Satisfied with the initiatives taken by the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) on the front of risk management system in the State, a team of National Disaster Management team has offered to provide funds as well as human resource to deal with risks related to disaster management in the State. The NDRF will provide 12 members, two of which will be assisting the SDMA while the other 10 will be sent to the other vulnerable districts of the State. The State is said to have agreed to the proposal and an MOU will be signed soon.
A team, including Member Kamal Kishor and Director (Policy and Plan) of NDMA are on a two-day visit of Jharkhand to review the State disaster management authority and district disaster management authorities and works carried being carried out in Jharkhand. The team also met Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba and discussed the issues of minimising the risk factor of disasters and impact of climate change on the various schemes.
Referring to Deoghar stampede, Kishor said that though such problems have been noticed at several other places also, one need to utilise the forces to prevent such instances but to react on it after their taking place.
“It demands improved use of planning and also needs to train the volunteers rigorously to tackle any untoward situation like Deoghar,” said Kishor. He however said that the incident was yet to fully analyzed by him and get the detailed information related to the stampede.
Strengthening the planning system and mobilizing the use of volunteers also needs to be done to minimise the risk of such disasters, added Kishor.
State, according to Kishor was doing well on the front of risk prevention system, but at the same time he also added that it also needs improvement in dealing with some new risks arising out of changing life style in the society.
Talking about the deficit of rain giving rise to the drought like situation in the state, Kishor stressed on understanding measures which reduces the vulnerability by creating better seed banks and generating strategies to reduce the risk factor.
Kisor accepting the fact that it was difficult to reduce the risk factor to zero related to lightening disasters, there are few things which could definitely help in minimizing the risk arising out of it.
“Firstly, widespread public awareness is required, secondly, the structures of public concern having bigger concentration needs to protect from lightening. lastly, look at more advanced ways to collect data that why and how it occurred and look at the strategy to deal with them accordingly,” added Kishor.