DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: IN INDIA

There has been a marked shift in the global approach to disasters in recent years,particularly since 1990, which marked the beginning of the International Decade forNatural Disaster Reduction. Preparedness is not a project driven agenda, and needs very
deep, attitudinal changes in governance, as well as the institutional modalities of participationinvolvement of the civil society.
Hitherto, the approach towards coping with the effects of natural disasters has been postdisastermanagement, limited to problems such as law and order, evacuation and warnings,communications, search and rescue, fire-fighting, medical and psychiatric assistance,
provision of relief and sheltering, etc. After the initial trauma of the natural disaster, whichlasts the first few days or weeks, the phase of recovery begins, involving the activities ofreconstruction and economic, social and psychological rehabilitation. This engages localpeople initially, but is eventually taken up by the government authorities. Soon thereafter,the occurrence of the disaster is generally relegated to historic memory till the next one
occurs, either in the same area or in some other part of the country.
It is not possible to do away with the devastation of natural hazards completely. However,experience has shown that destruction from natural hazards can be minimised by a wellfunctioning
warning system, combined with preparedness on the part of the vulnerablecommunity. Warning systems and preparedness measures reducemodify the scale ofdisasters. A community that is prepared to face disasters and has received, andunderstands the warnings of impending hazards, and has taken precautionary and mitigation
measures, will be able to cope better and resume normal life sooner.
It is becoming increasingly evident now that a relatively smaller investment in disasterpreparedness can save thousands of lives and vital economic assets, as well as reduce the cost of overall relief assistance.

Significance of preparedness was realised during the Bhuj (Gujarat) Earthquake (2001),when logistics were found grossly inadequate to deal with the impact of the disaster.
Professionally trained rescue teams were not available, other facilities were also lacking,like professionally trained dog squads and mobile hospitals. Though teams from foreigncountries reached affected areas, there was precious time lost in saving lives. To make

up for these inadequacies, the following steps are being taken by the Government of india.

Eight battalions of central paramilitary forces would be developed as specialistresponse teams, equipped with modern hardware and trained in the use of the same.They would have the capability to handle any kind of emergency in any situation. It is also proposed to group them together as National Emergency Response Force.

All personnel of Central Paramilitary Forces would also be trained in search and rescue so that nearby battalions can be deployed before the army takes over. To that end, their training curriculum would be updated/modified.

States have been asked to set up their own specialist teams.10 per cent of theallocation from the CRF shall be committed to logistics for these search and rescueteams (SAR). Training would be provided in search and rescue to state armed police. Maharashtra, Orissa, Gujarat and Delhi had made the arrangements in this
regard, till August 2004.


Regional Response centres would be set up across the country. Relief supplies andother needed equipment would be kept in these centres. Specialist response teams would be stationed during crises.

Mobile hospitals would be provided, attached to different hospitals in the country.
These will reach the site of the disaster during crises. Hospital preparedness to deal with disasters would be improved. Medicos would be given training and the subject would be included in the undergraduate curriculum for
medics.
 Incident Command System would be developed. The Lal Bahadur Shastri NationalAcademy of Administration, Mussoorie, has the onus to develop capacity in thisregard.
 To minimise response time, concerned departments would be asked to preparepreparedness plans, by way of emergency support plans in advance. They have beenasked to constitute response teams and allocate resources in advance for disaster
response. States have been asked to arrange for pre-contracts of relief items toavoid delays in procuring relief.
India Disaster Response Network would be set up which would be a web databaseof inventory and controlling officers in charge of items. The database will be availableat State District and National Level.
States are being assisted with emergency operations centres schemes at state anddistrict centers. Financial assistance would be provided under GoI-UNDP schemeand Modernisation of Police Force scheme. These would be composite controlrooms to look after law and order and disaster management issues.

Disaster preparedness planning is a sequential and continuous process. Good planningrequires correct diagnosis, resource evaluation and feedback of policy implementation.
Because of the wide scope of disaster preparedness and the numerous actors involved,it is essential that a framework for coordination is accepted and provided for. Following
awareness of the same, the government of India proposes to affect the shift from shortterm relief to long- term mitigation, preparedness and prevention through: