Category: Feature Article

In recent years, the call for disability-inclusive disaster management has grown louder, pushing governments and institutions to rethink their policies. Progress has been made — new frameworks acknowledge the need for accessibility, early warning systems are becoming more inclusive, and disability rights are gaining visibility in disaster response planning. But is it enough?

This article takes a critical look at recent policies shaping the intersection of disability and disaster management, both globally and in India. It examines the strides taken, the gaps that persist, and the urgent need for more robust enforcement and accountability. As disasters grow more frequent and severe, ensuring these policies translate into meaningful action is not just a matter of preparedness — it’s a matter of justice.

Introduction

In an era of escalating climate crises, the intersection of disability and disaster management has emerged as a litmus test for global equity. While international frameworks like the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030) and national policies such as India’s Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016) have set ambitious goals for inclusion, implementation gaps persist, leaving millions of persons with disabilities (PwDs) disproportionately vulnerable. This 3,000-word analysis critically examines recent policy advancements and failures in disability-inclusive disaster management, both in India and globally. By dissecting case studies, legislative frameworks, and grassroots realities, this article underscores the urgent need to convert rhetoric into action.

I. The Global Policy Landscape: Progress and Paradoxes

1. The Sendai Framework (2015–2030): A Landmark with Limitations

The Sendai Framework, the first global agreement to explicitly prioritize disability inclusion in disaster risk reduction (DRR), mandates “inclusive, accessible, and non-discriminatory” strategies. Key provisions include:

• Priority 1: Understanding disaster risks through disability-disaggregated data.

• Priority 4: Enhancing preparedness through PwD participation.

Progress:

• Japan’s Leadership: Japan’s Basic Act on Disaster Management (2013) legally enforces accessible evacuation routes and shelters, serving as a global benchmark.

• U.S. ADA Compliance: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires emergency services to accommodate PwDs, with penalties for non-compliance.

Pitfalls:

• Non-Binding Nature: The Sendai Framework lacks enforcement mechanisms. Only 30% of UN member states report progress on disability-inclusive DRR (UNDRR, 2023).

• Data Gaps: Less than 20% of countries collect disability-disaggregated disaster data (WHO, 2022).

Case Study: Uttarakhand’s Data Blindness

During the 2023 landslides, Uttarakhand lacked a registry of PwDs in high-risk zones, delaying rescues.

2. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD): Unfulfilled Promises

Article 11 of the CRPD obligates states to protect PwDs in emergencies. However, compliance remains uneven:

• Success Story: New Zealand’s Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (2022), co-designed with PwDs, integrates accessible alerts and mobile rescue teams.

• Failure: In conflict zones like Ukraine, PwDs face abandonment due to fragmented evacuation plans.

Critical Analysis: While the CRPD provides a moral framework, its reliance on voluntary state action limits accountability. A 2023 Human Rights Watch report found that 65% of low-income countries lack CRPD-aligned disaster plans.

II. India’s Policy Framework: Ambition vs. Reality

1. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD), 2016

• Section 8: Guarantees equal protection during disasters.

• Section 41: Mandates accessible disaster communication.

Progress:

• Kerala’s Innovations: Post-2018 floods, Kerala integrated sign language interpreters into emergency broadcasts and mapped 12,000 PwDs for targeted.

• Odisha’s Model: Odisha’s Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Plan (2021) trains 15,000 community volunteers to assist PwDs.

Pitfalls:

• Token Implementation: Only 8 states have operationalized Section 41 (NCPEDP, 2023).

• Funding Shortfalls: Just 0.5% of NDMA’s budget is allocated to disability inclusion.

2. National Disaster Management Guidelines (2016): Strong on Paper, Weak in Practice

The guidelines outline:

• Accessible shelters and evacuation routes.

• Training for responders in disability-inclusive.

Critical Analysis:

The guidelines are advisory, not legally binding. States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh lack localized plans, relying on ad-hoc measures.

III. Critical Analysis: Progress vs. Pitfalls

1. Progress: Seeds of Change

• Tech Integration: Apps like SAMBHAV (India) and Yurekuru Call (Japan) provide real-time accessible alerts.

• Grassroots Leadership: Organizations like the Nayi Disha Collective (Delhi) crowdsource accessibility data to guide PwDs.

• Policy Alignment: India’s 2020 National Policy on Disaster Management references CRPD principles.

2. Pitfalls: Systemic Barriers

• Non-Binding Policies: Guidelines without legal teeth lead to inconsistent implementation.

• Intersectional Neglect: Women, rural, and tribal PwDs face compounded risks due to caste, gender, and poverty.

• Capacity Gaps: Only 12% of India’s disaster responders are trained in disability inclusion (NIDM, 2023).

3. The Data Dilemma

• Outdated Registries: India’s 2011 Census data on PwDs is obsolete, and only 4 states maintain updated registries.

• Invisible Populations: Over 60% of rural PwDs are unregistered (NCPEDP, 2023).

IV. Case Studies: Policy in Action

1. Odisha’s Cyclone Fani (2019): A Blueprint for Success

• Pre-Mapped Registries: 45,000 PwDs identified in coastal districts.

• Community Volunteers: 10,000 trained in inclusive.

• Result: Zero deaths among registered PwDs.

Lesson: Proactive planning and community engagement save lives.

2. Kerala Floods (2018–2023): Mixed Outcomes

• Strengths: Geo-tagged disability data enabled efficient evacuations.

• Weaknesses: Only 30% of post-flood shelters were accessible.

Lesson: Infrastructure investments must match policy promises.

3. Hurricane Katrina (2005): A Cautionary Tale

• Failure: Over 70% of PwDs reported abandonment during evacuations.

• Reform: Post-Katrina, the U.S. mandated accessible evacuation buses under the ADA.

Lesson: Crises expose systemic flaws, prompting reform.

V. International

Comparisons: Learning from Global Leaders

1. Japan’s Binding Standards

• Legally Enforced Accessibility: The Basic Act on Disaster Management mandates ramps, tactile paths, and annual drills.

• Tech-Driven Alerts: The Yurekuru Call app sends earthquake warnings via vibrations and flashing lights.

2. Philippines’ Grassroots Governance

• Barangay Councils: The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act (2010) requires PwD representation in village councils.

• Community-Led Evacuations: PwDs co-design evacuation routes in flood-prone areas.

3. New Zealand’s Co-Designed Solutions

• Partnership Model: The 2022 Disability Inclusive DRR Strategy was co-created with PwDs.

• Tailored Alerts: Vibrating pillows for deaf individuals and braille-ready emergency kits.

VI. Recommendations: Bridging the Gap

1. Legal Reforms

• Enforce Compliance: Amend India’s Disaster Management Act (2005) to codify NDMA guidelines into binding law.

• Ratify the Sendai Framework: Make disability-inclusive DRR a legal obligation, not a suggestion.

2. Institutional Capacity Building

• Training Mandates: Train 100% of disaster responders in inclusive by 2025.

• Disability Advisory Boards: Establish state and national committees led by PwDs.

3. Data-Driven Strategies

• Real-Time Registries: Use Aadhaar-Provided  databases to track PwDs in high-risk zones.

• Disaggregated Reporting: Mandate disability, gender, and caste-disaggregated data in disaster audits.

4. Funding Equity

• Allocate 5% of DRR Budgets: Dedicate funds to accessible infrastructure and assistive technologies.

• Public-Private Partnerships: Leverage CSR funds for innovations like SAMBHAV and TerraWheel.

5. Grassroots Empowerment

• Community Task Forces: Replicate Odisha’s volunteer model nationwide.

• Participatory Audits: Involve PwDs in evaluating shelters and warning systems.

6. Global Collaboration

• Knowledge Sharing: Adopt Japan’s tech-driven alerts and the Philippines’ grassroots governance.

• UN-Led Accountability: Create a global review mechanism for CRPD and Sendai compliance.

VII. Conclusion: From Policy to Practice-A Call for Moral Courage Disability-inclusive disaster management is not a technical challenge but a test of societal values. While policies like the Sendai Framework and India’s RPWD Act provide a roadmap, their success hinges on political will, funding, and grassroots activism. As Cyclone Fani and Kerala’s floods demonstrate, inclusion saves lives—but only when policies escape paper and enter practice. The choice is clear: build systems that uplift the most vulnerable, or risk failing everyone.          

Bishu Chaidhary is committed and passionate disaster management professional, dedicated to safeguarding communities and minimizing the impact of both natural and man-made disasters. His background in disaster management and geography provides him with a strong foundation in disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation strategies.

India, a country prone to diverse natural disasters, is making strides toward building more resilient communities — but how inclusive is this preparedness for persons with disabilities? From policy frameworks to on-the-ground realities, the journey toward disability-inclusive disaster management is complex and ongoing.

This article takes a deep dive into India’s current landscape of disaster preparedness through the lens of accessibility and inclusion. It explores the challenges faced by persons with disabilities during emergencies, highlights emerging practices, and examines whether the nation’s disaster management strategies are evolving to ensure no one is left behind.

Disasters, whether natural or man-made, pose significant risks to all members of society. However, people with disabilities are often disproportionately affected due to a range of barriers that limit their ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from such events. These barriers include physical obstacles, lack of accessible communication, and insufficient support systems. As a result, ensuring that disaster preparedness efforts are inclusive of people with disabilities is not only a matter of human rights but also a critical component of building resilient communities. In India, a country highly vulnerable to natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, and earthquakes, the need for disability-inclusive disaster preparedness is particularly pressing.

This article examines the current state of disability inclusion in India’s disaster preparedness efforts. It explores the persistent challenges, highlights recent advancements, and reviews the guidelines set forth by the Indian government to address these issues. Finally, it offers recommendations for strengthening inclusion to ensure that no one is left behind when disasters strike.

The Current State of Disability Inclusion in India’s Disaster Preparedness

Challenges – Despite growing awareness of the need for disability inclusion, several significant challenges continue to hinder progress in India’s disaster preparedness efforts:

• Lack of Accessible Infrastructure: Many evacuation routes, disaster shelters, and relief centers remain inaccessible to people with physical disabilities. For example, the absence of ramps, wide doorways, or accessible toilets in shelters can prevent individuals from reaching safety or receiving essential services during and after a disaster. This gap in infrastructure design exacerbates the vulnerability of people with disabilities in emergency situations.

• Insufficient Training for Disaster Response Personnel: Emergency responders often lack the training needed to assist people with disabilities effectively. Without knowledge of how to evacuate someone with mobility impairments or communicate with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, responders may inadvertently delay or fail to provide critical support during a disaster.

• Limited Data on People with Disabilities: Accurate and comprehensive data on the number of people with disabilities and their specific needs is often unavailable. This data gap complicates disaster planning and resource allocation, leaving many individuals without the tailored assistance they require. For instance, without knowing how many wheelchair users reside in a flood-prone area, authorities cannot adequately prepare accessible evacuation plans.

• Social Stigma and Discrimination: People with disabilities frequently face societal barriers that exclude them from disaster preparedness efforts. Social stigma can prevent them from participating in community planning sessions or receiving timely disaster warnings, further isolating them during emergencies.

These challenges underscore the urgent need for systemic changes to make disaster preparedness truly inclusive in India.

Advancements – Despite these obstacles, India has made notable strides in integrating disability inclusion into its disaster preparedness framework:

• Inclusion in National Policies: The National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP), updated in 2019, explicitly recognizes the needs of people with disabilities. It calls for their active involvement in disaster planning and emphasizes the importance of ensuring that disaster management activities are accessible to all. This policy shift marks a significant step toward acknowledging disability as a critical factor in disaster risk reduction.

• Training Initiatives: Some government bodies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have introduced training programs to equip disaster response personnel with the skills to assist people with disabilities. These programs cover topics such as evacuation techniques for individuals with mobility impairments and communication strategies for those with sensory disabilities, enhancing responders’ ability to provide effective support.

• Accessible Disaster Shelters: In certain regions, efforts are underway to design or retrofit disaster shelters with accessibility features. These include ramps, accessible sanitation facilities, and designated spaces for people with disabilities. While these initiatives are not yet widespread, they represent a promising move toward universal access in disaster infrastructure.

• Community-Based Programs: Grassroots initiatives are increasingly involving people with disabilities in disaster preparedness activities. These programs empower individuals to take an active role in their own safety and that of their communities, fostering resilience at the local level. For example, some communities have organized drills that include people with disabilities, ensuring their needs are considered in planning.

These advancements signal a growing commitment to disability inclusion, though their scale and consistency remain limited.

Review of India’s Guidelines

India’s primary framework for disaster management is the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP), updated in 2019 by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The NDMP provides a comprehensive roadmap for disaster risk reduction and explicitly addresses the needs of vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities. Its guidelines on disability inclusion are structured around several key principles:

• Inclusive Planning: The NDMP emphasizes the importance of involving people with disabilities in the development and implementation of disaster management strategies. By including their perspectives, the plan aims to ensure that preparedness efforts reflect the real-world needs of this population.

• Accessible Communication: Recognizing that timely information is critical during disasters, the NDMP advocates for delivering warnings and instructions in accessible formats. This includes sign language for the deaf, braille or audio for the visually impaired, and easy-to-read materials for those with intellectual disabilities.

• Capacity Building: The plan calls for training programs to enhance the skills of disaster management personnel in addressing the needs of people with disabilities. This includes training on evacuation procedures, first aid tailored to specific disabilities, and psychosocial support to address trauma.

• Infrastructure and Accessibility: The NDMP promotes the construction of disaster-resilient infrastructure that is accessible to all. This applies to shelters, evacuation routes, and relief distribution centers, with an emphasis on incorporating universal design principles.

While the NDMP provides a robust framework for disability inclusion, its implementation has been uneven. Reports from recent disasters, such as the 2021 Cyclone Tauktae and the 2023 floods in northern India, indicate that people with disabilities continue to face significant barriers, including inaccessible shelters and delayed assistance. This suggests a disconnect between policy and practice, highlighting the need for better coordination and accountability.

Conclusion – India has made commendable progress in recognizing the importance of disability inclusion in disaster preparedness. The inclusion of disability considerations in the National Disaster Management Plan, alongside emerging training programs and infrastructure improvements, reflects a growing awareness of the issue. However, significant challenges persist, including inaccessible infrastructure, inadequate training, and a lack of comprehensive data on people with disabilities. These gaps leave vulnerable populations at heightened risk during disasters.

To build on the advancements achieved, India must take concrete steps to strengthen disability inclusion:

• Strengthen Implementation: Better coordination between government agencies, NGOs, and community groups is essential to translate NDMP guidelines into consistent, effective action across all regions.

•             Invest in Accessible Infrastructure: All new disaster-related facilities should adhere to universal design standards, and existing infrastructure should be retrofitted to ensure accessibility.

• Expand Training Programs: Nationwide training for disaster response personnel should be scaled up to equip them with the knowledge and skills to assist people with disabilities effectively.

• Increase Involvement of People with Disabilities: Policymakers and planners must actively engage people with disabilities at every stage of disaster preparedness and response, ensuring their voices shape the strategies designed to protect them. By prioritizing these actions, India can move closer to a disaster preparedness framework that is truly inclusive, ensuring that all its citizens—regardless of ability—are safeguarded when disasters strike. The journey toward resilience is incomplete without leaving no one behind.