Oxfam India to help Bihar be better prepared for disasters

Oxfam India to help Bihar be better prepared for disasters

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#Bihar govt to follow 10 steps till 2030 to make state better prepared for disasters. @OxfamIndia to help. Read more. http://bit.ly/1d5yk8c

Disaster Management Department (DMD), Government of Bihar along with Oxfam India is developing the standard operating procedure (SOP) for disaster management in the state, especially Patna.

This was the result at the conclusion of the First Bihar Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), held in Patna over the past two days.

Speaking on the final day of the conference, Deputy Director, Oxfam India’s Humanitarian and DRR work, Zubin Zaman questioned the state’s preparedness for effective response to a disaster.

Zubin also mentioned the need for mapping the supply chain and other logistics.  

At the end of two-day  conference, the Government of Bihar, adopted a 10 point commitment as next steps towards development of Bihar DRR Roadmap  till 2030.

Below are the 10 recommendations:

1. Disaster Risk Reduction will be institutionalised by launching a state-wide campaign in 2015 through collaborative partnerships, involving all stakeholders.

2. Disaster prone communities and regions will be guaranteed inalienable right to the state’s resources for safety, prompt relief and protection.

3. Disaster Risk Reduction will be mainstreamed across Government of Bihar’s planning processes addressing the requirements for strengthening preparedness, emergency response, rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery.

4. All development planning initiatives will factor in risk avoidance, risk transfer, risk sharing and residual risk management.

5. Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) will be empowered with financial and regulatory roles for Disaster Risk Reduction.

6. Community skills, knowledge and capacities will inform decision making about Disaster Risk Reduction at all levels through inclusive and participatory processes, with special emphasis on context-specific differential needs of social groups.

7. Resilience of critical infrastructure and delivery of essential services will be ensured, including restoration of functionality and continuity, in case of disruptions.

8. Mechanisms for gathering, analysing and disseminating targeted early warning information to key stakeholders will be established in line with the national framework

9. Lives, livestock and livelihoods will be protected from disruption due to natural or man-made disasters and extreme events.

10. Requisite financial and human resources will be committed for fulfilling the vision of Disaster Resilient Bihar through the creation of a corpus fund.

Written by: Oxfam India staff

Photo credit: Adya Gupta and Khairul Sheikh