Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"></div></div>Geneva (AFP) - Natural disasters claimed over 22,000 lives last year, with Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines the deadliest of all, the Red Cross said Thursday.
In its annual report on disasters, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) warned that the outlook was bleak.
"Climate change is leading to damaged livelihoods and increased vulnerabilities. Natural hazards are also becoming more frequent and extreme," said IFRC head Elhadj As Sy.
"The resulting stresses on social, physical and economic systems are shifting the world into a new era of risk," he added.
Haiyan, which struck in November 2013, slammed a massive storm surge into the city of Tacloban and surrounding communities in the eastern province of Leyte.
At least 7,986 perished, the IFRC said.
The next-deadliest disaster was the June 2013 monsoon flooding in India, which killed 6,054 people.
Last year's overall natural disaster death toll was 22,452, the IFRC said.
That was well under the 2004-2013 average of 97,954 per year.
It was also far below the decade's peak year, 2004, when 242,829 people perished, mostly in the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
The number of people affected by disasters in 2013 -- almost 100 million, overwhelmingly in Asia -- was also the lowest in a decade.
But the report's lead editor Terry Cannon said tolls were only part of the story.
"Major hazards and disasters are distributed randomly. So comparing year-on-year in a data set like this is not very useful," he said.
What tolls can reveal, however, is a country's ability to head off catastrophe.
For example, 36 people died when Cyclone Phailin hit India in October 2013.
Thousands of lives were saved thanks to a widely-praised risk reduction programme which included pre-planned evacuation, repeated this week when Cyclone Hudhud struck.
More people in harm's way
Rapid economic shifts, population growth and urbanization in developing nations are putting more people in harm's way, while experts warn that climate change driven by emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases is causing more frequent extreme weather events.
Besides thinking up risk reduction plans, governments and aid agencies need to make more effort to understand the lives of people in danger zones, said Cannon.
"The vast majority of people do not die or suffer in disasters. They suffer because of the problems of everyday life, whether it's bad water, poor nutrition, or bad health," he said.
"People don't give priority to severe hazards. They will highlight their day-to-day problems, health, malaria, water supply, not enough food, not enough jobs," he added.
The report said that estimated economic damage in 2013, at $119 billion, was the fourth-lowest in a decade.
However, financial totals do not show the full picture either.
Developed countries traditionally see the most expensive single disasters in terms of losses and insurance claims, given their wealthier economies and extensive insurance penetration.
In 2011, for example, when Japan was battered by a massive earthquake and tsunami, estimated global disaster losses rocketed to $391 billion.
The situation in poorer countries is less clear, notably if a disaster does not strike industrial areas, and because insurance coverage is far less widespread.
"The damage to things that are valued in dollars can be very small. What you have to measure is the loss of livelihoods, of millions of people's livelihoods, fishing boats, their nets, their villages, their houses," said Cannon.
"They are not measured in dollar terms, they're not insured, they're not even counted in the international statistics," he said.

There Were 22,000 People Killed By Natural Disasters In 2013, The Lowest In A Decade

Riyadh, <keyword id="50996" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Saudi-Arabia">Saudi Arabia</keyword> on Monday announced the extension of the suspension of <keyword id="9612485" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-commercial-flights">international commercial flights</keyword> for an <keyword id="9560297" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="additional-week">additional week</keyword>, according to <keyword id="3822408" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-interior-ministry">the Interior Ministry</keyword>. Besides flights, the Ministry also announced the suspension of land and sea entry to the Kingdom for the same period. On December, Saudi Arabia had first decided suspend international flights, except in exceptional cases, temporarily for a week, which could be extended for another week. The decision was parts of <keyword id="10506465" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="precautional-measures">precautional measures</keyword> against Covid-19 after the spread of a new strain of the virus in some countries. The decision excludes the movement of goods, commodities, and supply chains. Non-Saudis could leave the country through flights, according to the precautionary measures adopted by <keyword id="9195433" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-ministry-of-health">the Ministry of Health</keyword>. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/top-10-most-expensive-natural-disasters-of-2020-in-the-world/slidelist/79986294.cms">Cyclone Amphan was the most expensive cyclone of 2020 and the fourth most expensive natural disaster overall</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/jack-ma-ant-group-asked-to-overhaul-its-business-model-by-china-central-bank/articleshow/79987683.cms">China's central bank wants Jack Ma's Ant Group to overhaul its business model</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/indian-space-startup-skyroot-aerospace-successfully-test-fires-first-solid-rocket-propulsion-stage-demonstrator-called-kalam-5/articleshow/79988975.cms">India’s first-ever privately designed and developed rocket is a step closer to becoming a reality in 2021</a>

Saudi Arabia extends suspension of international flights for additional week

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Climate change is burning a hole in Americans' wallets. </li><li>In 2021, 20 separate <keyword id="11917810" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="natural-disaster" source="Orion">natural disaster</keyword> events hit the US, totalling $145 billion in damages.</li></ul>The climate crisis means natural disasters happen more often and are more severe — and they're burning a hole in the America's wallets.2021 marked the <a href="https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/time-series">third most costly</a> for natural disaster events in the more than 200 years the Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been tracking. The US was hit with 20 separate billion-dollar climate events, totalling $145 billion in damages. The US is <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/think-2020s-disasters-are-wild-experts-predict-worse-in-the-future">expected</a> to experience even more natural disasters in the years to come, driving costs even higher. "We can expect a significant jump in extreme weather over the next 20 or 30 years," Piers Forster, a climate scientist <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/09/climate/climate-change-report-ipcc-un.html">told </a>the New York Times. "Things are unfortunately likely to get worse than they are today."Impacts of the climate crisis will intensify, causing financial losses to trend upward, and homeowners, <keyword id="12948769" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="insurance-companies" source="Orion">insurance companies</keyword>, taxpayers and the government will all have to foot the bill. This means more homeowners falling behind on their mortgage as insurance doesn't always cover damage costs. The Biden administration has said <keyword id="12948770" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="government-aid" source="Orion">government aid</keyword> will be <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/">necessary</a> to ease costs on Americans as the climate crisis is likely to have a <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/climate-change/">lasting presence</a>. Munich RE, a German multinational insurance company, <a href="https://www.munichre.com/en/company/media-relations/media-information-and-corporate-news/media-information/2022/natural-disaster-losses-2021.html">claims</a> the US accounted for an exceptionally high proportion of losses in 2021, of which some $85 billion were insured. It notes that both overall and insured losses were significantly higher than 2020 and 2019 when they came in at $100 billion and $52 billion, respectively."Each year across the world, natural catastrophes destroy assets running into multiple billions." The company said. "Often, only a tiny proportion of this damage is insured." <h2>Standard home insurance typically doesn't cover natural disasters</h2>Despite the threat of climate crisis, millions of American households remain uninsured. The Insurance Institute <a href="https://www.iii.org/article/spotlight-on-flood-insurance">claims</a> that in 2020, only 27% of all homeowning policyholders said they had flood insurance. This could be attributed to the fact that natural disasters are not typically covered under a standard home insurance policy, and specialty insurance puts additional pressure on finances.For many low to moderate income households, supplemental coverage is <a href="https://www.rand.org/news/press/2020/06/03.html">out of the question</a> as it could mean the difference between having a warm meal or paying the mortgage. However, opting out often leads to even more costs as these households <a href="https://www.corelogic.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/06/Hurricane-Report_V2WEB062921.pdf">typically struggle</a> to pay for both repairs and housing following a disaster. This happened to the residents of Lake Charles, Louisiana, who were hit by both Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Delta in 2020. A study by CoreLogic, an analytics company, <a href="https://www.corelogic.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/06/Hurricane-Report_V2WEB062921.pdf">found</a> that the market's mortgage delinquency rates increased as homeowners struggled to make repairs and slipped behind on their mortgage payments."For those who are homeowners, the result of a financial catastrophe results in mortgage delinquency rates increasing significantly as people, crippled by expenses and lost wages, fail to make monthly mortgage payments," CoreLogic said. "After Hurricane Laura made landfall in Lake Charles, the already-high delinquency rate shot up from 9.8% in August 5 2020 to 16.1% in September 2020, an increase of 6.3 percentage points."<h2>The government has to step in to help</h2>For uninsured homeowners there is still hope — <keyword id="12723054" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fema" source="Orion">FEMA</keyword>'s assistance programs. While FEMA can not duplicate insurance payments, the organization <a href="https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20210202/fema-may-be-able-help-if-insurance-doesnt-cover-some-disaster-expenses">aims to help</a> survivors of natural disasters whose expenses aren't fully covered by insurance or if an insurance settlement is delayed. In 2021, the organization received additional funding from the Biden Administration's $3.46 billion <a href="https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20210805/biden-administration-commits-historic-346-billion-hazard-mitigation-funds">commitment</a> in hazard mitigation funds. FEMA also took the extra step of <a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_updated-iappg-version-1.1.pdf">expanding</a> its services of underserved communities, to include individuals with low income and people of color, who they say "struggle more when recovering from disasters in comparison to communities with greater resources." The amendment applies to its Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide and has created additional flexibilities that ensure access to assistance for all survivors. "Climate change is our country's biggest crisis," FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said. "Our communities will continue to suffer from losses caused by extreme weather events unless we invest in mitigation efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change."She added that new funding will allow the organization to provide direct aid to states, tribes, and territories to complete mitigation projects, build better infrastructure and create long term solutions.Whether homeowners pay for repairs out-of-pocket, through insurance, or FEMA aid, it's clear the US is in the phase of paying to fix the results of climate crisis after failing to prevent it.Are you a homeowner whose home was damaged by a natural disaster? Reach out to this reporter at <a href="mailto:alloyd@insider.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">alloyd@insider.com</a> to share your story.

America spent $145 billion on damaged homes after 20 climate events in 2021 — it will only get more expensive

Panaji, <keyword id="168730" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Higher-Secondary">Higher secondary</keyword> and college examinations will be held offline this academic year in <keyword id="826" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Goa">Goa</keyword>, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Monday. Speaking at a function organised to felicitate meritorious students at the Harmal Panchkroshi educational institute in North Goa district, Sawant said that there was anxiety among students about when and how the exams would be conducted. "A lot of students are wondering when higher secondary schools or colleges will resume classes. We are stressing on offline exams this year. Class XI, XII as well as <keyword id="2802459" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="college-exams">college exams</keyword> will be held offline," Sawant said. Currently, schools in Goa are only allowed to hold offline classes for Class X and Class XII students, while other students are taught online by educational institutions. Classes for Class X and Class XII students began from November 21 this year. According to the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, exams for Class X are scheduled to begin from May 13, while Class XII exams are scheduled to start from April 26. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/top-10-most-expensive-natural-disasters-of-2020-in-the-world/slidelist/79986294.cms">Cyclone Amphan was the most expensive cyclone of 2020 and the fourth most expensive natural disaster overall</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/jack-ma-ant-group-asked-to-overhaul-its-business-model-by-china-central-bank/articleshow/79987683.cms">China's central bank wants Jack Ma's Ant Group to overhaul its business model</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/indian-space-startup-skyroot-aerospace-successfully-test-fires-first-solid-rocket-propulsion-stage-demonstrator-called-kalam-5/articleshow/79988975.cms">India’s first-ever privately designed and developed rocket is a step closer to becoming a reality in 2021</a>

Higher secondary and college exams to be held offline this year, says Goa CM

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>The 1994 Northridge earthquake killed more than 50 people and created widespread devastation in Los Angeles.</li><li>The earthquake was one of the world's most expensive natural disasters, causing an estimated $35 billion in damage.</li><li>Twenty-five years after the quake, scientists are warning of the next "Big One," which could wreak even more havoc in California. </li></ul>As scientists warn of the <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/san-andreas-fault-big-one-inevitable-what-will-happen-when-it-hits-1133854">next big earthquake</a> in California, a devastating tragedy in Los Angeles may offer insight into what's to come.Twenty-five years ago today, a 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Northridge, an area just northwest of LA, destroying thousands of residences and leaving around 22,000 people displaced from their homes.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/earthquakes-global-seismic-hazard-slow-earth-rotation-2017-11">We could see twice as many big earthquakes this year, scientists warn - because the equator has shrunk</a>Studies now estimate that the earthquake <a href="https://www.earthquakeauthority.com/Press-Room/Press-Releases/2019/Northridge-earthquake-remembered">caused $35 billion in damage</a>, making it not only the costliest earthquake in US history, but one of the most expensive natural disasters the world has ever seen. The lessons learned from Northridge can easily apply to the next "Big One," which scientists anticipate could reach a magnitude of 8.0. If that happens, around <a href="https://la.curbed.com/2019/1/15/18182585/earthquake-california-evacuation-shelter-predictions">1,800 people could die</a> in Southern California and another 270,000 people could be displaced.At the very least, a quake of that magnitude could slash power, topple infrastructure, and consume lives.Take a look at what that kind of devastation did to Los Angeles in 1994.

Devastating photos show the damage from the 1994 Northridge earthquake in Los Angeles. It could pale in comparison to the next 'Big One.'

Several emerging markets remain highly vulnerable to a large weather event turning into a natural disaster, according to a new report by the <keyword id="27263" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="risk">risk</keyword> analysis company <a href="%20http://maplecroft.com/about/news/nha_2013.html">Maplecroft</a>.
And given that <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/science/climate_assessment_2012.html">NASA predicts</a> a future of increasingly extreme weather events, countries better get on it.
Maplecroft's 2013 Risk Atlas atlas ranks 197 countries on their physical and economic exposure to 12 different natural hazards (e.g. flooding, tropical cyclones, earthquakes), as well as their resilience to the socio-economic impacts of a destructive natural event.
The countries with high (but not extreme) resilience risk — i.e. those in which a natural hazard can quickly become a costly natural disaster — include several emerging markets in Asia: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and China.
The analysis notes that China and the Philippines (followed by India and Indonesia) "have the most globally significant concentrations of economic assets exposed to major natural hazards."
<div class="image-container" style="width:940px"><div class="image"></div><a href="http://maplecroft.com/">Maplecroft</a></div>"These countries are not only exposed to multiple devastating hazards, but lack resilience to the impacts and show a poor capacity to bounce back, which could undermine economic growth; disrupt business operations and supply chains," according to the analysis.
To demonstrate the impact of resilience, Maplecroft compares the effects of Hurricane Sandy hitting America's east coast and Typhoon Bopha hitting the Philippines.
Despite Sandy's strength and size, only 110 people died because the U.S. has a well developed infrastructure and communications networks in addition to sophisticated response protocols.
Typhoon Bopha, on the other hand, resulted in more than 1,000 deaths even though fewer people were exposed to the storm’s path.
Furthermore, the U.S. federal government was able to authorize $51 billion in disaster relief despite Congress being in a deficit showdown.
So even though 2012 was the least deadly year for <keyword id="139159" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="natural-disasters">natural disasters</keyword> in the last decade — less than 10,000 people died worldwide — the analysis recommends that governments, communities, and businesses actively invest in disaster risk reduction as emerging markets become increasingly integral to the <keyword id="23764" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="global">global</keyword> economy.
“With the increasing global economic importance of these nations and their interconnectivity to global markets, a major event in one these financial centers increases the risk of economic contagion,” Helen Hodge, Head of Maps and Indices at Maplecroft, said in a statement. “In particular, a limited resilience capacity to ‘bounce-back’ from disasters will amplify this risk and prolong economic down-time.”

Emerging Markets Could Be Devastated By A Literal Perfect Storm

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty</div></div></div>Climate change is already resulting in a huge number of consequences globally, from rising <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sea-levels-rising-faster-2016-11">sea levels </a>to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hot-weather-record-halloween-2016-10">record-breaking high temperatures. </a>It's also endangering some of the most popular and delicious foods on the planet. With the hotter weather and more frequent natural disasters that come with<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/hot-weather-record-halloween-2016-10"> deviation from Earth's natural cycles, </a>foods from avocado to lobster are in trouble. Here are seven foods and drinks that could grow more expensive and eventually disappear due to climate change.

7 foods that could go extinct thanks to climate change

<ul><li>India has detected its first six cases of the new COVID-19 strain, with three in <keyword id="6354321" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru">Bengaluru</keyword>, two in <keyword id="6354552" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="hyderabad">Hyderabad</keyword> and one in <keyword id="2094" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pune">Pune</keyword>.</li><li>All the individuals, and their close contacts, have been placed under quarantine by the respective states.</li><li>In addition to India and the UK, the new strain has also been reported in 13 other countries around the world. </li></ul>India has detected its first six cases of the new COVID-19 strain in people who have returned to the country from the UK. According to the British government, the new strain is 70% more contagious than its predecessor. The results come after the Indian Health Ministry issued a detailed action plan for the Genomic Surveillance Consortium to scan for the new variant of the virus in UK returnees who tested positive for COVID-19. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="79991161" title="India screening for mutant COVID-19 strain by genome sequencing UK returnees who test positive for virus" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> Genome sequencing results: <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Location </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Cases </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">NIMHANS, Bengaluru (Karnataka) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">3 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">CCMB, Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">NIV, Pune (Maharashtra) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1 </td></tr></tbody></table> The affected individuals have been kept in ‘single room isolation’ by the respective states where they have tested positive. All of their close contacts have also been placed under quarantine. “Comprehensive contact tracing has been initiated for co-travellers, family contacts and others. Genome sequencing on other specimens is going on,” said the India SAR-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) Labs in a statement. Before India suspended flights from the UK to India, the government estimates that around 33,000 passengers entered India between November 25 to December 23. So far, only 114 people have tested positive for COVID-19. In addition to India, the new strain has also been reported in Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore so far. In the UK, there has been a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in South East England, leading to enhanced epidemiological and virological investigations. Analysis of viral genome sequence data identified that a large proportion of cases belonged to a new single phylogenetic cluster. (With IANS inputs) SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/three-anil-ambani-companies-accused-of-fraud-ten-times-more-than-vijay-mallya/articleshow/80002892.cms">Three Anil Ambani companies have reportedly been accused of fraud by banks⁠ — the amount at stake is nearly ten times more than what Mallya owed</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/jack-ma-ant-group-asked-to-overhaul-its-business-model-by-china-central-bank/articleshow/79987683.cms">China's central bank wants Jack Ma's Ant Group to overhaul its business model</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/top-10-most-expensive-natural-disasters-of-2020-in-the-world/slidelist/79986294.cms">Cyclone Amphan was the most expensive cyclone of 2020 and the fourth most expensive natural disaster overall</a>

New mutant strain of COVID-19 has entered India via six UK returnees

<ul><li>Following the <keyword id="28504" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kerala">Kerala</keyword> <keyword id="48088" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="floods">floods</keyword> in late August, it was found that the National <keyword id="41418" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Disaster">Disaster</keyword> Relief Fund (NDRF) was insufficiently capitalised to finance relief efforts. </li><li>In light of this, the Indian government has instituted a panel, comprising several state finance ministers, to assess the feasibility of introducing a “natural disaster tax” under the <keyword id="6354679" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="gst">GST</keyword> regime. </li><li>It remains to be seen whether the <keyword id="6386887" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="cess">cess</keyword> would be a state-level or national-level <keyword id="45031" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tax">tax</keyword> and whether it would imposed on a specific set of items or all items. A questionnaire will be sent to all states to get their views on the same. </li></ul>In the aftermath of the Kerala floods in late August, in which close to 500 people died and the damages were estimated to be around ₹200 billion, a major criticism was levied at the central government’s slow release of aid funds. It was found that the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) were insufficiently capitalised. In addition, the process of applying for and receiving aid from the corpus fund is extremely <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/flood-ravaged-kerala-s-wait-for-full-central-aid-package-could-be-long-118082700019_1.html">time-consuming</a>. The NDRF is funded by a “National Calamity Contingent Duty” on tobacco products and similar items. However, after the imposition of GST last year, the contributions to the fund have been declining. In light of this, the Indian government has instituted a panel, comprising several state finance ministers, to assess the feasibility of introducing a “natural disaster tax” under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. The panel, which is led by Bihar deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, is set to consult India’s attorney general, K. K. Venugopal, on the legal implications of levying a disaster tax to fund the recovery efforts of states that have been struck by natural disasters. Under the GST Act, states are allowed to charge a cess in the event that they suffer losses of revenue due to the implementation of the GST regime. A disaster cess would require the approval of an apex court. The GST Council decided to form the panel <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/gst-council-meets-to-consider-new-tax-for-kerala-flood-future-calamities-1923718">at the end of September </a>following a proposal from the government of Kerala to impose an additional 10% cess on specific goods sold in the state so as to fund reconstruction and rehabilitation. At the time, the central government said that the Kerala’s proposal would be difficult to implement given the absence of any tax credits on cesses. It remains to be seen whether the cess would be a state-level or national-level tax and whether it would imposed on a specific set of items or all items. A national-level tax under the GST regime seems more likely after the panel recognised the possibility that residents of Kerala would opt for large purchases outside the state so as to avoid paying the additional cess. A questionnaire will be sent to all states so as to establish a majority consensus on the above issues. The panel’s next meeting will be in November.

India is mulling the introduction of a “natural disaster tax” to fund relief efforts

<keyword id="58585" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="NDRF">NDRF</keyword> or the <keyword id="119446" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Disaster-Response-Force">National Disaster Response Force</keyword> is an exclusive body formed for the sake of providing expert and dedicated response to a disaster or a threatening disaster situation. The constitutional provision for forming this body has been made via the Disaster Management Act, 2005 section 44–45. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is the authoritative Apex Body for Disaster Management. The Prime Minister of India is the Chairman of the NDMA. Why NDRF? In the federal system of governance found in India, the responsibility of disaster management lies with the State Government. Ministry of Home affairs is the nodal ministry in the central government for managing natural disasters. When the country faces some severe calamity, the central government has the responsibility to provide the necessary assistance and aid to the affected state. This will also include the deployment of Armed Forces, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Central Paramilitary Forces, and the communication, air and other assets that are required and available. Authority and ranks National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is governed by the National Disaster Management Authority. The office of the head of the NDRF is known as Director General. IPS officers are posted in this position on deputation from Indian police organizations. The Director General of NDRF holds the rank on par with the army’s three star general. In addition to the Director General, there are also many Inspector Generals and Deputy IGs in NDRF. As per their ranks, they are allowed to fly flags and also wear army style badges pertaining to their ranks. <keyword id="8020071" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="What-is-NDRF">What is NDRF</keyword> made of? NDRF is composed of 12 battalions. These battalions are organized in the same fashion like the para military forces. In fact they are also managed by persons drawn from the para military forces on deputation. The total strength of personnel in each of the battalions is 1149. Each of the NDRF battalions is capable of undertaking 18 self-contained specialist service. Their team of 45 rescue personnel consists of engineers, electricians, technicians, paramedics, medical professionals and dog squads. In addition to providing assistance during a natural disaster, the NDRF can also handle the crisis situations like a nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological disaster. Deployment The 12 battalions of NDRF are stationed at 12 different locations across the country on the basis of vulnerability profile of different locations in order to cut down the response time required for their deployment. NDMA will carry out the proactive deployment of these forces during a threatening disaster situation in consultation with the state authorities. This period is also called as the preparedness period. Functional parameters National Disaster Management Authority in India works with the objective of building a safer as well as disaster resilient India by way of developing a comprehensive, proactive and technology oriented disaster management strategy. NDRF has proved its efficiency in terms of its appreciable performance during some grave instances of landslides, floods, cyclones, building collapses and many others. The personnel in NDRF are thoroughly trained, re-trained and subjected to mock drills and joint exercises with other bodies to stay prepared to combat any arising disaster situation.

Unknown facts about NDRF

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Trump-Country-Considering-Climate/48a530fb4615492da01bdff8a1b81a02/30/0">David Goldman/AP</a>A man walks past debris from homes on his street damaged in flooding from Hurricane Harvey as an oil refinery stands in the background in Port Arthur, Texas, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017.</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Natural disasters and their associated costs are at an all-time high and are expected to escalate. </li><li>Though federal programs are in place to help individuals and communities rebuild from disasters like extreme flooding or fires, analysis by NPR found funding has disproportionately benefited wealthier communities with higher rates of white, non-Hispanic residents.</li><li>The report comes amid record-breaking years of damage from natural disasters, which are expected to grow more extreme as climate change worsens. </li></ul>As natural disasters become increasingly common, federally funded recovery programs are in high demand to help those affected by issues like flooding. However, FEMA aid programs have not only been found to disproportionately benefit wealthier communities but also exaggerate disparities across racial divides, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/03/05/688786177/how-federal-disaster-money-favors-the-rich" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to NPR</a>. One major program by the agency that falls into this trap is that which offers lumps of federal and local money to purchase damaged homes, like those ruined in Texas' Hurricane Harvey, to convert the lots into green space, so they won't be involved in a natural disaster, such as flooding, again.Though aid is available to all affected in a disaster, the report found flooding sparks the sharpest imbalance among those who benefit from aid, as the majority of such buyouts went to communities that were more than 85 percent white and non-Hispanic, according to NPR analysis of <a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/03/05/696995788/search-the-thousands-of-disaster-buyouts-fema-didnt-want-you-to-see" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nearly 40,000 acquisitions</a>.The report notes that this is in part because of the system's cost-benefit methodology, which favors more valuable properties and those who own them, but the distribution of money ultimately occurs at the state level, limiting the agency's ability to control demographic effects. The money from the voluntary acquisition can offer beneficiaries funds that allow for relocation, but can be out of reach for low-income applicants who face a number of logistical problems in applying for any aid, including long waiting periods, obtaining paperwork, accessing online resources, or taking time off work to coordinate with the agency. An agency official told NPR that they expect aid programs like the buyouts to grow as climate change brings more extreme disasters and widespread damage. Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/deadly-us-tornadoes-storms-southeast-getting-worse-2019-3">A tornado outbreak that killed 23 people confirms scientists' fears: Tornadoes in the Southeastern US are getting worse</a>In 2018, there were 14 weather and climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each across the United States, <a href="https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to data</a> from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. The previous year was estimated to be the most expensive on record for those affected by disasters, with <a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/beyond-data/2017-us-billion-dollar-weather-and-climate-disasters-historic-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$306.2 billion in damage</a> after more than five major hurricanes across the country. Climate change has already been projected to be capable of major damage to specific demographics by studies like the <a href="https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent National Climate Assessment</a>, which forecasts that already vulnerable populations will suffer the most as access to basic resources including water, food, and medical care come under threat. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-el-chapo-joaquin-guzman-really-like-cartel-wives-2017-10">What El Chapo is really like, according to the wife of one his closest henchman</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

You Searched For "india expensive natural disaster" and got 11 results

There Were 22,000 People Killed By Natural Disasters In 2013, The Lowest In A Decade

AFP

Saudi Arabia extends suspension of international flights for additional week

IANS

America spent $145 billion on damaged homes after 20 climate events in 2021 — it will only get more expensive

Alcynna Lloyd

Higher secondary and college exams to be held offline this year, says Goa CM

IANS

Devastating photos show the damage from the 1994 Northridge earthquake in Los Angeles. It could pale in comparison to the next 'Big One.'

Aria Bendix

Emerging Markets Could Be Devastated By A Literal Perfect Storm

Michael Kelley

7 foods that could go extinct thanks to climate change

Kate Taylor

New mutant strain of COVID-19 has entered India via six UK returnees

Prabhjote Gill

India is mulling the introduction of a “natural disaster tax” to fund relief efforts

Dilsher Dhillon

Unknown facts about NDRF

BI India Bureau

federal emergency funds benefit richer, whiter communities, studies show

Ellen Cranley,Ellen Cranley

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides