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Government of Haryana
Haryana is fast-tracking the establishment of a dedicated Haryana State Disaster Response Force (HSDRF) to comply with the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025. Financial Commissioner Revenue, Dr. Sumita Misra, recently reviewed a comprehensive roadmap for operationalizing this specialized force, which will consist of a full battalion of 1,149 sanctioned posts. A unique feature of this force is the government’s decision to recruit the maximum number of personnel from the Agniveer pool. Additionally, the state will ensure the deployment of one Quick Response Team (QRT) in every division to handle sensitive situations and local emergencies with minimal lead time.
Strategic Framework and Operational Readiness
Legislative Empowerment: The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025, empowers states to constitute exclusive forces for specialized disaster response, moving away from fragmented departmental frameworks.
Transition Mechanism: The 1st Battalion of IRB Bhondsi, currently the nodal unit with 594 trained personnel, will serve as the foundation for the transition into the fully equipped HSDRF.
Specialized Training: Personnel are being trained in high-stakes operations, including Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue, Flood Rescue, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) response.
Infrastructure and Standards: The force will adhere to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines, featuring dedicated infrastructure, specialized uniforms, and senior-level leadership.
Inter-Departmental Coordination: The Home Department and Police are coordinating to submit phased implementation strategies, including resource requirements and training schedules.
What is the ‘Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025’ and why is it significant for state-level governance? The Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025, is a central legislation that provides states with the explicit legal mandate to constitute their own dedicated State Disaster Response Forces (SDRFs). Its significance lies in creating a professionalized, permanent cadre of responders who are not diverted for routine police or administrative duties. By establishing specialized sanctioned posts and dedicated infrastructure, the Act ensures that states meet national benchmarks for disaster resilience, allowing for a swifter and more technically competent response to both natural and man-made disasters.
Policy Relevance
The establishment of the HSDRF represents a shift toward a “proactive and specialized” disaster management posture, moving beyond the traditional ad-hoc deployment of police personnel.
Strategic Impact for Haryana:
Professionalization of Response: Establishing a dedicated force with exclusive sanctioned posts ensures long-term institutional ownership and operational excellence.
Integration of Agniveers: Utilizing Agniveers for the HSDRF provides a disciplined, pre-trained manpower pool, optimizing state recruitment and public safety outcomes.
Decentralized Readiness: Deploying QRTs at the divisional level ensures that specialized disaster relief is accessible across the state’s geography, reducing response lag.
Alignment with National Standards: Adhering to NDMA protocols ensures that Haryana’s disaster framework is interoperable with federal agencies during large-scale national emergencies.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can Haryana integrate its divisional Quick Response Teams (QRTs) with a real-time ‘Digital Disaster Dashboard’ to enable data-driven deployment during multi-hazard events?
Follow the full news here: prharyana.gov.in