Recommendations of 2nd ARC: 3rd and 4th Report

Catastrophic events and emergencies have been an indispensable piece of humanity’s set of experiences directly from the beginning of progress. The ascent and fall of the Indus Valley and Babylonian civic establishments declare this. In the good old days, people and networks would react to an emergency. Be that as it may, with the rise of the cutting edge government assistance state and the twentieth-century patterns of globalization, urbanization, enormous scope movements of the human populace, and environmental changes, the idea of emergencies confronting countries has expanded both in extent and intricacy. For instance, while the recurrence of disasters might have stayed unaltered, expanding populace densities and urbanization significantly affect human lives and property. In the field of general wellbeing, while science has gotten a significant triumph over pestilences, new strains of infections and medication-safe small organic entities have arisen, raising the staff of worldwide pandemics of new and all the more lethal illnesses.

Any conversation on a moral system for administration in a majority rule government should essentially start with moral qualities in legislative issues. Governmental issues and those occupied with them assume an indispensable part in the administrative and chief wings of the State. Their demonstrations of Commission and exclusion in working the Constitution and law and order become the mark of intercession for the legal executive. While it is ridiculous and oversimplified to anticipate flawlessness in governmental issues in a morally blemished climate, there is no denying how the guidelines set in legislative issues significantly impact those in different parts of administration. Those in legislative issues have an unmistakable and grave liability. India was lucky that elevated requirements of moral lead were a vital piece of the opportunity battle. Shockingly, moral capital began disintegrating after the exchange of force. Overabundances in races (in crusade financing, utilization of ill-conceived cash, the quantum of use, flawed constituent rolls, pantomime, corner catching, brutality, incitements, and terrorizing), floor-crossing after decisions to get into power, and maltreatment of force in open office became significant hardships of the political cycle throughout the long term. Ideological groups, states, and significantly, the Election Commission and the Supreme Court have made a few strides since the last part of the 1980s trying to dispense with the gross maltreatments that had practically turned into the norm. However, there is a far and wide view. More should be done to purge our political framework. Alongside debasement, this issue was brought up in each formal conference held by the Commission during its visits to the States.

The following categories can be used to categorize different types of crises:

(i) Crises caused by acts of nature. The following sub-categories can be found within these:

CRISIS MANAGEMENT

a. Climatic events such as cyclones and storms (which cause marine erosion), floods, and drought

b. Geological events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and avalanches

(ii) Crises resulting from environmental degradation and disruption of the ecological equilibrium (iii) Accident-related crises. These can be further divided into Crises caused by biological activities: Public health crises, epidemics, etc.

(v) Crises caused by hostile elements: War, terrorism, extremism, insurgency, etc.

(vi) Crises caused by disruption/failure of major infrastructure facilities such as communication systems, large-scale strikes, etc. And 

(vii) Large crowds cause crisis management out of control.

The scope of the Crisis management:

Depending on its severity and scope, a crisis scenario can be classified as local, sub-district, district, state, or national. State governments and their agencies, district officials, and municipal governments all play essential roles in crisis management, as do communities. The severity of the situation determines the nature and scope of the response. In the event of a significant calamity, the Union Government must intervene by giving financial, material, and human resources assistance. In addition, in the event of certain, A national response is required in various crisis scenarios that damage the national interest. Terrorist incidents such as the hijacking of a plane, suicide attacks, sabotage, attacks on important installations/buildings or community symbols, hostage crisis, threat or actual use of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons, war or war-like situations, mutiny, breakdown of important services such as railways, chemical/biological disasters and those relating to major mines-mishaps, oil spills, cyber terrorism, etc.

Emergency aid and immediate rehabilitation were the primary goals of traditional Crisis management. Society judged anything more’ unaffordable’; therefore, these steps were regarded as sufficient. Furthermore, as noted in the Yokohama Declaration, the ‘drama’ and flurry of activity associated with these initiatives aimed to demonstrate to the general public that the government ‘cared.’ A ‘welfare state’ includes broader duties, implying that, in addition to the welfare state, traditional responsibilities of relief and immediate rehabilitation, governments in conjunction with the local bodies, the civil society, voluntary organizations, and corporate bodies, address the factors leading to the crisis, in a manner that ideally prevents their occurrence, or at any rate, significantly reduces their ill effects. 

It is also important to remember that crises do not always appear out of nowhere. They have a life cycle that can last days, months, or even decades, depending on the factors that cause them. As a result, a crisis must be addressed in terms of its management cycle, which will allow us to forecast, prevent, and reduce the crisis to the greatest extent feasible and deal with the crisis as it arises.

This ‘life cycle’ of crisis management can be divided into three phases: Before, during, and after the crisis.

Crisis/Disaster Management Phases:

This is the time to assess the potential hazard risk and vulnerabilities, make efforts to prevent and mitigate the crisis, and prepare for its actual occurrence. Long-term prevention measures include the construction of embankments to prevent flooding, the creation or expansion of irrigation facilities, and the implementation of watershed management as drought-proofing measures, the expansion of plantations to reduce the occurrence of landslides, the construction of earthquake-resistant structures, and good environmental management. Short-term efforts that minimize or adjust the scope and intensity of the threat or improve the situation can also help alleviate a crisis. Greater enforcement of building rules and zoning regulations, correct maintenance of drainage systems, better awareness and public education to limit the risks of hazards, and so on are all examples of ways to improve the durability and capacity of the elements at risk. 

Mitigation strategies may change for different types of catastrophes, but what must be highlighted is the priority and importance given to diverse methods. A proper legal and operational framework is required to do this.

Improvements Made Recently:

Despite all of a democracy’s imperfections, it is capable of self-correction. As previously indicated, major attempts have been made to bring about genuine election reforms throughout the last two decades. Some have claimed that India has experienced more political reform in the last decade than any other large democracy since WWII. In a nutshell, the most significant reforms concern:

Increased Electoral Roll Accuracy: 

• The Election Commission has undertaken steps to make voter registration more accessible to voters and include post offices in the revision of electoral rolls.

• Printed electoral rolls and CDs are now available for purchase.

• The process of computerizing the full electoral rolls of approximately 620 million voters has begun.

• The distribution of photo-identification cards to all voters has begun. Between 1999 and 2004, studies conducted by civil society organizations such as Loksatta revealed a significant improvement and reduction in electoral roll inaccuracies.

Candidate Disclosure: 

• The Supreme Court has ordered that a candidate declare any judicial convictions or whether a criminal case is pending against him

• The order to file a declaration of assets and liabilities of the candidate and family members will allow for a check at the time of the next elections.

Persons Convicted of a Criminal Offense Are Disqualified

Conclusion:

This report must end on a positive note. Indians have long cherished a world beyond the tangible, and spiritualism has always been a part of their lives. There are numerous examples of excellent behavior, the triumph of virtue over evil, and great wisdom in our epics. Even now, stories of legendary rulers like Vikramaditya’s honesty, charity, and piety are related to our youngsters. There is no reason why Ram Rajya could not be done. Poverty, inadequacy, and class strife are increasingly fading in modern India. We are on the road to a self-assured, inclusive, and empowered India. India’s ranking on Transparency International’s Corruption Index has improved dramatically, and it is hoped that this trend will continue. Our wise people’s vigilance will ensure this. The Commission feels that this Report on Ethics in Governance is one of the most important that it has been asked to prepare because enhanced transparency in governance would significantly influence the people of India’s daily lives. When the recommendations in this paper are adopted, government activities will be more efficient and effective. Accountability would be realized because more public officials would strive for the greater public interest rather than a selfish goal. A more corruption-free environment would also result in a significantly better rate of GDP growth, an overall improvement in the economy, and greater openness in government operations in serving its citizens. All of this, in turn, will lead to more citizen empowerment, which is essential for a healthy democracy.

The Commission has considered the processes that link pre-disaster and post-disaster operations when formulating its recommendations. The Commission believes that crisis management is not a separate profession but rather a method of handling challenges involving all sectors and ensuring a coordinated response. In this situation, crisis management becomes the responsibility of all stakeholders affected by the crisis. In this light, the Commission has endeavored to lay up a road map that includes all stakeholders, agencies, and organizations at all levels during all stages of a crisis.