IRS to augment disaster response on ICS pattern in US, CS takes stock of preparedness for its introduction

Jammu: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the concerned officers to take their inputs for implementation of the Incident Response System (IRS) for efficient disaster response in the J&K.
Besides Principal Secretary, DMRR&R, the meeting was attended by Financial Commissioner (Revenue); Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and Jammu besides other concerned officers.
The Chief Secretary enquired from each of the participants about the effective method of its implementation. He asked about the roles and responsibilities of different government departments and law enforcement agencies as well.
Dulloo observed that this system has an added significance for our part of the globe is prone to certain disasters. He further noted that since the J&K has diverse topography and climatic conditions across its divisions it is imperative to strategize and plan keeping these challenges in mind.
He called upon all to give it a considerate thought so that a best possible response mechanism is put in place with a right mix of professionals to deal with the circumstances. He stressed on adoption of ‘whole of the government approach’ in creating such plans as most of the disasters are incidental in nature.
Financial Commissioner (Revenue), Shaleen Kabra, while giving his insights about the adoption of IRS in the J&K, remarked that there should be a disaster and location specific plans for smoothly steering the response mechanisms at the times of eventualities.
He made out that different States/UTs shall be having their own response systems based upon their susceptibility to disasters. He also suggested certain roles and responsibilities for different government officers based upon the nature and location of the disasters.
Principal Secretary, DMRR&R, Chandraker Bharti, while giving introduction of Incident Response System (IRS), said that it is a structured approach designed to streamline disaster response by integrating facilities, equipment, personnel and communication systems under a unified command.
He further elaborated that development of this system aims at ensuring swift, coordinated and effective disaster management by pre-designating the officials and training them for their roles in handling emergency situations.
The meeting besides deliberating on the need for IRS also stressed on identification of critical gaps in disaster management, including lack of coordination, communication failures and unclear role definitions among agencies.
About the evolution of IRS in India, it was divulged that after getting inspired by global best practices, the Government of India found the Incident Command System (ICS) from the United States which was best in dealing with disasters aftermaths effectively.
Providing the details about IRS, it was revealed that this system would ensure synergy among the districts, states and national response teams, reducing chaos and improving coordination. This will be done by integrating all government departments, including Police, Agriculture, Health, Revenue, Transport and Social Welfare, ensuring a ‘Whole-of-Government’ response at the times of disasters.
The meeting was apprised that the system objectifies to be adaptable to all types and scales of disasters, from natural calamities to industrial accidents. It envisages defining of roles and responsibilities with clear accountability through structured command levels, including Incident Commanders, Planning, Operations and Logistics Sections.
As far as the resource management is concerned, the IRS envisages facilitating identification, procurement and deployment of resources for immediate response. It also emphasizes upon the need for dedicated communication systems, including satellite phones and AI-powered software for efficient response and coordination.
Moreover, with respect to its implementation strategy at J&K, Divisional, District level, the roles of different senior officers as Incident Commander, Planning Section Chief, Operations Chief, Logistics Section Chief, Liaison Officer, Media Officer, Nodal Officer and dozens of others down the order under each section to effect a quick response under any circumstances.
Additionally, to enable quick decision-making and expenditure during emergencies, financial autonomy at different levels will be granted in consultation with the Finance Department, as was discussed in the meeting.