By Dr. Johnny Ruangmei, Joint Chief Executive Officer, Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), Nagaland, India; and Mihir R. Bhatt, All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI), India

Natural disasters are an existential threat to Nagaland. Nagaland needs an effective and comprehensive strategy to build disaster resilience and climate risk management. Nagaland is prone to multiple hazards and vulnerable to climate variability and its negative manifestations, with increasing complexities due to climate change, which has induced various disasters.

The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), under the Home Department, Government of Nagaland, is committed to protecting lives, livelihoods, and the environment by fostering a culture of preparedness, reducing disaster risks, and ensuring effective response and recovery. At the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), building resilience is a journey. Every effort made by the NSDMA is aimed at building a resilient infrastructure and a resilient economy.

The vision of the NSDMA, Home Department, Government of Nagaland, is to make Nagaland disaster-ready, climate-resilient, and future-ready, with resilient infrastructure and a resilient economy.

An overview of recent achievements and innovative initiatives highlights disaster management in Nagaland— covering policy, institutional innovation, preparedness, and recognition.

Key Achievements and Initiatives

Nagaland is the first State in India to adopt a Disaster Risk Transfer Parametric Insurance Solution (DRTPS).  An MoU was signed in August 2024 between the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) and SBI General Insurance. This initiative aims to protect critical infrastructure and mitigate economic losses resulting from extreme weather events.

Nagaland State Disaster Management Information System (NSDMIS) & Decentralised Relief Payout System (DRPS) were launched in December 2022. These tools are designed to streamline operations, including tracking disasters, weather patterns, relief funding, and disbursement. The DRPS utilises blockchain technology to facilitate more timely relief payments, particularly in remote areas. These systems align Nagaland with global frameworks (Sendai / Hyogo) for disaster reduction and risk management.

The Nagaland Centre for Disaster Management and Atmospheric Research (NACDAR) studies, manages, and mitigates natural disasters, with a focus on atmospheric and environmental factors.

Vision

• To become a leading centre for disaster management and atmospheric research, contributing to sustainable development, climate resilience, and effective disaster risk reduction in Nagaland and the Northeast region.

Mission

• Conduct advanced research on atmospheric sciences, climate change, and disaster management.
• Provide actionable insights and data to local governments, communities, and stakeholders to enhance disaster resilience.
• Develop early warning systems for various types of natural hazards.
• Foster collaboration with national and international research institutions and universities to enhance the capacity for disaster risk reduction

DISASTER is no longer ‘IF’ but ‘WHEN’ (Dr. Johnny Ruangmei). Individuals, Governments, Businesses and Decision-Makers CANNOT BE strangers to Disaster. Prevent/avoid the accumulation of future risk by every stakeholder. Community experience and niche in science are strategies to be safer.

Uncertainty should not be a reason for inaction. Investments must be made to reduce vulnerability and exposure to hazards.  Redefined interventions to strengthen policy, institutions, and capacity, as well as effective disaster risk management, are cardinal to facilitating climate change adaptation and contributing to broader resilience in Nagaland.