As
one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, India has
one of the largest programmes in disaster management. UNDP has
been supporting various initiatives of the central and state governments
to strengthen disaster-management capacities for nearly a decade.
UNDP approved a project in 1996 aimed at strengthening the National
Centre for Disaster Management (NCDM), established at the Indian
Institute of Public Administration to train government officers
and trainers of the Disaster Management Cells in the State Institutes
of Public Administration.
Crisis
Prevention and Recovery
Around 80 per cent of India’s geographical area is vulnerable
to cyclones, floods, landslides, drought, earthquakes as well
as other localized hazards. The combination of poor socio-economic
conditions and disasters has created a vicious cycle of poverty
and vulnerability. India’s human development goals therefore
cannot be achieved unless disaster risk management concerns are
taken into account in development planning. UNDP-supported initiatives
in the aftermath of the two last major disasters - the Super Cyclone
in Orissa and the devastating earthquake in Gujarat - demonstrated
the effectiveness of a development approach to disaster risk mitigation
and vulnerability reduction. Integration of community-based disaster
preparedness and mitigation plans into the development plans prepared
by local governments, and strengthening of local capacities and
institutions, have proved to be successful in mitigating the impact
of subsequent disasters. Building on the vast experience gathered
over the last decade,
Disaster Mitigation and Vulnerability Reduction has been included
as one of the five thematic areas of the 2003-2007 Country Programme.
The main objectives under this theme are to mainstream the community-based
approach for achieving the integration of disaster management
in the national and state development agenda and to enhance capacities
at various levels. The community-based approach and focus on women
in reducing vulnerabilities resonates well with the UNDAF priorities
of strengthening decentralization and promoting gender equality.
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