More inclusive policies and focus on mitigation needed - Animesh Prakash

"There is a need to ensure that all early warnings are converted into positive community actions in the last mile. Effective mitigation measures with long-term impacts should also be promoted." - Animesh Prakash, Oxfam India, Bhubaneswar, India

Since the Indian Ocean Tsunami, India has made significant improvement in its capacity to respond to disasters. We have basic structures in place which have had worked well in recent disasters. 

My reflections:

1. Early Warnings have been accurate in past. There is a need to ensure that all early warnings are converted into positive community actions in the last mile. Focus should be on improved dissemination technologies  and resilient and alternative Livelihood options as people tend to defer evacuation in pursuit of saving their livelihood assets.  
2. More focus on prevention and mitigation. State and District Disaster Mitigation funds as mentioned in NDM Act -2005 are yet to be actualized. Effective mitigation measures with long-term impacts should be promoted (eg Mangrove regeneration and bioshields for resilient coastal communities should go hand in hand with the NCRMP project).  
3. Policies and Guidelines need to be more inclusive. NDRF and SDRF  guidelines (updated in Nov 2013) do not have any relief provisions for Landless farmers, shared croppers, boatless fisherman. They are the most vulnerable group and form the majority of the affected population 
4. Strengthening of DDMAs is crucial. It is also important to ensure that all EOCs are functional, DIMS as proposed by the NDMA is implemented, GIS is more liberally used in HRVA assessments and IDRN is kept alive for better planning and preparedness and response.