Role of Food and Civil Supplies Department in Disaster Management

Food, civil supplies, and consumer affairs occupy a significant importance despite not being a department directly involved in emergency operations. The agency is in charge of meeting the food needs of those impacted by disaster both during and after the disaster.

Pre-Disaster:

• HVRC will analyze the department’s potential disaster management strategy and develop it with the active participation of all relevant lines departments and local authorities in the district.
• A notification should be sent to the Deputy Commissioner/District Collector/District Magistrate in each district/subdivision/ tehsil affected. If more personnel are needed, those on leave should be called back.
• Identify the items that the department of food and supply will provide.
• Determine the places where the food, fuel, raw materials, etc., Response Bases will be situated.
• Check the inventory of resources and assign officers to the Response Base.
• Foodgrains should be stocked in public distribution systems.
• Find out which wholesalers and distributors of grains are in the district and outside of it.
• Make a list of gas stations, gasoline pumps,and manufacturers of kerosene oil.
• State and central government warehouses should be listed.
• Ensure effective communication at all levels of government: district, state, and central.
• A coordinated approach with the police should be involved in securing stocks, and communication with fire services should be established.
• NGO, CBO, NCC and NSS volunteers who can assist with food distribution must be prepared by the Civil Supplies Department.

During and in Post-Disaster:

• Plan a relief operation after reviewing the situation.
• Foodgrains must be available immediately so that relief can start.
• Make sure that essential commodities’ prices are being monitored. Deputy Commissioners, District Collectors, and District Magistrates are supposed to be notified when local food grain prices increase so that the State Government can be informed.
• In the case of manufactured scarcity, adequate measures must be taken to prevent hoarding of commodities and its price manipulation.
• For any food-for-work programme (MGNREGS, etc.), there must be food grains available. Foodgrains can be used as a wage to compensate workers.
• If Fair Price Shops cannot be established in a particular area, self-help groups, cooperatives or even village panchayats can be set up for the distribution of food grains.
• Prepare mobile Fair Price Shops for areas prone to disasters and remote locations.
• Coordination between the Transport Department and the response base/ relief camp is essential to ensure the transportation of relief materials.
• Develop the capabilities of staff in the Emergency Support Functions.
• Make sure food is prepared and packaged in a hygienic environment.
• DPRO should provide media briefings regarding food stock, distribution, etc.

The Food and Civil Supplies Department begins working about 12 hours after the disaster occurs. During the first few hours after a disaster, the top goal is to remove the injured from the disaster location so they can receive medical attention. After obtaining the information, the department will operate fully under the direction of the district magistrate and the state or local emergency operations centre.