescue and relief of animals will now be an integral part of disaster operations in the country. The plan for the first time ensures that animals will be included in disaster preparations, potentially saving millions of animals’ lives and building the resilience of the communities that depend on them.
Which authority prepared the National Disaster Management Plan for Animals (DMP)?
- DMP was prepared by Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries.
- DMP was brought out after wide range of consultation and elaborate discussion with different stakeholders such as National Disaster Management Authority, National Disaster Response Force, National Institute of Disaster Management, various State Governments and knowledge Institutions.
- The plan is a joint effort of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), the World Animal Protection and the Policy Perspectives Foundation (PPF).
Also read: National Disaster Management Plan 2016
DMP: Three Parts
Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries has prepared and launched Disaster Management Plan (DMP) for protecting animals and preventing and mitigating loss of livestock resources during various disasters. DMP is divided into three parts:
- Pre-disaster preparedness
- Disaster response
- Post-Disaster Plan.
- Pre-disaster preparedness includes detailed action plan relating to dissemination of early warning, identification of vulnerability amongst livestock, animal vaccination, feed and fodder supply and capacity building of different stake-holders in disaster management etc.
- Disaster response component includes strategy/action plan relating to effective and prompt response, rescue of livestock, feed & fodder supply, measures against epidemics and diseases and maintenance of Sanitation etc.
- Post disaster component include strategy for treatment of sick animals, disease surveillance, disposal of carcass, restoration and restocking of livestock population.
DMP aims to supplement the efforts of States/UTs in managing disasters and lays down the broad guidelines for management of animal during disasters like drought, floods, cyclones, earthquakes and other man-made disasters etc. in the states/UTs.
Why DMP for animals?
- Animals are often the forgotten victims of disasters.
- Government figures reveal that as many as 1.98 lakh cattle had lost their lives in floods over the past three years during 2013-15.
- In India, animals are at the heart of everything, be it family, culture and livelihood, animals are an intrinsic part of our lives. It’s ironical that animals were missing in the picture till now.
- DMP brought out standard operating procedures (SOPs) that are to be followed by the disaster management professions across the country for protection of animals during disasters including floods, landslides and earthquake.
