1. INTRODUCTION

same. These Private Sector units, Mahila Mandals, CBOs, NGOs would adopt a conscious
effort towards community level preparedness measures. They would also promote the
formation of CERTs.
As a part of general preparedness at community level, the families in the community would
be made conscious about the type of hazard that the household situation presents and the
threats from outside. Also, communities would be encouraged to undertake exercises in risk
and vulnerability analysis and preparation of community response plan to possible disasters.
Thus local local disaster management action plans for hot-spot areas in the context of
specific vulnerability would be developed. For areas with high concentration of industries
MARGs have been set-up, whereas for areas prone to other types of disasters Community
Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) are being set-up. Special efforts have also been taken
to involve Sugar Co-operatives towards Community Preparedness Measures.
2) Mutual Aid and Resource Groups (MARGs) :
Ahmednagar District has 7 Industrial Estates and there are about 16 industries dealing with
chemicals. There is significant transport of hazardous chemicals along the various highways
passing through the district. Moreover these highways have many accident prone spots as
has been outlined in the vulnerability assessment. There is need for setting up Mutual Aid
and Response Groups wherever this highway passes close to densely populated
localities/villages/wadis.
The objective of setting up MARGs in these areas are
· Make the industrial zone self-sufficient
· Encourage pooling of resources to tackle industrial accidents
· Manage both on-site and off-site industrial accidents
· Provide for a degree of expertise in managing disasters
· Reduce the response time for managing disasters
· To integrate the on-site plan of industries with an off-site plan.
· Assist the district administration in managing disasters
3)Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) :
In most disasters, community members are the first to respond before any outside assistance
can reach the disaster site. Therefore in certain disaster prone areas a group of young
volunteers or Community Emergency Response Teams are being formed and trained to
undertake essential tasks which would reduce loss of life and property and at the same time
build confidence in self-management. Essentially CERTs would contribute in the following
areas:
1. Organising training and preparedness exercises at the community level
2. Ensuring family preparedness on the receipt of warning
3. Ensuring communication links both within the community and with administration
4. Controlling rumours and panic behaviour and undertaking confidence building
activities
5. Mobilising youth and able-bodied persons from the community to provide volunteers
support, wherever required
C:\DOCUME~1\ADMINI~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\C.Lotus.Notes.DataRevised Grain Bank