A Case Study in Uttarakhand, Northern India - Geological & Mining ...

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the amount of humanitarian assistance required during the relief phase of adisaster. Likewise, the less an area has invested in DMP, the greater the amount ofassistance required. Therefore, DMP, humanitarian assistance, and developmentare inherently linked. By this logic, if more money is spent on developmentprogrammes and preparedness, lives and money can be saved in the long run.Nothing exists in a vacuum; nothing is by itself. Mitigation and preparedness needto be coupled with immediate aid and development to be effective (Haroff-Tavel,2003, Beck, 2005). Additionally, natural disasters have the capacity to set backdevelopment efforts, aggravating the human and economic losses directly relatedto the disaster. Subsequently, investment possibilities may be hampered in thewake of a disaster; the problem becomes circular (Govt. of India, 2002). However,some economists argue in favour of the opposite, suggesting that the post-disasterboom associated with the ensuing construction, technology influx, and improvedinfrastructure actually facilitates positive economic development (ODI, 2005).2.2 Natural hazards: the Indian context2.2.1 Natural Hazards in IndiaIndia is highly vulnerable to a variety of natural disasters including droughts,widespread and destructive flooding from monsoon rains, epidemics, severestorms, landslides/avalanches, and earthquakes. In fact, out of the 35 states thatconstitute the Republic of India, 24 are disaster-prone (Sharma, 2004). This, incombination with poor social and economic conditions, makes India one of thecountries most vulnerable to disasters worldwide (Mountain Forum Himalayas,2007). Between 1992 and 2000 Asia has accounted for 83% of the globalpopulation affected by natural disasters; within Asia 24% of deaths related tonatural disasters occurred in India (Govt. of India, 2002, p. 5).Institutional arrangements for response to natural disasters are in place in Indiathrough trained professionals (ie. police, paramilitary, etc.). However, theGovernment's Tenth Five Year Plan highlighted some of the shortcomings ofThe Role of NGOs in Disaster Mitigation and Response – A Case Study in Uttarakhand, Northern India 19
disaster management in the country, indicating that planning for disaster remainsto be massively improved in the future. It is also suggested to set up a commandcenter that provides data links to each state and a national standby team (exprofessionalarmy, police etc), and that urban search and rescue training efforts beincreased in light of the overwhelming lack of training noted in the wake of theGujarat earthquake in 2001. An extract from the Government of India’s Tenth FiveYear Plan document outlines institutional arrangements that are in place for DMPin India. Section 7.17 (2002, p. 6) states: "the country with its Federal system ofgovernment has specific roles for Central and State governments. However, thesubject of disaster management does not specifically find mention in any of thethree lists in the 7 th schedule of the Indian Constitution, where subjects under theCentral and State governments as also subjects that come under both arespecified. On the legal front there is no enactment either of the Central or any Stategovernment to deal with the management of disasters of various types in acomprehensive manner”.Responding to natural disasters in India is the responsibility of the StateGovernment; funds are funneled through Central Government. Events at thedistrict level are handled through the District Magistrate of Deputy Commissioner.At the local village level the Panchayat is the link to the community (Gupta, 2006).Other stakeholders include police, paramilitary, fire brigade, and NGOs.Devastating disasters such as the Gujarat (2001) and Kashmir (2005) earthquakes,or the 2004 tsunami, have instilled a sense of urgency for an increased culture ofpreparedness and disaster management planning in India. As is often the case, asudden event will alert people to the hazards they face, usually sparking a hurriedeffort to develop Early Warning Systems and other mechanisms in the region.Despite these knee-jerk reactions to prepare communities, more and moreemphasis needs to be placed on activities in research and development,education, and resulting improved technologies for mitigating natural disasters andincreasing levels of awareness and preparedness from both top-down and bottomupperspectives. In light of this requisite, a number of recent reports highlight anThe Role of NGOs in Disaster Mitigation and Response – A Case Study in Uttarakhand, Northern India 20
Page 1 and 2: The Role of Non GovernmentalOrganis
Page 3 and 4: Table of contentsChapter 1 - Introd
Page 5 and 6: List of figuresFigure 1.1: Study re
Page 7 and 8: preparedness, and has potential to
Page 9 and 10: This case study investigates the im
Page 11 and 12: • What are homeowner perceptions
Page 13 and 14: Seismic activity in this area is du
Page 15 and 16: The study comprises two regions: St
Page 17 and 18: 1.4.1 - b Study Area B- Almora dist
Page 19 and 20: etc. operational). The study involv
Page 21 and 22: Chapter 2 - Theoretical Orientation
Page 23 and 24: 2.1.2 VulnerabilityVulnerability is
Page 25: of a disaster everyone knows how to
Page 29 and 30: Despite the apparent increased cons
Page 31 and 32: 2.3.1 Disaster Mitigation and Prepa
Page 33 and 34: save lives. This event marked a pri
Page 35 and 36: Systems technologies and education
Page 37 and 38: As suggested previously, there is a
Page 39 and 40: on the main agenda (Benson et al, 2
Page 41 and 42: Frame structureFramed structures ha
Page 43 and 44: The curriculum of the PSI workshops
Page 45 and 46: Figure 2.2a: Community based disast
Page 47 and 48: district irrespective of the fact t
Page 49 and 50: etrofitting, monitoring and homeown
Page 51 and 52: structures as an alarming forty-fiv
Page 53 and 54: Reponses for what features masons t
Page 55 and 56: trained masons in the Study Area A
Page 57 and 58: ecommended that a similar study be
Page 59 and 60: 3.1.2b Awareness and Dissemination
Page 61 and 62: It is interesting to note that when
Page 63 and 64: Community based disaster preparedne
Page 65 and 66: 3.1.3 - Section 3 Housing Impact As
Page 67 and 68: Load-bearing1.single steel rod in e
Page 69 and 70: The overall proportion of newly bui
Page 71 and 72: etween stirrups of 6-12 inches. Alt
Page 73 and 74: Table 3.7: Percentage of safe house
Page 75 and 76: 3.2 DiscussionThe discussion segmen
Page 77 and 78:
In Study Area A the number of earth
Page 79 and 80:
2) mitigation measures were taken i
Page 81 and 82:
3.3 ConclusionsIn conclusion, the s
Page 83 and 84:
ReferencesAlexander, D., 1997. The
Page 85 and 86:
Guptasarma, D. 1996. Is the Seismic
Page 87 and 88:
Telford, J. and Cosgrave, J., 2007.
Page 89 and 90:
Annex I - Earthquake safe featuresT
Page 91 and 92:
The Role of NGOs in Disaster Mitiga
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Annex 2 - Mason Interview ResultsSt
Page 99 and 100:
11. How to make such a course more
Page 101 and 102:
sloped roof 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 1 2.78s
Page 103 and 104:
17. Do homeowners request earthquak
Page 105 and 106:
light roof 1 0 1 2.78 0 0.00RCC 1 3
Page 107 and 108:
6. How long have you lived in the v
Page 109 and 110:
16. Do you have an emergency commun
Page 111 and 112:
26. What activities related to the
Page 113 and 114:
36. Would you prefer traditional ma
Page 115 and 116:
Appendix IV - Breakdown of earthqua
Page 117:
Appendix IV - Breakdown of earthqua
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