Put the stress on consolidation of initiated measures - M.P. Sajnani

"Consolidate the measures already initiated and ensure their aggressive implementation before taking further measures. As of now, the often stressed paradigm shift is only on paper and is yet to be put in place through meaningful implementation from national to local level." - M.P. Sajnani, Independent Consultant, India

Since December, 2004, several actions have been taken, as brought out by many Members. I will, therefore, try to cover some of the gaps, which still are to be bridged.

Institutional Structure

• An additional Institutional Structure was put in place through the Disaster Management Act, 2005 by providing for SDMAs, DDMAs, NEC, SECs, besides NDMA. However, except NDMA, most of the other institutions in most of the states/ districts are either non-functional or partly-functional due to lack of a small but composite secretariat. The Task Force set up to review the DM Act has proposed discontinuance of SECs and NEC on the plea that these are mostly non-functional. This is counter-productive. Due to this constraint, DRR has not received the attention it deserves.
• In the end-evaluation of DRM Programme, it was recommended that NDMA may constitute a Cadre of young DM Professionals (50 Teams) consisting of four members each, one engineer, one IT specialists and two DM specialists who may be deputed at district and sub-district level for specific assignments such as preparation of DM Plans in a participatory manner, training of government functionaries, NGOs at local level and other stakeholders. No action has been taken so far.
• There is a need for a Disaster Management Officer at block level to look after all aspects of DM particularly the DRR, CCA and training of community members as also government/ NGOs functionaries at local level.
• Unless there is a strong and vibrant institutional system which is fully operational, the DRR and other pre-disaster aspects would continue to be relegated. Whatever support is provided is only during post-disaster phase since pre-disaster actions have no visibility     

Training

• Several women lost their lives during 2004 Tsunami since, due to lack of education and other social and cultural reasons; they resisted being rescued by men-folk. It had then been suggested that each Company of NDRF and SDRFs may have at least one exclusive women’s SAR Team. While some effort has been made in this regard in NDRF, it is not adequate. SDRFs have either not been constituted, or if constituted, are not really operational.
• Community level training was imparted in 176 districts in 17 states during 2003-2009 under the GOI-UNDP DRM Programme. The states did not accept the ownership of the programme thereafter with the result that gains made under the programme have frittered away. At present there are hardly any trained persons at local level. This has been highlighted in the Training and Capacity Building Study for DRR in India, as a part of Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project. (Available on NIDM Website)
• State DM Cells either do not have adequate faculty, even as proposed by MHA or are not adequately trained with the result that training being provided is supply-driven and not demand-driven.
• There is need to develop focused training modules and materials for different stakeholders including different levels of officials in government based on their respective functions. The efforts made by states in this regard can at best be considered half-hearted.
• There is no composite HR and CD Plan in any state. Therefore, there are no figures how many people are to be trained in different sectors. This needs to be rectified.

Education

• CBSE has diluted the curricula included in school education by excluding it from examinations. This has considerably reduced the involvement of children.
• At village level, even where included, the teachers are not trained to cover it comprehensively with the result children do not recall it even after one year. (Field Survey under Training and Capacity Building Study for DRR in India, as a part of Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project. Available on NIDM Website)

Convergence

• There is no convergence among different sectors and themes such as DRR, CCA, Water, Hygiene and Sanitation, Health, Inclusive development particularly rural development, education, and environment protection. This matter needs to be particularly addressed by NDMA and carried forward by Central and State Government Departments, SDMAs and DDMAs.