Enhancing Disaster Resilience and Promoting Culture of Safety

Name of the partner NGO: SOLAR, UNNAYAN, Pallishree (Odisha), District Fishermen’s Youth welfare Association (DFYWA), Sanghamitra Service Society (SANGHAMITRA) (Andhra Pradesh)

Project Theme: DRR

Project Period: 01 April 2011 – 31 March 2012

Project Name: Enhancing Disaster Resilience and Promoting Culture of Safety among Vulnerable Communities in Odisha and AP.

Project Location: Kanas block in Puri district (SOLAR), Jaleswar and Basta Blocks in Balasore district (UNNAYAN), Bari block in Jajpur district (Pallishree)

Target Group: tribals, dalits, and women

Budget: Rs. 31,00,000 (for three partners together in Odisha) and 10.00.000 for Andhra Partner

Introduction:
Orissa has a history of recurring natural disasters. While the coastal districts of Orissa are exposed to floods and cyclones, western Orissa is prone to acute droughts. In addition, the State is also affected by disasters like heat waves, epidemics, forest fire etc. The history of disasters substantiates the fact that about 80% of the State is prone to one or more forms of natural disasters.
With 80% of annual rainfall concentrated over 3 months, the State is highly vulnerable to floods. High population density, encroachment on the flood plains, poor socio-economic condition, weak infrastructure and mud houses increase the vulnerability. Out of total geographical area of 15.751 lakh hectares 1.40 lakh hectares are flood prone. There are 516 nos. of vulnerable points identified by the state government in Orissa. Floods are the most recurrent disasters in the State. In the last 25 years, floods have occurred 12 times with varying severity.
Orissa is always vulnerable to cyclones in April-May and September-November. Once every few decades a super cyclone strikes Orissa. Recent Super Cyclone that hit Orissa in the last Century were in 1942, 1971 and 1999. The Super Cyclone of 1999 killed about 10,000 and traumatized millions who survived its wrath. Over 15 million people were affected. Throughout India's massive coastline, there are 250 cyclone-warning sets, of which 34 are in Orissa, covering 480 Km of coastline.
In the State, 2000 people died due to heat wave during 1998. Apart from the above natural calamities the major Cholera outbreak in the Nabarangapur district in the year 2010 has been one of the major eye openers for the state to review the WASH situation at the community level to pre vent such out breaks.
Orissa is also one of the poorest states in India.  Its poverty and backwardness, coupled with recurring natural disasters make the State and its people one of the most vulnerable in the country.  
About the Project: Following are  the important components of the current project
•    Strengthening Coping mechanism and risk preparedness in context to water, Sanitation and Hygiene management in disaster prone areas.
•    Secure livelihood through improved agriculture techniques, technologies to reduce agricultural risk and crop loss; diversifying livelihoods to reduce risks; and risk manage community livelihood portfolio enhance income
•    Ensure effective implementation of National Disaster Management Act 2005 and safety net programmes like NREGS, PDS and others
Results to be achieved:
•    Community Action Plans to reduce vulnerabilities are formulated and agreed by community themselves in each targeted village.
•    Innovative replicable WASH models (water, sanitation and hygiene) for disaster affected communities.
•    Efficient/safe water and sanitation practices in disaster prone areas resulting in to no loss of lives due to water born/ water related diseases.
•    Model Schools with DRR systems and practices in place
•    The promoted Farmer clubs perform effectively and develop linkages with district and block to access the government subsidies for agricultural inputs and other schemes.
•    Livelihood security ensured with adoption of flood and water logging variety.
•    Alternative livelihoods (decided in consultation with the community) ensure food security of vulnerable communities.
•    Civil Society Organization network led by partners starts lobbying for implementation of National DM ACT 2005.
•    Increased awareness on the schemes and close monitoring by the community groups will lead to better access of safety net programmes by vulnerable community.
•    Multi stake holders meetings at the block and district levels will provide opportunity for discussion on the issues related to access of various government schemes and programmes.

Prior Achievements:
?    Preparation and updating of Community level Action plans, regular conduct of mock drills and sharing of those action plans with Gram Panchayat and block to be incorporated in the Annual action plans of that level.
?    Improved WASH practice by the community in the project area.
?    Linkages with RWSS and other agencies to improve the WASH situation in the project area.
?    Multi stake holder meetings at the block and district level shall facilitate the dialogue process between key stake holders in the project area.
?    Improving risk reduction measures in the schools by institutionalising the DRR practices and capacity building of teaches, SMCs and students.  
?    Training program designed and conducted for Gram Panchayat level community monitoring groups on safety net programmes. .
?    Formation and training of Farmers Club on various subsidised schemes of Government interface meetings with agencies such as NABARD, KVK and Department of Agriculture for linkages and convergence.
?    Networking with Civil Society organisations and lobby for proper implementation of National Disaster Management Act 2005.
?    Mass Awareness generation on WASH and Public hygiene issues and engagement of elected peoples’ representatives and government authorities.
?    Regular engagement with IAG Odisha on the issues of proper implementation of National Disaster Management Act 2005.
?    Mass mobilisation around the key WASH issues through padyatras, rallies, organising district and state level events.