Tamil Nadu   

Efforts on to create India Disaster Knowledge Network

Special Correspondent

Two-day conference on disaster management organised Two-day conference on Disaster Management organised Issues such as disaster preparedness, early warning, rescue, relief and rehabilitation, and the role of NGOs were discussed

CHENNAI: The National Institute of Disaster Management is working on creating a portal, India Disaster Knowledge Network, comprising experts in various fields of emergency response and rehabilitation, its executive director, Dhar Chakrabarti, has said.

The knowledge resources of experts in each of the areas in the field of disaster management will thus be available online, Mr.Chakrabarti said. The IITs are expected to be part of this network, which will enable those working on the field to raise queries that will then be answered by the experts.

Manual

Speaking at the concluding session of the two-day conference on Disaster Management organised by the second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) along with the NIDM and Anna Institute of Management, here, he said a disaster manual will be evolved and this would replace the relief manuals currently being followed. The manual will focus on prevention, preparedness and a professional approach towards managing disasters.

A.P.Mukherjee, member, Second ARC, said distinct patterns of regional and seasonal variations of disasters had emerged at the conference. Stressing on the need to plan meticulously to handle disasters, he said no issue could be considered minor and ignored. Mr.Mukherjee also suggested these plans must be evaluated and updated yearly and that annual rehearsals and mock drills must be conducted once every year. He urged the NIDM to prepare a list of officers who had performed well during disasters.

The participants discussed issues such as disaster preparedness, early warning, readying manuals to be used at the state and district level, rescue, relief and rehabilitation, the role of NGOs, armed forces, NCC, Home Guards and territorial army and capacity building in the community and local bodies. The recommendations included establishing a pool of experts on disaster management at the state and district levels, providing necessary communication facilities and enabling access to the State Disaster Resource Network.

The participants also suggested that local bodies be encouraged to maintain a GIS database of their areas, identify `safe' zones in the villages and pay attention to documentation and media management.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Doing is learning
Efforts on to create India Disaster Knowledge Network
Credit bazaar organised for small entrepreneurs
Pykara power station a trendsetter
Granite waste to be used for groynes
Rotary help sought in promoting diabetes research
Briefly

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu