Review Paper:
The Sendai Framework
for Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Plan of Indian Railways
Ghosh Sajal Kumar and Sar Ashok Kumar
Disaster Advances; Vol. 14(8); 79-89;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/148da7921; (2021)
Abstract
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015- 30 (SFDRR) was adopted by United
Nations as a global framework for disaster risk reduction and was signed by member
countries. It was adopted as a successor of earlier existing Hyogo Framework for
Action 2005- 2015 to advance a common Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) policy worldwide.
In spite of agreement, on the importance of the SFDRR 2015-30, its low implementation
at the local level remains a matter of concern. For a developing country like India,
SFDRR is of much importance due to a large population vulnerable to all types of
disasters. This study examined the extent to which Indian Railways (IR) being the
national transporter of India and used by most of Indians, became able to synchronize
and adopt SFDRR into its disaster management plan.
The study discussed the present disaster management plan adopted by Indian Railways
and attempted to identify gaps existing in adoption of the Sendai framework in its
risk reduction activities. It is concluded that Indian Railway is able to adopt
SFDRR priorities to reduce disaster risks in many of its operational activities
except areas like railway construction activities where more actions are to be taken
to reduce risk of disasters. The findings will be useful to disaster managers in
railway sector as well as other institutions to effectively prepare/modify their
disaster management plans so that countries can achieve the disaster risk reduction
targets fixed in SFDRR.
