Shift in disaster management needed: Report

A report on disaster management was launched here Saturday to spread awareness on effectively tackling disasters like Uttarakhand.

"India Disasters Report II: Redefining Disasters", is the sequel to "India Disaster Report: Towards a Policy Initiative" published in 2000 and comes in the context of people in Uttarakhand recovering from the tragedy.

Stressing on the urgent need to strengthen disaster-preparedness measures and strictly implementing building-safety codes, the report takes a fresh look at disasters from different vantage points.

"In the context of recurring disasters in India, pre-disaster, disaster and post-disaster situations are inseparable," said an editor of the report, Unni Krishnan, head of disaster response at Plan International, London.

"We may not be able to stop an earthquake, But we can very well reduce their impact and minimise deaths and sufferings," he added.

The report calls to include disaster risk reduction and preparedness work at the community level as ingredients of large government initiatives such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

"We need to build a culture of zero tolerance towards safety and disaster management issues," said Krishnan. "We need a fundamental shift in disaster management."

According to the report, addressing disaster vulnerabilities caused by human factors is the best bet to reduce disaster risks and human suffering.

"A holistic view and long-term efforts are necessary to address disasters," said S. Parasuraman, director of Tata Institute of Social Sciences and joint editor of the report.

"Capacity building at community level and investments that will strike at the roots of poverty are paramount," said Parasuraman.