Mitigation embraces all measures taken to reduce both the effect of the hazard itself and the vulnerability conditions to it in order to reduce the scale of a future disaster. Therefore, mitigation activities can be focused on the hazard itself or the elements exposed to the threat. Mitigation, on the other hand, means capacity building of the community orindividual vulnerable to hazards.

At the State Disaster Management Authority conducts the risk assessment, which presents an assessment of hazards, exposure and vulnerability and their likely impacts. Based on the risk assessment, the State Disaster Management Authority prepares long-term mitigation strategy across the State.

The State Disaster Management Authority in order to implement the mitigation measures uses the State Disaster Management Fund (SDMF). The State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) is constituted under the section 48 (1) (c) of the DM Act, 2005. This fund is exclusively for the purpose of mitigation projects in respect of disasters covered under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) / National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) Guidelines and the Statespecific local disasters notified by the State Governments. The Mitigation Fund is generally used for those local level and community-based interventions, which reduce the risks and promote environment-friendly settlements and livelihood practices. 

Mitigation measures can be structural and non- structural.

1. Structural measures : Structural mitigation measures include any physical construction to reduce or avoid possible impacts of hazards, or the application of engineering techniques or technology to achieve hazard resistance and resilience in structures or systems. These measures attempt to strengthen buildings to better endure future disasters like cyclones and earthquakes.
2. Non-Structural measures : It does not involve physical construction but use knowledge, practices, policies, laws/Regulations, public awareness-raising, training and education etc. e.g. Building codes and Laws, location specific planning/strategies, forest management/restoration of mangroves, awareness campaigns etc.

Administrative mechanism to be followed for processing of proposals under SDMF.

1. The SDMA will constitute an Appraisal Committee to be headed by a Member of SDMA with members from line Departments of the State Government andState entities for appraisal of the proposals / projects under SDMF.
2. The Departments / Agencies of the State Government/ DDMA, who wish totake up projects from SDMF, will submit the project proposals to the State Government Department dealing with the Disaster Management, which in turn will refer the project proposal to the Committee headed by the Member,SDMA for appraisal.
3. The recommendations of the Appraisal Committee of SDMA shall be placed before the SEC for consideration / sanction.

Role of State Executive Committee (SEC) :

• SEC, constituted by the State Government as per provision of section 20 ofthe DM Act, 2005, will decide on matters connected with the administration of SDMF including obtaining contributions from the Central Government, investing the accretions to the SDMF in accordance with the prescribed norms and approving the mitigation project from SDMF.
• SEC shall ensure that the money drawn from SDMF is actually utilized for the purpose for which the SDMF has been set up.