Strengthening Disaster Management With GO-NGO

Bhubaneswar: After successful flood and cyclone management, the Odisha government has brought other disasters including lightning, drought, drowning, snake bite and stress management, to focus of Odisha Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA)

At the state-level consultation on GO-NGO partnership for disaster management here on Monday, OSDMA Managing Director and Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi said lightning, drowning and snake bite are fast emerging as killers.

“Around 1800 persons lose their lives due to the aforesaid incidents every year. While water stress is turning into a challenge due to shrunk ground water level, others have affected state’s economy,” he added.

He further said, GO-NGO coordination will strengthen both management and preventive actions as the government rolled out its work plan for disaster management. State and district-level coordination committee have also been formed, he added.

Co-founder CYSD andmember CSO Working Group NITI Ayog Jagadananda said a decisive action at ground level is needed to make Odisha disaster-resilient. Abha Mishra, State Head United Nations Development Program, emphasised on inter-agency coordination, highlighting the need for preventive steps along with preparedness.

This year, OSDMA initiated new step of preparing Village Disaster Management Plan (VDMP) under which around 30,000 disaster vulnerable villages have been identified. From them, 10,000 most vulnerable ones have been taken up for preparation of VDMP.

The one-day consultation was organized in five different sessions where topics related to disaster management were discussed. Around 100 delegates from NGOs across the state, country and globe participated in deliberations.