Strategy Report for Hazard Risk Management in India

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Query: Strategy Report for Hazard Risk Management in India – Referrals; Advice Compiled by G. Padmanabhan, Resource Person and Nupur Arora, Research Associate Issue Date: 10 August 2007

From Ranu Sinha, World Bank, New Delhi Posted 3 July 2007 Dear Members of the Disaster Management Community!

World Bank is currently preparing a Strategy report for Hazard Risk Management in India. This report intends to overlay district-level poverty data in India with hazard information (regarding past events and highly vulnerable States) in order to establish a list of high priority districts for risk mitigation interventions across the nation.

We are currently brainstorming on possible content and are collecting state wise data on all disastrous events in all States across the country. For each event within a State, we are looking for number of affected people per event, geographical location of the event, the economic impact per event, costs per event in terms of relief efforts as well as recommended approaches for mitigation strategies.

In light of this, I would request the members to kindly: • Provide referrals (Government Departments, NGOs, Related Organisations, and Individuals) at the State/Central level who have this information and would like to share it with us. • Suggestions for what you think are the important issues in terms of Disaster Management in India that should be included in a National Hazard Risk Management Strategy Report Your recommendations will help us, preparing the Strategy report for Hazard Risk Management in India.

The report intends to build a strong case for increased focus on disaster-specific (e.g. drought) risk management efforts and strategies for the future.

I greatly appreciate any feedback from the Members. Looking forward to hearing back from you.

Responses were received, with thanks, from 1. Nilanjan Sengupta, Forum of Scientists, Engineers and Technologists (FOSET), Kolkata 2. Chandrima Biswas, United Nations Team for Recovery Support, Chennai

3. Sreeja S. Nair, National Institute of Disaster Management, New Delhi 4. Manu Gupta, SEEDS, New Delhi 5. E. Karthikeyan, Institute of Participatory Environment and Disaster Management.

Cuddalore 6. Rekha Abraham, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New Delhi 7. Chaman Pincha, Gender Researcher, Chennai

Further contributions are welcome!

Summary of Responses Comparative Experiences Related Resources Responses in Full Summary of Responses Members welcomed the idea of preparing a Strategy Report for Hazard Risk Management in India. They opined that while government is systematically enhancing required capacities and establishing systems for risk management and vulnerability reduction, such reports for each of the states help in better understanding of trends and patterns of disasters and factors that influence vulnerabilities.

Respondents outlined that Risk Mapping is an important integral component of Disaster Management (DM) and proper identification of risks leads to better disaster preparedness. They listed various types of vulnerabilities like environmental/ physical, socio- economic and socio- cultural vulnerability and suggested to incorporate and crosslink all these to do comprehensive risk mapping. They also stressed that socio-economic dimensions are equally important while building a hazard profile as poverty data, and suggested to include indicators like settlement pattern, population distribution, cultural practices, livelihood patterns, food insecurity, and health and education profiles.

Discussants provided their insights on carrying out risk mapping at different disaster management phases. They outlined few experiences of post disaster risk mapping from India, like in Tamil Nadu, during the post tsunami reconstruction phase, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) have carried out risk mapping exercise for effective rehabilitation process. They cited initiatives in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry, where detailed coastal mapping of critical ecosystems, landuse/land cover and hydrology changes and impacts of the tsunami are being undertaken. Citing the importance of predisaster risk mapping, members cited another experience of mapping historical occurrence of natural disasters since 1975 in Tamil Nadu Members discussed various methodologies towards risk mapping. They stated that indicators of risk assessment vary from stakeholder to stakeholder and thus micro level mapping is a good option. They mentioned the UNDP-DRM initiative in Tamil Nadu where local Communities were involved in making the hazard, vulnerability and opportunity map of the settlements.

Respondents suggested different approaches to do risk assessment. They mentioned Inductive Approach, which use detailed quantification of hazard occurrence probabilities of different levels of magnitude, the elements that would be exposed (population, infrastructure etc.) to the hazards and vulnerable elements in the area of exposure to model the expected disaster risk. Another approach recommended was the Deductive Approach, which makes use of parameters of hazard frequency and

physical exposure estimated using systematic geo-referenced inventories of disasters and indicators of vulnerability to model the realized risk (deaths, damage, etc.), estimated using the disaster inventories.

Members opined that the Strategy Report might focus on developing programmes for vulnerable communities on providing better understanding of natural hazards, their causes, and Preparedness and mitigation measures. They felt that this can reduce the impact of natural hazards to man. Another proposition, which came up, was that the report contains the latest techno scientific analysis like GIS (Geographical Information System) remote sensing coupled with the real situation of the particular places like coastal village or urban area using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) exercises along with the primary and secondary data from government departments. Finally, they felt that matching these studies to each other to find out the real Hazard Risk vulnerability to find out the necessary strategy for the appropriate management technology of the particular place.

Respondents also shared government departments and programmes, NGOs, organizations, and individuals at the State/Central level who are involved in Risk Mapping for vulnerable communities.

In essence, Respondents felt that the report intends to build a strong case for increased focus on disaster-specific risk management efforts and strategies for the future and help in better utilization of resources with better results.

Comparative Experiences TamilNadu

From Chandrima Biswas, United Nations Team for Recovery Support, Chennai Risk Mapping for Effective Rehabilitation In the post tsunami reconstruction phase, UNDP and Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) have carried out risk mapping exercise. It was done under the UN tsunami recovery Framework.Various government departments, external aid agencies, international and local NGOs have taken up the exercise of risk and/ vulnerability mapping thereafter. This has helped to effectively carry out the rehabilitation programme.Read more Disaster Inventory Database Under the UNDP DRM, coallation of historical occurrence of natural disasters since 1975 was carried out for all 30 districts of Taminadu. The Revenue Department coalated this disaster inventory data and facilitated information collection at state and district level and UNDP provided technical training to government officials supporting in information gathering, adequate technical knowledge in collating and analyzing information gathered and setting up the database.Read more Multiple States UNDP led Healthy Environment initiative, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry Under the UNDP' healthy coastal environment initiative, detailed coastal mapping of critical ecosystems, landuse/land cover and hydrology changes and impacts of the tsunami on the coast along Tamilnadu coast is being undertaken. The database would be overlaid on village level cadastral maps and social data and hosted on a web server for easy access to planners and managers. This is providing support to the government in developing a long-term planning and management of the coastal areas. Read more Risk Mapping by Village Communities(from Chandrima Biswas, United Nations Team for Recovery Support, Chennai and Sreeja S. Nair, National Institute of Disaster Management, New Delhi)

As part of the UNDP DRM programme detailed vulnerability mapping and risk assessment exercise was carried out by the community on the ground. Maps showing vulnerable houses on account of their location, housing type, inhabitants, etc were captured and subsequently transferred into Village Disaster Management Plans (VDMP).These plans are of immense omportance during disasters.

Related Resources Recommended Documentation From Sreeja S. Nair, National Institute of Disaster Management, New Delhi Vulnerability Atlas Of India Book; by Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council (Available on Sale); New Delhi; 2007; Permission Required: Yes Available at http://www.bmtpc.org/pubs2.htm

Atlas gives information on all vulnerable areas that have been mapped indicating the expected intensities of natural events like earthquakes, cyclones and floods.

National Statistical System on Disasters in India Workshop Report; National Institute of Disaster Management and Central Statistical Organisation (NIDM); Permission Required: No. Available at http://www.nidm.net/CSO/CSO-NIDM.pdf (Pdf 66.8 KB)

Proceedings of workshop organised by NIDM and CSO to develop a National Statistical System on Disasters in India. It includes members view on current status and challenges in Hazard Mapping.

Disaster Risk Assessment: Creating Evidence for Better Decision Making (from Rekha Abraham,

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New Delhi)

E Discussion Report; DRM Asia Network, UNDP; New Delhi; 2007; Permission Required: Yes Available at http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/drm/cr/res03070702.doc (Pdf 153 Kb)

Discussion Report talks about different disaster risk assessments undertaken in different countries through the involvement of disaster risk management practitioners in the Asia.

From Nupur Arora, Research Associate Focus on Prevention: Conducting a Hazard Risk Assessment Training Material; by Mr. Michael J. Brnich, Jr. and Ms. Launa G. Mallett; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ; U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services ; Pittsburgh, ; July 2003; Permission Required: Yes Available at http://www.msha.gov/training/trainingtips/risk%20analysis.pdf (Pdf 158 KB)

Outlines need and ways to do risk assessment to improve preparedness and also presents risk assessment concepts and tools that can be applied for mine hazards.

Environmental Risk Evaluation Report Report; by Mr. D Brooke, A Footitt and T A Nwaogu; Building Research Establishment Ltd and Risk and Policy Analysts Ltd; Environment Agency; United Kingdom; 2004; Permission Required: Yes Available at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/commondata/105385/pfos_rer_sept04_864557.pdf (Pdf 350 KB)

Report summarises the environmental hazards and risks to support in Chemicals Policy function of the Agency take decisions on the need for risk management.

Recommended Organizations and Programmes

From Chandrima Biswas, United Nations Team for Recovery Support, Chennai United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), New Delhi 55 Lodhi Estate, New Delhi 110003; Tel: 46532333; Fax: 24627612 webadmin.in@undp.org; http://www.undp.org.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=79; http://data.undp.org.in/dmweb/tsunami/UN%20Recovery%20Framework.pdf

Works on disaster mitigation and preparedness and did extensive risk mapping exercises in tsunami recovery programme in Tamil Nadu and other states.

Food and Agriculture Organization, New Delhi 55 Lodhi Estate, New Delhi 110003; Tel: http://www.fao.org/tsunami/index.asp?lang=en

24628877;

Fax:

2465333

fao-in@fao.org;

FAO of United Nations works to fight hunger and achieve food security. It did extensive risk mapping exercises for tsunami recovery programme' Tamil Nadu with UNDP

Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore 3076/5, IV Cross, Gokulam Park, Mysore - 570 002, Karnataka; Tel: +91.821.2515 601; Fax: +91.821.2513 822 ncf@ncf-india.org; http://ncf-india.org/index.php;

Nature Conservation Foundation works on biodiversity conservation and worked with United Nations Development Programme in Healthy Environment initiative in Tamil Nadu

Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE), Bangalore 659 5th A Main, Hebbal, Bangalore 560 024; Tel: 91-080-2353 3942, 91-080-2353 0069; Fax: 080-2353 0070 info@atree.org ; http://www.atree.org

Addresses sustainable development and environmental issues. It worked with United Nations Development Programme' Healthy Environment initiative Tamil Nadu

Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG), Chennai 9/5 II Street Padmanabha Nagar, Adyar, Chennai 600020; Tel: 91-44-24460387; Fax: 91-44-24914358 info.cag@gmail.com ; http://www.cag.org.in

Works in the area of environment protection, and was a part of Programme' Healthy Environment initiative in Tamil Nadu

United Nations Development

Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning (FERAL), Pondicherry No.27, Sheffali Apartments, 2nd Cross, Appavou Nagar Vazhakulam, Pondicherry 605 012; Tel: 91 413 2225441 ; feral@feralindia.org; http://www.feralindia.org/

FERAL works for natural resource management and environmental monitoring. It worked with United Nations Development Programme' Healthy Environment initiative in Tamil Nadu

Department of Geology and Mining, Chennai Thiru. Vi. Ka. Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032; Tel: 91-44-22341874, 91-44-22348788; Fax: +91-44-22341158 geomine@tn.nic.in;http://www.tnmine.tn.nic.in/

In-charge of the mineral administration in the State and provided useful information for the disaster inventory database prepared by UNDP and Government of Tamilnadu

Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Chennai No:1, Jeenis Salai, Panagal building, Saidapet, Chennai 600 015 ; Tel: 91 44 24348059; Fax: 91 44 24337307 cfchen@tn.nic.in; http://www.forests.tn.nic.in

It is the custodian of forest land in the state and provided useful information for the disaster inventory database prepared by UNDP and Government of Tamilnadu

From Sreeja S. Nair, National Institute of Disaster Management, New Delhi

Central Water Commission (CWC), New Delhi Sewa Bhavan, R.K. Puram, New Delhi 110066; Tel: +91-26195524, 26716896; http://cwc.nic.in/

CWC works on flood management and development and operation of flood forecasting system and brings out Water related Statistical and hazard information reports.

India Meteorological Department, New Delhi Mausam Bhawan,Lodhi Road, New Delhi110003 ; http://www.imd.ernet.in/main_new.htm;

National Meteorological Service and principal government agency in all matters relating to meteorology, Seismology and brings out Weather related hazard information reports.

Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, New Delhi Krishi Bhavan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi-110001;Tel: 23382520;pifc.krishi@nic.in; http://agricoop.nic.in/DroughtMgmt/drought.htm

Principal government agency in all matters relating to Agriculture and brings out Agriculture related hazard information reports.

From Manu Gupta, SEEDS, New Delhi United Nations Development Programme, Maldives UN Building, Buruzu Magu, Male’, Maldives; Tel: +960 332-4501; registry.mv@undp.org; http://www.mv.undp.org/index.aspx?PageId=118;

Fax:

+960

332-4504

UNDP Maldives carried out country wide Disaster RIsk Porfice at household level, six months after the tsunami in Maldives.

RMSI Private Limited, New Delhi A-7 Sector 16, Noida 201 301 ; Tel: +91 120 251 1102; Fax: +91 120 251 1109, 251 0963; http://www.rmsi.com/press/undp_partners_rmsi_develop_disaster_risk_profile_for_maldives.asp

Developed Disaster Risk Profile for Maldives for UNDP in partnership with SEEDS. The study aims to help UNDP and government to plan strategies for disaster mitigation

SEEDS, New Delhi D 11, Panchsheel Enclave, New Delhi, 110017; Tel: 91 11 26498371; Fax: 91 11 26498372 info@seedsindia.org; www.seedsindia.org

Developed Disaster Risk Profile for Maldives for UNDP in partnership with RMSI. The study aims to help UNDP and government to plan strategies for disaster mitigation

M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai 3rd Cross Street, Institutional Area, Taramani, Chennai 600113 Tamil Nadu; Tel: 91-44-22542698, 22541229; Fax: 91-44-22541319; http://www.mssrf.org/fs/atlas/rural.htm;

MSSRF in partnership with WFP prepared Food Insecurity Atlas of Rural India. It has a series of maps, describing food insecure situation of the state and action points.

World Food Programme, New Delhi 2, Poorvi Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 110057; Tel: 91-11-26150000; Fax: 91-11-26150019; http://www.wfp.org.in/events/fiai/fiai.htm;

WFP in partnership with MSSRF prepared Food Insecurity Atlas of Rural India. It has a series of maps, describing food insecure situation of the state and action points.

Recommended Portals and Information Bases Vulnerability Analysis & Mapping - VAM, World Food Programme, Rome (from Manu Gupta,

SEEDS, New Delhi)

http://www.wfp.org/operations/VAM/index.asp?section=5&sub_section=4;

VAM activities carried out by the World Food Programme aim to assess the food security and vulnerability situation before, during and after a crisis in all the countries.

Responses in Full Nilanjan Sengupta, Forum of Scientists, Engineers & Technologists (FOSET), Kolkata We are rightly providing stress on disaster management to ensure minimum loss of property and lives.

I propose that we give equal stress on long-term programmes in disaster prevention also.

Increasing population and degradation of the natural environment on a global scale are having the effect of increasing the frequency and severity of disasters around the world, with the problem centering on developing countries. India is one of the countries that suffers or will suffer most from these disasters.

The impact of natural hazards to man can be reduced through better understanding of the causes of natural hazards, dissemination of scientific knowledge, adoption of appropriate public and management policies and increase of awareness programmes and information campaigns.

The application of preventive and preparedness measures such as population control, energy, water and environmental management will lessen the devastating effects of unavoidable natural occurring events, and is far cost-effective than recovery and short-term relief or reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Chandrima Biswas, United Nations Team for Recovery Support, Chennai Risk/ Vulnerability mapping, an integral component of Disaster Management is an important subject that requires considerable attention, for unless risk/ vulnerabilities are properly identified, disaster preparedness becomes to a large extent a matter of conjecture. The various facets that define vulnerability are (i) environmental/ physical vulnerabilities, (ii) socio- economic vulnerability, (iii) sociocultural vulnerability, etc.

I would like to share with the members the several initiatives that have been undertaken in Tamil Nadu as a response to the devastating tsunami of December 2004. In the post tsunami reconstruction phase the relevance of risk mapping has assumed added importance. Various government departments, external aid agencies, international and local NGOs have taken up the exercise of risk and/ vulnerability mapping. However, the indicators or parameters of risk/vulnerability assessment varies from stakeholder to stakeholder and at best could be termed as project specific indicators. In order to accrue the gains from this difficult and often cost intensive exercise it is pertinent that definition of vulnerability or the definition of vulnerability index is done in a manner that is useful to all stakeholders.

In Tamil Nadu as a part of the UN tsunami recovery Framework mapping exercises have been undertaken by the UNDP and the FAO. The UNDP led Healthy Environment initiative: As part of the healthy coastal environment initiative led by the UNDP, detailed coastal mapping of critical ecosystems, landuse/land cover and hydrology changes and impacts of the tsunami on the coast along the TN coast is being undertaken at a spatial scale. This database would be overlaid on village level cadastral maps and social data and hosted on a web server for easy access to planners and managers.

This initiative would support the government in developing a long-term planning and management of the coastal areas.

The overall geographic scope of the study would be the tsunami affected states of mainland India (states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and the Union territory of Pondicherry). The following are the agencies who are involved in executing the work of UNDP; Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore (NCF), Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment, Bangalore (ATREE), Citizen consumer and civic Action Group, Chennai (CAG) and Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning (FERAL). The project began in early 2006 and would end by September 2008.

The GoI-UNDP Disaster Risk Management Programme (1)

As a component of the Disaster Risk Management Programme detailed vulnerability mapping exercise has been undertaken. This is done by conducting PRI exercises- a process by which the hazard, vulnerability and opportunity map of the settlements are drawn by the community on the ground. These maps are detailed to an extent such that the vulnerable houses on account of their location, housing type, inhabitants, etc can be captured. These are subsequently transferred onto a document which goes on the form what is known as a Disaster Management Plan for the village.

These plans are not geo referenced and are at best sketches of the village settlement. However considering the immense information captured at the local level they can be invaluable documents in times of disasters. In is expected that the mapping of all hamlets, gram panchayats in all the coastal districts of TN will be completed by the end of 2008.

(2) Another initiative undertaken as a part of the DRM programme was collating information of historical occurrence of natural disasters in all 30 districts of TN from 1975 onwards. The revenue Department, being the nodal department for disaster management in Tamil Nadu, undertook the responsibility of collating the disaster inventories database. An in-principle agreement was reached between the Revenue Department, GoTN and the UNDP wherein the Revenue Department would facilitate the information collection at the state and the district level while UNDP would provide training to government officials on the software, provide human resources in information gathering, adequate technical knowledge in collating and analyzing information gathered and setting up the database.

It is here important to mention that all information has been collected from government approved data sources, other secondary sources like print and electronic media records, academic studies were not taken into consideration. The government departments/ agencies of relevance are Department of Fire Services, Department of Geology and Mining, Forest Department, National Informatics Center (NIC), Office of the Director of Medical and Rural Services (DMS), India Metrological Department (IMD) and the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD). The process of data collection was initiated in February 2006 and till about 13,000 date disaster records have been collected. The database is online and can be accessed at www.indisdata-tn.gov.in The information is collected at the level of blocks. It is possible to collect it to a lower scale, i.e., administrative boundaries lesser than a block; however since this exercise was undertaken as a pilot initiative it has been limited upto the block level only.

This initiative is a first step in identification of blocks that have been traditionally prone to natural disasters and has been impacted in terms of loss to life, property and livelihood. This provides a way forward to further identification of causative factors- which could range from physical, sociological to economic.

Under the UN tsunami recovery framework such exercises would be undertaken in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Pondicherry also.

FAO led Fisheries Livelihood Programme As a part of the livelihoods initiative, the FAO has undertaken the exercise of preparation of micro plans of 60 major fishing villages in Tamil Nadu. This exercise would be utilize the geo referenced maps of the villages and link them to the information collected from the community through PRI exercises.

There thus exist various methodologies for risk/ vulnerability mapping. For example, at the initiation of the GoI-UNDP DRM programme vulnerable districts were identified based on their physical vulnerabilities.

Overlaying the physical vulnerabilities with district level poverty data would add another dimension to the nature of vulnerabilities in these districts. However it is required to come down to a much lower scale, a unit which is smaller to a district to accurately identify causative factors of vulnerability for disaster management to be more focused.

I hope the examples quoted above would help in the preparation of the Strategy Report for Hazard Risk Management as well as aid in identification of parameters that define vulnerability.

Sreeja S. Nair, National Institute of Disaster Management, New Delhi I want to mention here the GoI-UNDP Disaster Risk Management Programme, that works to reduce vulnerabilities of communities at risk to natural disasters in 169 multi-hazard prone districts in 17 states.

Under the programme, a series of measures have been taken up at the community, local government and other levels to create a culture of disaster preparedness and risk reduction. This has resulted in increased community preparedness and disaster mitigation activities across the project states.

While the government is systematically enhancing the required capacities and establishing systems for risk management and vulnerability reduction, it is proposed to prepare Vulnerability and Risk Reports for each of the states to understand better the trends and patterns of disasters and the factors that influence the vulnerabilities. Wide dissemination of these findings through regular State and Country Disaster Risk and Vulnerability Reports would mainstream these concerns in the sustainable development framework and policy agendas of relevant governments and other development partners. Such reports would give objective indicators to the local government on the areas of mitigation and risk reduction that need focus and also indicate to the higher levels of government which subordinate units need support in specific areas. The report would also help the national and state Governments to effectively utilize the capacities being established and the policy initiatives under the national roadmap.

Vulnerability mapping and Risk Assessment were identified as two important components under the project. Though lots of investments are already done for hazard mapping by various expert organisations there is not much emphasis on Vulnerability and Risk Analysis. Under DRM Programme few Initiatives for mapping Vulnerabilities and Capacities have been performed.

Both inductive and deductive approaches have been used to determine disaster risk. Inductive approaches use detailed quantification of hazard occurrence probabilities of different levels of magnitude, the elements that would be exposed (population, infrastructure etc.) to the hazards and vulnerable elements in the area of exposure to model the expected disaster risk. This approach has been adopted for Delhi State and detailed mapping of vulnerabilities and capacity has been done for all the 9 districts of Delhi. Similar efforts of mapping vulnerability and capacities and linkage with Disaster Management Plans at various levels were carried out by UN House Orissa and OSDMA. These approaches are very useful and rigorous. However, in most situations, this can be very expensive and time consuming, as much of the information required will have to be generated and most of the countries lack systems for collection and synthesis of such data especially at disaggregated geo-political levels.

Since it is not feasible to adopt Inductive approach for all the programme states, Deductive approaches make use of parameters of hazard frequency and physical exposure estimated using systematic georeferenced inventories of disasters and indicators of vulnerability to model the realized risk (deaths, damage etc) estimated using the disaster inventories. While this approach captures the cumulative disaster risk obtaining at a specific geopolitical unit for the period under observation, the usefulness for prediction of future risk might be limited. Nevertheless this approach might be more feasible compared to

the inductive approach given the availability of systematic disaster inventories and other readily available indicator parameters of vulnerability.

Pilot study has been carried out in Orissa during 2002-2004 period and Desinventar Tool and Methodology had been used for developing Systematic Inventories of past disasters. 10000 data sets on all the disaster events happened in Orissa state has been collected and analysed in comparison with Socio economic factors.

A preliminary analysis of the data compiled has brought out interesting observations which are contrary to normal perceptions. Some of the observations are: • Against the accepted notion that cyclones and floods are the most damaging disasters, it is actually fires and epidemics that cause more damage to life and property.

• Analysis of the loss of property shows that fire cause most damage followed by flood, hailstorm and rains.

• Fire makes people more vulnerable in terms of property and life but flood makes them more vulnerable in terms of livelihood, since agricultural lands get inundated. And Orissa being a predominantly agricultural economy gets shattered in times of floods.

• The trend of the number of deaths due to flood shows a decline, whereas the trend for number of victims is on the increase.

Similar efforts of disaster Inventorisation and analysis has been carried out in UP, Uttaranchal and Delhi under DRM programme and Tamil Nadu under regional tsunami recovery programme.

National Initiatives • Department of Space and Ministry of Home Affairs initiated the development of a National Database for Emergency Management. However, this initiative is not focussing on Disaster Database.

• Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council Vulnerability Atlas of India (Flood, Earthquake, Cyclone and wind hazards and landslides) : The Atlas gives information on all vulnerable areas that have been mapped indicating the expected intensities of natural events like earthquakes, cyclones, floods and landslides that can occur in different areas.

• Water and Related Statistics by Central Water Commission • Disastrous Weather Events Report by Indian Meteorological Department.

• Drought : ( Department of Agriculture and Cooperation/ NADAMS/ IMD) Drought Situation Reports are available as hard copies and also in electronic format with Department of Agriculture and Cooperation. Gives details of rainfall, crop position, damage details and relief measures taken. The department for few of the past events (2002 drought) also publishes States reports depicting the drought conditions.

• National Institute of Disaster Management and Central Statistical Organisation also joined hands to develop a National Statistical System on Disasters in India. http://www.nidm.net/CSO/CSONIDM.pdf

Manu Gupta, SEEDS, New Delhi This is with reference to your query on the preparation of Strategy Report for Hazard Risk Management of India. I am glad that such a study is being taken up. So far we have relied too much on data pertaining to Past Hazards which obviously does not give us a realistic picture. I feel, that with better risk profiling we will be able to invest our resources wisely and with better results.

We did a similar exercise for Maldives a couple of years back. This was in partnership with RMSI and carried out on behalf of UNDP Maldives. We realize from experience that socio-economic dimensions are equally important while building a hazard profile. In doing so we examined expected potential losses in terms of life, injury, food security, loss of income, psychological impact etc and matched the same with available capacities. Poverty Data, as indicated by you is definitely a strong indicator but so are

indicators on - settlement pattern, population distribution, cultural practices, livelihood patterns, food insecurity, health and education profiles.

Each of these are extensive studies in themselves, however one can refer to many available studies for India. Please do look up the Food Insecurity Atlas of Rural & Urban India published by M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and World Food Programme (WFP) in 2003. The National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER) too has conducted many socio-economic studies from time to time.

About 4 years ago, they carried out a sample study covering the entire country with sample villages covered in each state. The study parameters were similar to those one would typically choose for carrying out a vulnerability poverty survey. Similarly, there is a anthropological atlas of India.

As far as Natural Hazard mapping is concerned, I am sure you would have already referred to the Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) studies carried out by WFP; the vulnerability atlas of india by BMTPC; the landslide zonation atlas, the watershed atlas of India.

E. Karthikeyan, Institute of Participatory Environment and Disaster Management. Cuddalore Greetings from IPEDM! My suggestion regarding Hazard Risk strategy report is that it should contain the latest techno scientific analysis like GIS/ Remote sensing coupled with the real situation of the particular places like coastal village or urban area using the PRA exercises along with the primary and secondary data from government departments. Both studies should be matched to each other to find out the real Hazard Risk vulnerability to find out the necessary strategy for the appropriate management technology of the particular place.

Further, it should be from all the villages to block levels and district levels and state level.

Rekha Abraham, United Nations Development Programme, New Delhi Greetings from DRM Asia Community of Practice !

Recently, an eDiscussion was held on this Community of practice on " Disaster Risk Assessment: Creating evidence for better decision making". I am sharing here the final report of the discussion. To read report click here Hope the document will provide glimpses of few risk assessment undertaken in the Asia Pacific region and the learnings from the same.

Chaman Pincha, Gender Researcher, Chennai Gender disaggregated data should be collected on poverty and differential impact of any hazard on women, men and those who neither identify themselves with women or men (popularly known as third gender and not much talked about excepting in the matters related to HIV/AIDS). Institutionalizing gender within the strategy through a sound gender analysis of the issues of poverty and vulnerability to hazards in the PRA exercise would more effectively highlight the gender concerns, which cut across class, caste and ethnicity. This in turn would help initiating a process of addressing the issues of poverty and vulnerability in gender sensitive manner.

Recent studies in the Tsunami affected areas point to an urgent need of gender disaggregated database.

A database where data are presented not only in terms of women, men and children but also about

different categories among women and men. It must also capture differential consequences of poverty on different categories of women. These categories may be: women who heads the household, single women not heading the household, women who contribute to both cash and non-cash economy of the family/household, those who are dependent and face the consequences of secondary poverty more severely, women and men with disability, widespread poverty, malnutrition, starvation among elderly women and men, family maintained by children, scattered poor and other most vulnerable group.

Similarly, the cost analysis of relief per event should reflect its gender-wise needs and pattern of access and mechanism, which ensured that women’s access to such resources, correlates with effective control too.

Many thanks to all who contributed to this query!

If you have further information to share on this topic, please send it to Solution Exchange for the Disaster Management Community in India at se-drm@solutionexchange-un.net.in with the subject heading “RE: [se-drm] Query: Strategy Report for Hazard Risk Management in India-Referral, Advice. Additional Reply.”

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