Info Nuggets

NDRF

The Disaster Management Act has made statutory provisions for the constitution of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for the purpose of specialized response to natural and man-made disasters.

Why was it constituted?

Two national calamities in quick succession in the form of Orissa Super Cyclone (1999) and Gujarat Earthquake (2001) brought about the realization of the need of having a specialist response mechanism at National Level to effectively respond to disasters. This realization led to the enactment of the DM Act on 26 Dec 2005.

NDRF has been proving its importance by highly skilled rescue and relief operations, regular and intensive training and re-training, capacity building & familiarization exercises within the area of responsibility, carrying out mock drills and joint exercises with the various stakeholders.

Role and mandate of NDRF

• Specialized response during disasters
• Proactive deployment during impending disaster situations
• Acquire and continually upgrade its own training and skills
• Liaison, Reconnaissance, Rehearsals and Mock Drills
• Impart basic and operational level training to State Response Forces (Police, Civil Defence and Home Guards)
• Community Capacity Building Programme
• Public Awareness Campaign
• Exhibitions : Posters, Pamphlets, literatures

Why it is said to be a unique force?

• It is the only dedicated disaster response force of the world.
• The only agency with comprehensive response capabilities having multi-disciplinary and multi-skilled, high-tech, stand alone nature.
• Experienced paramilitary personnel specially trained and equipped for disaster response.
• Capabilities for undertaking disaster response, prevention, mitigation and capacity building.
• The NDRF works under the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) which lays down the policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management.

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)

NPPA is an organization of the Government of India which was established, inter alia, to fix/ revise the prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce prices and availability of the medicines in the country, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995.

The organisation is also entrusted with the task of recovering amounts overcharged by manufacturers for the controlled drugs from the consumers. It also monitors the prices of decontrolled drugs in order to keep them at reasonable levels.

Functions of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority

• To implement and enforce the provisions of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order in accordance with the powers delegated to it.
• To deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the Authority;
• To monitor the availability of drugs, identify shortages, if any, and to take remedial steps;
• To collect/ maintain data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, profitability of companies etc, for bulk drugs and formulations;
• To undertake and/ or sponsor relevant studies in respect of pricing of drugs/ pharmaceuticals;
• To recruit/ appoint the officers and other staff members of the Authority, as per rules and procedures laid down by the Government;
• To render advice to the Central Government on changes/ revisions in the drug policy;
• To render assistance to the Central Government in the parliamentary matters relating to the drug pricing.