The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Districts to have disaster management plans

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Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Districts to have disaster management plans

Special Correspondent

Plans will be in place by March this year, says Revenue Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran said here on Tuesday that all districts would have disaster management plans in place by March this year.

Presiding over a conference on ‘Minimum Standards for Food, Water Supply, Sanitation & Hygiene, Health Services & Medical Cover and Psycho-Social Support in Disaster Relief,’ he said a State-level disaster management plan was nearing completion and would be ready by April. The Minister advocated the need for minimum level of services, which must be maintained by every agency while working for a disaster-affected community.

The two-day workshop is being organised by Sphere India, a national coalition of humanitarian agencies promoting quality and accountability in humanitarian action, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), the Evangelical Social Action Forum (ESAF India) and UNICEF.

In his inaugural address, N. Vinod Chandra Menon, member, NDMA, said the negative impact of disasters could be minimised with appropriate measures and by following a certain set of minimum standards in different sectors. Highlighting the role of NGOs and civil society in disaster management, he called for coordinated efforts to develop minimum standards for relief activities.

N.M. Prusty, chairperson, Sphere India, said the dignity of life of disaster-hit communities could be ensured only by having a humanitarian perspective and following minimum standards in disaster response. Roy K. Alex, director – programs, ESAF, and Vikrant Mahajan, chief operating officer, Sphere India, also addressed the participants.

Representatives from government departments, KSDMA, NGOs, academic institutions, and volunteers and professionals from Kerala and Tamil Nadu attended the function. The second day of the meet would focus on the recommendations for National Guidelines on Minimum Standards being prepared by the NDMA.

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