As
part of its risk reduction programme, the Indian Red Cross Society
(IRCS) is installing raised platforms in flood-prone areas of
the state of Bihar, while in Rajasthan, underground storage
tanks are being installed to ensure that residents have access
to safe drinking water all year round.
“Me and the goat will be saved from the flood,”
responds four-year-old Chowki, when asked to describe the purpose
of the platform being constructed in his village Bhawanipur
in Bihar.
Lessons learned from Indian disaster response operations over
the past several years, such as the 1999 Orissa super cyclone,
the flooding in Assam in 2000, and the Gujarat earthquake in
2001, have prompted the IRCS to strengthen its nationwide community-based
disaster preparedness (CBDP) programme, which was started in
1996 and supported by the International Federation through a
series of awareness-raising workshops.
A pilot risk reduction programme, started in 2001 and funded
by the Department for International Development (DFID) Phase-I
for South Asia, concentrated on flood preparedness and response
in the state of Assam.
Such steps have allowed the Indian Red Cross to strengthen its
capacities beyond disaster response and relief, allowing the
National Society to become an important partner for vulnerable
communities even before tragedy strikes.
Lesson learning is a key part of IRCS risk reduction activities,
with each phase reflecting the experience and knowledge gained
during response operations. For instance, two major floods in
2002 and 2004 in Bihar led the Red Cross to significantly scale
up its disaster management efforts in that state.
“This programme encompasses three components,” says
Mr S P Singh, Honorary Secretary of the IRCS Bihar state branch.
“This year, it includes one raised platform, 20 raised
tube wells and one warehouse… next year, 15 more raised
tube wells and a rivulet diversion will be put in-place to irrigate
500 acres of land,” he adds.
By 2007, some 15 communities in Bihar will be covered under
the risk reduction initiative. According to Mr S P Singh, the
key to the programme’s success lies not only in the structures
that are installed but also in the community’s awareness
about disaster mitigation.
Angoori Baigam, a resident of one of the selected communities,
wholeheartedly agrees.
“This programme is a boon for the whole community,”
she says. “We women and children are the most affected
during floods because we lose our homes… basic necessities
like drinking water, shelter and sewer systems suddenly aren’t
available.
“But these platforms are being given to us with raised
tube wells and toilets, which will ease our life during tough
times,” she adds.
Indian Red Cross workers and volunteers explain to residents
that the raised platform is intended to be used for several
purposes and that its maintenance and upkeep should be a key
priority and responsibility of the community.
Residents in Bhawanipur decided to nominate a supervisory committee
for the platform in consultation with representatives of the
International Federation and IRCS state and district branches.
As part of the initiative, local volunteers have been given
training in disaster management, psychological support, first
aid and public health in emergencies.
“I was impressed by the methodology through which the
facilitators provided us with training… it encompasses
even the small details that we need to pay attention to during
any kind of disaster, which can sometimes be easily overlooked,”
says 32-year-old Nausheen, one of the participants in the Training
of Trainers (TOT) course.
The risk reduction programme aims to make disaster-prone communities
more aware of the hazards they face and of how to reduce their
vulnerability, while learning how to cope when flooding or droughts,
for example, do occur.
Under the Bihar risk reduction component in 2006, community-based
activities, including the set-up of a disaster management committee,
training and the provision of basic rescue kits are being implemented.
The platforms and tube wells will provide safe shelter and water
supplies in times of severe flooding while the volunteers will
help develop the community resilience.
Similarly, in Rajasthan, the risk reduction programme seeks
to lessen the impact of droughts in five different districts
by giving them easier access to water thanks to the construction
of underground community water storage tanks. The initiative
is expected to benefit women in particular, who often have to
walk long distances to find water. Livelihood activities led
by government bodies and non-governmental organizations are
also targeting women in the region.
“Two major problems that we face in this state are access
to drinking water and livelihoods,” says Devi Lal Dinesh,
the Rajasthan state branch secretary. “Through this project
we are aiming at both vital issues and our efforts are appreciated
by the government and NGOs. With our proven track record in
disaster mitigation in other states, the Indian Red Cross is
becoming a leading player in the disaster management field,
with support from donors like the Department for International
Development.”
Umesh Singh is a 34-year-old volunteer from the Jaisalmer district
Red Cross branch, who recently attended an orientation session
organized by the Rajasthan state branch, where participants
discussed and came up with a plan of action for the programme.
“It is very encouraging that our district problems have
been acknowledged and that we have been given a chance to educate
the community about disaster mitigation and to further create
means to reduce their suffering,” says Umesh.
The IRCS is marching forward with its objective to increase
its capacity in disaster preparedness and response, as well
as to reduce the vulnerability of targeted communities.
Captain Vandana, the IRCS assistant director for disaster management,
says the result of the programme will be an improved capacity
for the 15 selected communities to cope with flooding through
an improved volunteer base, increased public awareness and mitigation
activities.
“Local communities, especially women, are actively involved
in drought mitigation in Rajasthan,” says Captain Vandana.
“They’re forming committees, conducting drought
monitoring and assessment activities, identifying local coping
measures and all of this will have a very positive impact on
vulnerable groups.”
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Red
Cross volunteers draw up risk reduction plans at a training
course conducted by the Bihar state branch. (p14345)
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Raised
platforms should help keep people safe when rivers, like
this one in Burhi (Muzaffarpur district, Bihar), overflow
their banks. (p14341)
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Female
residents in Bihar listen to a training session on risk
reduction. Flooding takes an especially heavy toll on
women and children in India. (p14344)
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The
Indian Red Cross is working to keep four-year-old Chowki
and his brother safe during floods by building a raised
platform in their village. (p14343)
Villagers use a raised tubewell to collect water in Bihar.
(p14342)
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