Nishant Buragohain M.A. in Disaster Management Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

1. Sustainability of CBDRR Program: The case of DuryugPratirodhSamiti (DPS) in Dhemaji District of Assam Nishant Buragohain M.A. in Disaster Management Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

2. Source: dhemaji.nic.in

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

5. Aim • To study the sustainability of a CBDRR Program

6. Broad & Specific Objectives • Factors contributing to the sustainability of the DuryugPratirodhSamiti (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

7. 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?

8. 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

9. Research Design & Methodology

10. The Cyclical Model of Research Process

11. 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

12. Data Collection Tools • Interview • Questionnaire • Literature Review • Reports documented by RVC • Observation

13. Definitions

14. 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]

15. 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)

16. 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)

17. 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)]

18. 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)]

19. 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

20. Data Analysis

30. DPS: Beyond Disaster Preparedness

31. 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. Borchapori • Construction of road under NREGA • Construction of toilets under TSC • Some IAY houses have been provided

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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

41. Literature Review

42. 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

43. 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

44. 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

45. 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

46. Findings & Conclusion

47. Incentives: Health Preparedness like safe drinking water, immunisation; better farming techniques, organic farming, etc • Linkage to Development: DRR should be a part of development plan. MGREGA is one such way • Long-Term Approach: Those DPS are more active with whom RVC is still engaged • Decentralization: DPS cannot take initiative as they lack legal status. Panchayat members can be roped in • Support from the State: Decline in the monitoring and evaluation by the DDMA. DDMA does have the potential of increasing the staff members

48. 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

49. 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