Nagaland notifies creation of Village Disaster Management Authority

Kohima, August 13 (MExN): The Nagaland Government, via its implementing agency the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), has announced the creation of dedicated Village Disaster Management Authority (VDMA).

Notifying the same, the NSDMA stated that the VDMA shall be constituted by the Village Council and headed by a Chairman along with its members. The Secretary of Village Development Board (VDB) will act as the Member Secretary. The VDMA, among others, is expected to augment the state or district authority in relief activities during disasters. 

The members of VDMA, according to a DIPR report, will operate under the following Terms of Reference (ToR):
1.    The Village Disaster Management Authority (VDMA) shall function under the Village Council. The VDMA shall consist of at least of 5 (five) members and not more than 10 (ten) members.

2.    No 2 (two) members of the Village Disaster Management Authority (VDMA) can be selected from the same household.

3.    The members of Village Disaster Management Authority (VDMA) should be permanent residents of the village.

4.    The Village Disaster Management Authority (VDMA) shall comprise of at least 1 (one) woman member or more, depending on the composition of the Village Council.

5.    The Village Disaster Management Authority (VDMA) may, as and when it considers necessary, constitute sub-committee from the existing key line committees in the village, such as Health, Power, Water & Sanitation and Education committees etc or any other sub¬committee as necessitated.

6.    The Village Disaster Management Authority (VDMA) shall coordinate and devise a working response mechanism with neighboring villages.

7.    The Village Disaster Management Authority (VDMA) shall also coordinate with the sub¬division authority and district authority on disaster management issues.

8.    The term of the Village Disaster Management Authority (VDMA) shall be co-terminus with the term of the Village Council in case of defunct Village Council, VDB Secretary shall be the officiating Chairman of the Village Disaster Management Authority (VDMA).

9.    No remuneration shall be paid for the membership of Village Disaster Management Authority (VDMA) by the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority/ District Disaster Management Authority.

10. The powers of the Chairman of the Village Disaster Management Authority (VDMA) and the powers & functions of the Village Disaster Management Authority (VDMA) shall remain the same as per Section 32 and 34 of the Nagaland State Disaster Management Rules 2012.

11. All the Village Disaster Management Authority (VDMA) shall prepare their own Village Disaster Management Plan, which is to be updated when necessary.

12. Any village failing to constitute Village Disaster Management Authority (VDMA) shall not be eligible for any scheme/relief under Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority. Furthermore, State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) forms received without the signature of the VDMA Chairman/VDB Secretary shall be considered incomplete and devoid of benefit.