ROLE OF INDIAN NGOs IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Profile of India India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world with a rich
cultural heritage. It has achieved all-round socio-economic progress during the
last 60 years of its Independence. India has become self-sufficient in agricultural
production and is now the tenth industrialized country in the world and the sixth
nation to have gone into outer space to conquer nature for the benefit of the
people. It covers an area of 32,87,2631 sq km, extending from the snow-covered
Himalayan heights to the tropical rain forests of the south. As the 7th largest
country in the world, India stands apart from the rest of Asia, marked off as it is
by mountains and the sea, which give the country a distinct geographical entity.
Bounded by the Great Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the
Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on
the east and the Arabian Sea on the west.

Overview of Disasters in India: The Indian sub continent has been exposed to
disasters from time immemorial. The Unique geo-climatic and socio-political
conditions of the Indian sub-continent make the region vulnerable to both natural
and man-made disasters. The increase in the vulnerability in recent years has
been serious threat to the overall development of the country. Subsequently, the
development process itself has been a contributing factor to this susceptibility.
Coupled with lack of information and communication channels, this had been a
serious impediment in the path of progress.

India’s vulnerability to various disasters has led to mounting losses year after
year. Mammoth funds were drawn to provide post disaster relief to the recurring
victims of floods, cyclones, droughts and the less suspecting landslides and
earthquakes. Considering the vast area of the Indian landmass, around 57% of
the land is vulnerable to Earthquakes, 69% of the area is vulnerable to drought,
12% is vulnerable to Floods and 8% of the land is vulnerable to Cyclones. Adding
to this is the susceptibility of various man made hazards. Figuratively speaking,
around one million houses are damaged annually, compounded by human,
economic, social and other losses.

National Challenges posed by disasters Disaster loss is on the rise with grave
consequences for the survival, dignity and livelihood of individuals, particularly
the poor and hard-won development gains. Disaster risk is increasingly of global
concern and its impact and actions in one region can have an impact on risks in
another, and vice versa. This, compounded by increasing vulnerabilities related
to changing demographic, technological and socio-economic conditions,
unplanned urbanization, development within high-risk zones, under-development,
environmental degradation, climate variability, climate change, geological
hazards, competition for scarce resources, and the impact of epidemics such as
HIV/AIDS, points to a future where disasters could increasingly threaten the
world’s economy, and its population and the sustainable development of
developing countries. In the past two decades, on average, more than 200 million
people have been affected every year, by disasters.

Disaster risk arises when hazards interact with physical, social, economic and
environmental vulnerabilities. Events of hydro-meteorological origin constitute the
large majority of disasters. Despite the growing understanding and acceptance of
the importance of disaster risk reduction and increased disaster response
capacities, disasters and in particular the management and reduction of risk
continue to pose a global challenge. There is now international
acknowledgement that efforts to reduce disaster risks must be systematically
integrated into policies, plans and program for sustainable development and
poverty reduction, and supported through bilateral, regional and international
cooperation, including partnerships. Sustainable development, poverty reduction,
good governance and disaster risk reduction are mutually supportive objectives,
and in order to meet the challenges ahead, accelerated efforts must be made to
build the necessary capacities at the community and national levels to manage
and reduce risk. Such an approach is to be recognized as an important element
for the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including those
contained in the Millennium Declaration

Voluntary Agencies (VOs) and Disaster Preparedness Voluntary

Organisations (VOs) play a vital role in the shaping and Implementation of
Disaster Management Act. They have been contributing immensely towards
various development programs, VOs may provide innovative and alternative cost
effective models for development. They can mobilize people for constructive
community work and often reach the most marginalized and vulnerable sections
of society and contribute to the socio-economic development of the country, with
much wider outreach.

Community Based Disaster Preparedness for all sorts of hazards is the key to
VOs preparedness plan. Capacity building of all three tiers of Panchayats and
local community’s task forces and volunteers of organized institutions like
Redcross, NSS, NCC, Scout and Guide are very important. The climate calendar
and written community contingency plan will enhance the local community’s
coping capacity. NGOs can play a great role for Coordination, Collaboration and
Networking amongst themselves Government and community. The good
practices needs to be documented and disseminated well so that replication and
up-scaling becomes possible.

The voluntary sector has a significant presence in almost all regions of the
country and its role as an important partner of the Government in development is
being increasingly recognized. In May 2007, the Government of India approved a
National Policy on the Voluntary Sector which was prepared by the Planning
Commission of India in consultation with VOs, concerned Departments/Ministries
and State Governments.

A National NGO Task Force on Disaster Management set up by the National

Disaster Management Authority (NDMA); Government of India has set up a Core
Group on the Role of NGOs in Disaster Management. VANI is also a member of
the Core Group, which met on 19th November 2009 at New Delhi. This has been
done to primarily follow-up on the preparation of the National Disaster
Management Guidelines on the Role of NGOs in Disaster Management.

NON-GOVERNMENT VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS

Many different types of NGOs are already working towards preparedness, relief
and rescue, rehabilitation and reconstruction and also in monitoring and
feedback.
Stage Activity
Pre-Disaster: * Awareness and information campaigns
* Training of local volunteers
* Advocacy and planning
During Disaster: * Immediate rescue and first-aid including psychological aid
* Supply of food, water, medicines, and other immediate materials
* Ensuring sanitation and hygiene
* Damage assessment
Post-Disaster: * Technical and material aid in reconstruction
* Assistance in seeking financial aid
* Monitoring