Stronger at the Grass root

Context: COVID-19 crisis emphasized the need to make disaster resilience an inherent part of community culture.

Role of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in disaster management:

• Provides a bottom-up approach when traditional top-down disaster response system got compromised as happens during COVID -19 pandemic.
• Performs both regulatory and welfare functions: by ensuring support to the vulnerable population.
  • During the nationwide lockdown, PRIs set up containment zones, arranged transport, identified buildings for quarantining people and provisioned food for the incoming migrants.
• Helps in effective implementation of welfare schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act(MGNREGA) and National Rural Livelihood Mission.
• Builds consensus & makes resolutions in the community’s interest through gram sabha. During the COVID-19 crisis, PRIs helped in - 
  • Organizing community-based surveillance systems involving village elders, the youth & self-help groups (SHGs).
  • Keeping a strict vigil in quarantine centres and monitoring symptoms in households.
• Bridges the trust gap between the community and the officials through regular engagements.

Way Forward: The Yokohama strategy during the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction in May 1994 emphasized that it is important to focus on disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness rather than disaster response alone to reduce vulnerability. Following are the initiatives that can be taken to build the capacity of PRIs.

• Citizen-centric mapping and planning of resources: by - 
  • Including disaster management chapters in Panchayati Raj Acts. 
  • Making disaster planning and spending part of Panchayati Raj development plans and local-level committees. 
• Building financial resilience of the community through various insurance products customized to local needs & through the establishment of community disaster funds in all gram panchayats.
• Conducting regular location-specific training programs & organizing platforms for sharing best practices for the community.
• Creation of Community-based disaster management plans for proper utilization of resources and maintenance during a disaster. Financial contributions from the community can be encouraged.