SUSTAINABILITY OF CBDRR PROGRAM: THE CASE OF

DURYUG PRATIRODH SAMITI (DPS) IN DHEMAJI DISTRICT

OF ASSAM

Nishant BuragohainM.A. in Disaster ManagementTata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

Source: dhemaji.nic.in

STAKEHOLDERS

Duryug Pratirodh Samiti (DPS) Members Villagers Panchayat Rural Volunteers Centre (RVC) District Disaster Management Authority

AIM

To study the sustainability of a CBDRR Program

BROAD & SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

Factors contributing to the sustainability of the Duryug Pratirodh Samiti (DPS) in Dhemaji

Understand the priorities of the stakeholders Highlight communities’ resources and

capacities for better risk reduction Change policy makers’ attitude of looking at

people as flood victims Serve as a useful tool for further study and

implementation of the study

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Is the CBDRR Program sustainable? Does the community need the CBDRR

Program? Is the CBDRR Program benefitting the

community? How is the CBDRR Program able to sustain

the motivation and interest of the people?

CHALLENGES & LIMITATIONS

The number of respondents (39) In-depth analysis of the perspectives of Gram

Panchayat and District Disaster Management Authority needs to be taken

Comparative study with another CBDRR programmes will provide more insight to this study

RESEARCH DESIGN & METHODOLOGY

The Cyclical Model of Research Process

RESEARCH DESIGN & METHODOLOGY

Inductive Method (research-then-theory strategy)

Qualitative (plus Quantitative) Exploratory Random Sampling (for DPS selection) Non-probability Sampling (Convenience &

Purposive Sampling for respondent selection) Longitudinal Non-experimental Comparative Retrospective

DATA COLLECTION TOOLS

Interview Questionnaire Literature Review Reports documented by RVC Observation

DEFINITIONS

SUSTAINABILITY

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

[World Commission on Environment and Development (the Brundtland Commission), 1987]

DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

“The concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts to analyse and manage the causal factors of disasters, including through reduced exposure to hazards, lessened vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and the environment, and improved preparedness for adverse events.”

(2009 UNISDR Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction)

COMMUNITY BASED DISASTER PREPAREDNESS (CBDP)

“The Community Based Disaster Preparedness (CBDP) is a process to capacitate communities to prevent, mitigate and cope with disasters effectively. The process is designed, managed and owned by the communities. Others (Government agencies, public and private corporate bodies, NGOs, International agencies / donors etc.) play the role of facilitators.”

(Building PRI Capacities for Disaster Preparedness and Management – A Training Manual. GoI-UNDP Disaster Risk Management Programme 2002-2009)

COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT (CBDRM)

“A process of disaster risk management in which at risk communities are actively engaged in the identification, analysis, treatment, monitoring and evaluation of disaster risks in order to reduce their vulnerabilities and enhance their capacities.”

[ADPC: CBDRM Field Practitioners’ Handbook (2004)]

COMMUNITY-BASED DISASTER RISK REDUCTION (CBDRR)

“CBDRR is a multi-disciplinary agenda for community development; a different paradigm (long-term) that builds on the intrinsic relationship between disasters and development. Experience demonstrates that CBDRR efforts approached from a social and behaviour change perspective ensure that children and families understand simple and practical actions required to protect lives and properties from natural hazard induced disasters.”

[UNICEF: Conference on Community-based Disaster Risk Reduction (26-28 November 2008 – Kolkata, India)]

HYOGO FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION (HFA) The following are some of the principles which are recognized

and emphasized by the Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA): States have the primary responsibility for implementing measures

to reduce disaster risk Disaster Risk Reduction must be integrated into Development

activities A multi-hazard approach can improve effectiveness Capacity-development is a central strategy for reducing disaster

risk Decentralize responsibility for Disaster Risk Reduction Effective Disaster Risk Reduction requires Community Participation Gender is a core factor in disaster risk and in the implementation

of Disaster Risk Reduction Public-private partnerships are an important tool for Disaster Risk

Reduction Disaster Risk Reduction needs to be customized to particular

settings

DATA ANALYSIS

DPS: BEYOND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

AJARBARI

Construction of bridges during non-flood season

Post-office savings account Repairing for roads, raising of house

platforms DPS stays in touch with RVC & keep

emergency contacts updated Doctors are brought-in when required

NILOKH PALENGI

Provide free relief to affected family Minimum Rs.5 is collected from every family in

3 months Families contribute to ‘Kangali Bharal’. Grains

are sold if remain unused, money is deposited to the bank & post-office account

DPS members are at least Xth standard pass Members want to replace themselves with

youths

SAGOLI KOTA HAJONG

RVC has stopped giving training since last 2 years

No severe flood since the DPS was formed DPS is not as active as it was Meetings with villagers required IAY houses are not being provided yet No follow-up since the UNDP project was over

AMGURI AYENGIA Shift towards organic farming has been initiated

through DPS KCC are obtained from the bank Farmers Club formed DPS fund is used for those who can’t pay for the

toilets Some IAY houses have been provided Villagers come forward to help each other More awareness among people Health & hygiene conditions have improved Govt. officials are now approached by villagers

BAULI NEPALI

DPS assist villagers in case someone’s shelter is damaged

DPS is looking forward to have their own savings

DPS wants to improve their agriculture production through new techniques

Training is required from RVC or ASDMA Follow-up done by RVC, UNDP or ASDMA has

not come

BORCHAPORI

Construction of road under NREGA Construction of toilets under TSC Some IAY houses have been provided

SONARIGHAT

Panchayat didn’t give the contract of toilet construction saying that they have to be a registered group

Sale of grains from ‘Kangali Bharal’ has been used for those who are in need

More awareness about health & hygiene issues

NEPALI PATHAR

DPS is monitoring the construction of toilets under the TSC

DPS discovered inconsistency in spending on road construction under NREGA by Panchayat. Remaining amount was spent last year

NALBARI

Follow-up is required Improvement in agriculture is required Members are finding it difficult to manage

their personal life & DPS work Other villagers are reluctant to become DPS

members DPS is planning to start a flood awareness &

preparedness campaign

HARINATHPUR

IAY houses are being constructed Road construction, fishery, community hall,

raised platform under NREGA Women are coming forward to make DPS

even more active. They give suggestions for better functioning

LITERATURE REVIEW

2009 UNISDR Terminology on Disaster Risk Reduction Tearfund. January 2005. Mainstreaming Disaster Risk

Reduction: A Tool for Development Organisations Best Practices for Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction.

Case Study 1: Duryug Pratirodh Samiti – Institutionalization of Emergency Service Delivery Mechanism in Flood Plains of River Basin [documented by Rural Volunteers Centre (RVC)]

UNICEF Led Community Based Disaster Preparedness in West Bengal, India. External Evaluation by RedR India. June-August 2007

The Social Life of Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction by Annelies Heijmans

Critical Issues of Community Based Flood Mitigation: Examples from Bangladesh and Vietnam by Rajib Shaw

The Role of Collective Action in Enhancing Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change by Philip Ireland and Frank Thomalla

CONCEPTS & POINTS DRAWN Various definitions but ultimately focused on

disaster preparedness Top-down bureaucratic approach of the govts. &

organizations fail to recognize ground realities Vulnerability is the product of past political,

economic and social processes, risk is a concept which links the present with the uncertain future

Governments, who are the signatories of Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA), view disasters as hurdle to development but they still consider them as external events

CONCEPTS & POINTS DRAWN According to the governments, “participation

means consultation, not questioning or confronting power inequalities. People’s local knowledge may be used, local perspectives not necessarily”

Disaster mitigation is becoming more and more community-based these days yet it fails to incorporate the socio-economic concerns of the people

People lack trust and confidence in their government due to widespread corruption

CONCEPTS & POINTS DRAWN

The factor contributing to the success of the program is the long-term commitment of the key actors and organization to remain engaged with the community

Many young people volunteer their time to CBDRM activities because of incentives such as free services such as health care, training in language and other skills that are beneficial for seeking employment and advancing careers, and an improved social status

FINDINGS & CONCLUSION

1. Incentives: Health Preparedness like safe drinking water, immunisation; better farming techniques, organic farming, etc

2. Linkage to Development: DRR should be a part of development plan. MGREGA is one such way

3. Long-Term Approach: Those DPS are more active with whom RVC is still engaged

4. Decentralization: DPS cannot take initiative as they lack legal status. Panchayat members can be roped in

5. Support from the State: Decline in the monitoring and evaluation by the DDMA. DDMA does have the potential of increasing the staff members

6. Community Participation: Collectively people, especially

women, feel confident to approach the government officials;

Unity and cooperation among the villagers has increased

among the villagers like in the concept of ‘kangali bharal’;

these show the “Collective Action” as discussed in the

literature review

7. Customised Programme: Best-practices of one

village/Programme may not be applicable in other places; the

problems of the community are conceived by the donor and

implementing agencies, rather than the issues being

addressed by the community

8. Vulnerability Reduction: Along with the disaster

preparedness, the Programme should also aim to address

the root causes which make the community vulnerable in

the first place

SIGNIFICANCE

To understand the importance of sustainability

Add to the existing literature on CBDRR A study report for RVC Help ASDMA & NGOs while implementing

CBDRR programs in future

THANK YOU…