Why in News?

• The Rescue & Relief work being done by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in the earthquake devastated Turkey has been widely lauded worldwide.

About NDRF

• The National Disaster Response Force is a specialised, multi-skilled, humanitarian force in India, which has been playing a crucial role in the country’s disaster management and community awareness for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

Structure

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is the parent body of NDRF, which currently consists of 15 battalions from the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Assam Rifles.
• With more than 13,000 personnel, the battalions of the NDRF have been equipped to respond to natural as well as man-made disasters. They are also trained to respond during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies.

Formation

• The successive natural calamities from 1990 to 2004 led to the enactment of the Disaster Management Act on December 26, 2005. The result was the formation of the National Disaster Response Force. This was set up to lay down the plans, policies, and guidelines for disaster management.