5th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2014 Integrative Risk Management - The role of science, technology & practice 24-28 August 2014 in Davos, Switzerland

1. CCA and DRR
From Policy to Practice
Status of Disaster Management in Developing Countries
Focus on India and Kerala
Nivedita P. Haran
Additional Chief Secretary, Dept. of Home & Environment,
Member, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority

2. Disaster Management
An operational list of components
Preparedness
Prevention
Protect & Save
Relief
Rehabilitation
Mitigation
• Reducing vulnerability = integration of disaster preparedness, mitigation and
prevention measures into policy development
• Funding patterns of developed & developing world – disaster response gets priority &
not preparedness

3. Disaster Management - matrix of comparison
Preparedness
Criteria Developed Developing
Transportation safety Ensured Not a priority
Bio-medical waste management Regulated Unregulated
Epidemic control Systematic Adhoc
Urban waste (including e-waste) Systematic Adhoc
Natural Hazard Risk Reduction High priority Not a priority

4. Disaster Management - matrix of comparison
Prevention
Criteria Developed Developing
Awareness Well aware Unaware
Proper reaction Trained Untrained
Availability of equipment High availability Poorly maintained

5. Disaster Management - matrix of comparison
Protect & Save
Criteria Developed Developing
Life Highly valued Poverty
Electric connections Live & open Concealed & secure
Social discipline Highly disciplined Need better discipline

6. Disaster Management - matrix of comparison
Relief
Criteria Developed Developing
Food & clothing Systematic distribution Haphazard
Land Management Modernised record
maintenance
Needs priority
Law & order Well -maintained Needs improvement

7. Disaster Management - matrix of comparison
Rehabilitation
Criteria Developed Developing
Funding Available Inadequate

8. Disaster Management - matrix of comparison
Mitigation
Criteria Developed Developing
Funding Available Not a priority

9. Disaster Management - matrix of comparison
Information & communication technology
• Necessary, but at times is over-rated
• Distribute in areas where people are literate and seem to imbibe
• Content should be simple and short
• One has to design the content keeping in mind the target audience
It shouldn’t be
this complex!

10. India – the hazard profile
• 57% land is vulnerable to earthquakes. Of these, 12% is
vulnerable to severe earthquakes.
• 68% land is vulnerable to drought.
• 12% land is vulnerable to floods.
• 8% land is vulnerable to cyclones.
• Apart from natural disasters, some cities in India are also
vulnerable to chemical and industrial disasters and man-made
disasters.
References: Menon, V.C, 2011

11. India – National arrangements for Disaster Management
• National Disaster Management Act, 2005
– National Disaster Management Authority
– State Disaster Management Authority
– National Disaster Response Force - 2009
• National Disaster Response Fund administered by Govt. of India. States administer
State Disaster Response Fund with 75% contribution from Govt. of India and 25%
from State Government.
• National Disaster Mitigation Fund yet to be formed. Pro-active states like Kerala has
constituted State Disaster Mitigation Fund with own funds.
• Multiple projects with support of UNDP, World Bank, ADB, USAID etc. running on
various components of Disaster Management
References: Menon, V.C, 2011

12. Kerala – the hazard profile
• The state is multi-hazard prone
• 8th most densely populated in the country
• 14.5% of the state is flood prone
• 14.4% of the state is landslide prone
• 55.5% of the coastline prone to coastal hazards
• The state falls in zone 3 in the national seismic zonation
map
• About 70 people die of lightning every year
• 65 out of 10,000 vehicles prone to accidents in the state
(national average is 42.3/10,000)
• About 45% of LPG used in the state is transported via roads
• Variability of weather patterns due to Global Warming
evident in the state
References: CESS, 2010; CENSUS, 2011; KSCSTE, 2007; SEOC, 2011

13. Kerala - Current status
• KSDMA constituted (2007)
• DDMAs established in 14 districts (2008)
• Office of KSDMA established (2008)
• State DM Policy formulated and
promulgated (2010)
• State Disaster Management Plan Profile
published (2010)
• VHF network established – 295 village
offices, 63 taluks, 14 collectorates & 4
state level offices (2009-11)
• SEOC made functional (2012)
• Five year plan budget head for KSDMA
(2012)
• DDMPs prepared and published (2007-12)
• State Disaster Mitigation Fund created
(2012)

14. Crisis Management Group – Anthropogenic Hazards
Adl. Chief Secretary, Home – Chairman
Prl. Secretary, Revenue & DM – Member
State Police Chief – Convener
IG, Intelligence – Member
Commandant General, Fire and Rescue – Member
Commandant, SDRF – Member
Director, ILDM – Member
Head (Scientist), SEOC - Member

15. Field activities
Glimpses of activities
Mullaperiyar flood-prone area marking

16. Books
Glimpses of activities
• Many books published on DRM by ILDM

17. Glimpses of activities Mass campaigns
Surakshaayanam 2012

18. Glimpses of activities Community based DRR
• Community-centric and community based DRR is the answer in developing
countries – some glimpses from Kerala

19. Institutionalizing community based DRR
Civil Defence
• Civil Defence in many countries function as a voluntary force that acts as the first
responder in case of any disaster
• In normal times CD is involved in capacity-building of its members, in first aid,
nursing, basic engineering techniques, water purification, health, safety and
security
• It should ideally be voluntary
• CD should be able to generate:
• A sense of service amongst the people
• Enjoy what they do
• Should be kept motivated through appreciation of authorities
• Provide the simple perks like medical insurance, health insurance, travel cost, etc.

20. Thank you !