There is no proposal under consideration of the Central Government for adding disaster management (Natural and Manmade disasters including pandemics) to the list of functions of Panchayats as contained in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution.
In respect of disaster management, Section 41 of Chapter VI of Disaster Management Act, 2005 provides certain functions to the local authority, which duly includes Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in terms of Section 2(h) of this Act. This Section also provides that the local authority may take such measures as may be necessary for disaster management. Hence, a separate inclusion in the list of functions of PRIs as contained in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution is not required.
This information was given by Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Shri Kapil Moreshwar Patil in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
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