It is the apex body for natural disaster management and mitigation. For effective implementation of relief measures in the wake of natural calamities, the Government of India (GOI) has set up a Standing National Crisis Management Committee under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary GOI. A Natural Disaster Management Control Room has been set up at Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi. An organizational chart depicting disaster management organization in India.

For planning for disasters and Emergency preparedness training, Government of India has created few institutes that offer short-term courses. Notable amongst them being the National Center for Disaster Management (NCDM) set up by the Indian Institute of Public Administration and the Centre for Disaster Management set up by Y S Chavan Academy of Development Administration conduct workshops and seminars for civil servants and government officials. NCDM is also the nodal agency for coordinating relief and rehabilitation work during natural calamities. Similarly, the Disaster Management Institute, Bhopal set up after the gas tragedy conducts awareness programs for NGOs and the public at large.

Some universities have recently taken the initiative to introduce a few courses. For instance, IGNOU and the University of Pune offer 6-month certificate courses. Any one who has completed 10+2 is eligible to enroll. The Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment, New Delhi offers another correspondence program in disaster mitigation in affiliation with the Sikkim, Manipal University. Spread over 2 years and 10 papers including a thesis, this program is open to graduates in any discipline. The PRT Institute of Postgraduate Environmental Education and Research also offers a similar course in affiliation with the Institute of Open and Distance Education, Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal.

While these courses have started gaining in popularity, career opportunities are still pretty limited. Openings are mainly found in some government and non-government agencies. Large industrial establishments, particularly those in the high-risk fields like chemicals, mining, petroleum have disaster management cells. The International Red Cross and some UN organizations also empanel trained professionals for working on humanitarian missions to handle major calamities and emergencies.

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National Center for Disaster Management, New Delhi

A new center "National Centre for Disaster Management (NCDM)" has been established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. NCDM is setup in Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) with the objectives of : 

1. providing training programs for senior and middle level administrative government officials and to sensitize them for disaster mitigation,

 2. coordinate the research activities in different aspects of disaster management at national level. For further information, you may contact at NCDM, IIPA, Indraprastha Estate, Ring Road, New Delhi 11002, Fax: (+91-11)331-9954.
Go to http://www.ncdm-india.org

National Information Center of Earthquake Engineering- IIT
   Kanpur, U.P.

A National Information Center of Earthquake Engineering (NICEE) has been set up at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. The Center is sponsored by HUDCO, Telecom Commission, Railway Board, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Atomic Energy and AICTE. NICEE-India will meet the needs of the country in terms of “information” on Earthquake Engineering. The NICEE-India at IIT Kanpur will eventually aim at being responsible for acquiring and disseminating information and capacity building of the neighbouring nations. Institutes mandate is to create and maintain a good storehouse of information/publications/ other audio-visual materials on earthquake engineering.
Go to http://www.nicee.org 

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Disaster Management Institute, Bhopal, M.P.

The Disaster Management Institute established by the MP government in the backdrop of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, offers training, research and consultancy services on subjects related to prevention, mitigation and management of disasters. It organizes training for working managers and government officials relating to the areas of management of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, drought, famine and cyclones; on-site and off-site emergency planning; risk analysis; identification of major hazards; etc. Contact Info: 'Kachnar,' Paryavaran Parisar, E-5, Arera Colony, Bhopal; e-mail: dmibpl@bom6.vsnl.net.in 

Disaster Mitigation Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Disaster Management Institutes mission is to equip the disaster victims — individuals or groups or agencies — with the resource to develop progressive solutions to physical, social and economical challenges of relief and reconstruction of facing them. DMI strives to become a premier centre for disaster mitigation and prevention by assisting and strengthening the decision making process and making the critical and objective analysis  available to the policy makers. In the wake of Gujarat Earthquake of January 2001 this Institutes provides real life example of the need and necessity of such an institute.
Go to http://www.southasiadisasters.net/ 

Environment Protection Training and Research Institute,
    Hyderabad

EPTRI was set up by Government of Andhra Pradesh with the assistance and support of Government of India.  Government of India had also taken the initiative for EPTRI’s technical collaboration with Swedish International Development Agency under bilateral assistance. Risk Analysis and Disaster Management Plan is a safety and contingency management plan to safeguard people and property from disasters. EPTRI provides training and consultancy in Risk Assessment and Safety Control. EPTRI has an MoU with Process Safety Centre of Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad.
Go to http://www.eptri.com/risk_analysis_disaster.html 

Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA):

The Government of Gujarat (GOG) established the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority on February 8, 2001 to co-ordinate the comprehensive earthquake recovery program. The GSDMA is registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act.  
Go to http://www.gsdma.org/aboutus.htm

Orissa  State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA):

The Government of Orissa  established the Orissa State Disaster Management Authority  to co-ordinate the comprehensive Orissa Super Cyclone recovery program. The OSDMA is registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act.  Go to http://www.osdma.org/ 

Helplines for Gujarat Earthquake victims:

Helpline numbers for Earthquake Relief & Rehabilitation in Gujarat:

http://www.gujaratindia.com/helpline.html 

Helpline to leave audio messages 

http://www.dclnetworks.com/quake/ 

Joint Assistance Centre, Gurgaon, Haryana

The Joint Assistance Centre (JAC) was established in New Delhi as an All India Voluntary Agency for assistance in disaster situations in 1970 in the aftermath of the terrible cyclone of November 1977 that devastated the Chirala-Divi region of Andhra Pradesh, killing over 10,000 people. Go to http://www.jacindia.org/

Centre for Disaster Management (CDM), Pune, Maharastra

The Centre for Disaster Management was set up at Yashada (Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration), Pune with the support of the National Disaster Management Division, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Government of India. The CDM is collaborating with the IGNOU to launch a PG Diploma in Disaster Management in English, Hindi and Marathi. Training programmes on Management of Earthquakes, Workshop on Community participation in Disaster Management, and allied topics are conducted at CDM periodically.
Go to http://www.yashada.org/courses  

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Sikkim Manipal University of Health, Medical and       Technological Sciences, Tadong, Gangtok, Sikkim

Sikkim Manipal University of Health, Medical and Technological Sciences in association with the Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment offers the Master's in Disaster Mitigation for graduates (any discipline). Disaster mitigation includes activities that prevent a disaster, reduce the chance of a calamitous event, or lessen their damaging effects.
Go to http://www.sikkimmanipal.net  & http://www.ecology.edu/ 

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PRT Institute of Post Graduate Environmental Education &     Research, New Delhi

PRT Institute of Post Graduate Environmental Education & Research, (in association with Institute of Open & Distance Education, Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal offers the two-year Master of Disaster Control to graduates or working professionals through distance learning. The Institute is engaged in training, research and consultancy in the areas of disaster management, risk analysis, sustainable development, environmental impact assessment, pollution control and monitoring with the idea of optimal development of a global sustainable society. Contact Info: PRT-I-PEER A-16 Paryavaran Complex, South of Saket, Maidangarhi Marg, New Delhi-110030,
Go to http://www.technologyindia.edu/introduction.htm 

Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi

The Council of the Boards of School Education is interested in a plan for providing formal training in disaster management to students in senior classes which could take the form of classroom lectures, group discussions, area surveys, risk assessment and even mock exercises to cover a daily drill. Go to http://www.cbse.nic.in  

Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi

IGNOU (through distance education) and Pune University (Diploma) offer Disaster Management courses after Plus Two/ equivalent, which may be completed within six months to two years. Such programmes provide knowledge on: Disasters (the meaning, factors, significance, causes and effects); Disaster preparedness; Prevention; Mitigation; Relief; Reconstruction and Rehabilitation. Go to http://www.ignou.org  

National Civil Defence College, Nagpur, Maharastra

National Civil Defence College, Nagpur, conducts various courses in Civil Defence and Disaster Relief Management. Since natural calamities tend to be unavoidable and earthquakes unpredictable, efforts have to be made to withstand the aftermath of catastrophes. Disaster Management training is useful for NGOs or social work students or volunteers providing support and rehabilitation measures during disasters (natural and man-made), personnel of home guards, paramilitary organizations, civil defence personnel, scientists, meteorologists, and environmentalists as well as functionaries of rural development and primary health centres, administrative services, relief workers, etc.
Go to http://ncdcnagpur.nic.in/prog-offered.htm 

Organizations involved in relief & rehabilitation work in    Gujarat's earthquake affected areas:

List of all the organizations with contact details is available here. These organizations had been involved in relief and rehabilitation works in Gujarat's earthquake affected areas. The list has been compiled from various sources and internet. For details into activities of all the organizations pl. contact the organizations directly or visit there websites. Click here

List of Indian NGO's working in Disaster Management: 

A state wise list of a large no. of Non Governmental organizations working in the area of Disaster Management.
Go to http://www.indianngos.com/issue/disaster/disasterngo.htm