Lolano P Khuvung
India is one of the disaster prone countries in the world. In view of its sub-tropical location, long coast line and the tectonic history, India is vulnerable to major natural hazards such as earthquakes, cyclones, floods and droughts. Man made disasters like fires, bomb blasts, building collapses and road accidents too are common.
It is recognized facts that while natural disasters are primarily due to imbalances in nature, losses due to them are on account of human failings. Human suffering and misery from a large number of natural disasters can be mitigated by taking timely action, preventing mechanisms and undertaking quality capital works of long and medium terms.
In view of the global environmental changes like global warming, it is likely that the frequency and impact of disasters would increase the world over. Thus public awareness has to be created through the NGOs, apart from the local administration. It should be the combined effort of the Government at the center, the state, the districts, the panchayats, NGOs and people to collectively pool their resources, capability and put their best effort to mitigate the losses and organize rescue and relief and rehabilitation effectively. The need to prevent loss of lives and damage to property is the driving force behind any disaster management programme.
NGOs are vibrant, effective and appropriate agency in handling disaster management in view of their inherent strength, like closer to the people, need oriented, flexible, small group, accessible spirit to dedication etc. In fact, it is impossible to manage disasters without the active support of NGOs. The district administration is to identify the capable NGOs who could be entrusted with appropriate disaster management related work.
NGOs – Action Points
• Make aware to the people of the area about the vulnerability of the area/habitat including the root cause to the various disasters.
• Take steps for information dissemination, educate and train the people especially the vulnerable on the preventive steps.
• Impart training to the local people/volunteers on disaster management and how to use the local resources.
• Supply/co-ordinate/arrange medicines, food grains, clothes, relief materials/equipment/safety kits.
• Identify safe places for shelter both temporary (tents) and permanent buildings for both human and cattle.
• Identify volunteers/capable men/ex-servicemen/retired officials and make use of their services in disaster management.
• Plan in advance relief material transport including alternative ways to reach the affected people.
• Impart training in rescue, running relief camps, counseling etc.
• If possible, NGOs to plan for its own control room at the district level including site – affected areas and to be in direct touch with the district control room.
• NGOs also to pool resources from sister NGOs who are based in non-affected areas if need be.
• Create awareness of hygienic living, full sanitation, rain water harvesting etc.
It is proved beyond doubt that in Disaster Management both before and after, NGOs can play very crucial role in preparing the community. Thus periodic convening of meetings and interaction would bring together all the other NGOs and could facilitate in exchanging sharing of resources/expertise/equipments etc.
NGOs could give a timely feedback to the district administration and could be the vehicle for taking insurance to the people and make the people conscious of safety codes, health, hygiene and sanitation etc.
The District Administration should identify capable NGOs, know their expertise, strength, operational area-base etc and entrust specific jobs in an earmarked area, in advance to optimize their efficiency and to avoid overlapping and to reach all areas.
A DIPR Feature
