The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) has set an ambitious target of making Village level Disaster Management Plan (VDMP) of 30,000 villages in the State to prepare them as disaster-resilient.
Starting from this year at least 10,000 villages have been targeted to be prepared each year. For this, two blocks have been identified in each district. And in all the villages including hamlets, the VDMP will be formed.
The basic components of the plan are to village mapping and database on last natural disaster. NGOs will have a major role to play in the programme.
The district Collectors have been asked to identify the NGOs in the districts. This was announced by Managing Director of OSDMA Bishnupad Sethi in a meeting organised jointly by OSDMA and Inter Agency Group (IAG).
“Though we have disaster management plan at State level, community based disaster management is all we need. Post Phailin 2013, Odisha has set an example in relief, rescue and rehabilitation in the entire country. And we are in the process to make a robust system,” said Sethi.
The Government is bringing new innovations and technology to minimize disaster risk but people need to adopt. Between technology and people a lot of work needed to be done and here NGOs have the capacity to mobilize the people, he added.
Sethi sought NGOs’ cooperation in minimizing increasing deaths due to lightening, drowning and snakebites which have reached to an alarming stage in the State.
On an average, 1,800-2,000 people are dying for these incidents. Though the State Government has very recently signed a MoU with US based Earth Network that will alert 45minutes before lightning, the message needs to be spread across, he stressed.
While speaking at the plenary session, Subhendra Kumar Nayak, CGM, OSDMA said, “An Apad Mitra programme has been started on pilot basis in Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts.” We will recommend the Government to replicate in all the 30 districts, he added.
"For Tsunami alert siren towers have been installed in 122 places spread over 6 coastal districts with an investment of Rs 89 crorer. It is going to be inaugurated by the CM in July. But it will be successful only when people are sensitized, said Nayak.
Similarly, in maintaining and managing around 879 cyclone and flood shelters (of which 64 being managed by Red Cross) though Government has transferred the chairmanship of Cyclone Shelter Management Committee to local Sarapanchs, it is becoming difficult for them to additionally take the responsibility.
Former Member Board of Revenue Aurobinda Behera while highlighting the Odisha Disaster Preparedness story, said, “Community initiatives should be well documented by the Government agencies and NGOs. Community based Disaster Preparedness will not be possible without the support of NGOs.”
The meeting identified issues and challenges on coordination and the areas where convergence of Government schemes needs to be in place.
It was also suggested to make a database of the NGOs.