Building capacity to manage climate risk and disaster preparedness

GANGTOK, 04 Dec: Institutional understanding of the hazards that affect local populace, the importance of sound infrastructure for safety and to build capacity and strength for effective disaster management and mitigation were some of the aspects discussed here at the Orientation-cum-Workshop on GoI-UNDP US-AID Project on Implementation of UNAID supported, ‘Climate Risk Management Project in Urban Areas Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation’ organized by the Land Revenue and Disaster management Department today.
Gangtok is among six cities in the country where this project is being implemented under the aegis of Disaster Risk Reduction Programme. This 1210000 US Dollar Project would be implemented from October this year till September, 2015. UNDP is carrying out various projects in 26 states across the country and is constantly assisting the governments in enhancing financial and human resources.
The representative of UNDP stated today that disasters could be mitigated to a certain extent through preparedness but it was essential to change collective behaviour for better results. Disaster management is only a partial solution towards disaster mitigation but it is more important to change the mindset of the masses, she said.
She stressed on disaster risk assessment as one of the most important steps in designing suitable measures for reducing the risk of disaster in urban areas and added that ensuring good governance and capacity building of various stakeholders is equally important.
Similarly, SPO, Sikkim, Bhupendra Sharma speaking on the overview of UNDP’s engagement in the state especially Gangtok stated that Sikkim was indeed one of the first states to sign an MoU with UNDP on community risk management and also stated that UNDP had initiated this project since it was felt that urban areas were being neglected with regard to disaster risk preparedness issues.
He also talked about the policies of UNDP that have been adopted by the state departments for efficient preparedness related to disasters.
The Deputy Director, Civil Defense, India, Sanjay Sehgal while stating that Civil Defense was an integral part in disaster management stressed on strengthening the civil defense force in the state. Building capacity of community members for an effective response would go a long way in reducing risk of disaster, he said and added that special efforts should be made to mobilize volunteers from NSS, Civil Defense, Welfare Society, sanitary workers and health workers, NGOs etc.
Training should be provided to these volunteers on basic search and rescue, first aid, fire fighting, relief distribution etc, while efforts should also be made to compile a data base of these volunteers and institutions so that these volunteers could be trained periodically and mobilized in a systematic manner, said Mr Sehgal.
Strengthening early warning systems and developing guidelines and practicals were some other issues he highlighted.
The Gangtok, Mayor, KN Topgay in his address stated that it is important to reduce disaster risk in urban areas by enhancing institutional capacity besides enhancing community capacity to manage climate risk in urban areas by improving the preparedness. He also added that Gangtok because of its efficient governance and administration would be one of the exemplary cities in terms of preparedness.
The earthquake last year opened the eyes of many after which the state government is laying a lot of stress on preparedness related to disasters, the Mayor added.  
The workshop was attended by Deputy Mayor, Shakti Singh, Secretary cum Relief Commissioner, GoS, SBS Bhaduria, representatives of different line departments, officials of GMC, UD&HD, PHE, Police, Public Works, Tourism Departments and representatives of NGOs and CBOs. Others to address the gathering were Joint Secretary, LR&DMD, Shova Lepcha, Vice Chairman, Sikkim SDMA, Professor Vinod Sharma and DS, LR&DMD, Prabhakar Rai.