EVOLUTION OF NDMA The Government of India, in recognition of the importance of Disaster Management as a national priority, on 23 December 2005, enacted the Disaster Management Act, which envisaged the creation of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister to spearhead and implement a holistic and integrated approach to Disaster Management in India. ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES NDMA as the apex body is mandated to lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for Disaster Management to ensure timely and effective response to disasters. National Disaster Management Authority has been constituted with the Prime Minister of India as its Chairman, a Vice Chairman with the status of Cabinet Minister, and eight members with the status of Ministers of State. Each of the members has a well defined functional domain covering various states as also disaster specific areas of focus and concern. To carry out the mandated functions, NDMA has evolved a functional and operational infrastructure. The concept of the organization is based on a disaster divisions-cum-secretariat system. Each member of the Authority heads disaster-specific divisions for specific disaster and functional domains. The NDMA Secretariat, headed by a Secretary is responsible to provide secretarial support and continuity.