The study on Disaster History since Independence has been undertaken by the Department
of Disaster Management in collaboration with Presidency University. The action research
was completed and the detail report was uploaded in this web-site.
The study on Disaster History since Independence has been undertaken by the Department
of Disaster Management in collaboration with Presidency University. The action research
was completed and the detail report was uploaded in this web-site.
Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Analysis
Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Analysis (HRVA) for the district of Jalpaiguri was
completed in November 2012 in partnership with Jadavpur University under GOI – UNDP
Disaster Risk Reduction Programme. This HRVA contains 178 pages along with 21 maps,
22 tables and six chapters. The chapters are Introduction; Methodology for assessing
Hazard Risk Vulnerability Assessment in the District of Jalpaiguri; District Profile
– Social, Economic, Demographic, Geographic, Geologic, Climatic; Infrastructure
and Structural Elements – Connectivity – Roads, Dams and Bridges, Housing Profile,
Multi Hazard Profile of the District of Jalpaiguri; Block wise Disaster Risk profiling
by taking Gram Panchayat as unit and Mainstreaming DM concerns into Developmental
Plans and Future Actions. It was highly appreciated by Jalpaiguri district magistrate
for utilization of this HRVA in the planning process of the district administration.
The State Executive Committee of West Bengal SDMA also took the decision to execute
the HRVA study for the entire State for which the committee has been formed. The
tendering has already been floated & the selection for implementation agency is
in progress.
Awareness Strategy
Multi prong approach was taken to disseminate DRR messages to all types of stakeholder
right from community level to policy makers. Various Information Education Communication
(IEC) materials have been developed and circulated for increasing awareness of the
members of community, elected members of three – tier Panchayat Raj Institution
and Government Officials. For example, English & Bengali calendars comprising do’s
and don'ts on Flood, Cyclone, Earthquake and Landslide have been printed and distributed
to districts, block and Panchayat officials. Similarly, leaflets in Bengali & English
leaflets comprising history of Department of Disaster Management, achievement in
the last few years were developed and circulated among the community at a large.
Wall Writing and banners containing ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ messages on various natural
hazards @150 each has been completed in DRR districts and non project districts
as well. Jingles & spots for spreading awareness messages with regard to earthquake,
cyclone & flood for targeting both rural & urban residents for dissemination through
electronic media have been developed.
Campaign through DRR Congress
Two State Disaster Risk Reduction Congress was organized in Kolkata & Jalpaiguri
in the month of April in 2010 and 2012. More than 700 persons from all over West
Bengal and from several other states of the country including Panchayat representatives,
Government officials, UN representatives, INGO/NGO community, Corporate, academicians,
students and importantly member of the community were participants in the congress.
The panel discussion on about 21 topics relating to disaster risk reduction during
three days in the conference was elucidated by different scholars, high Government
officials, disaster managers and practitioners. In addition, Twenty Five stalls
equipped by INGOs / NGOs, University, Government Departments and corporate houses
displayed their own DRR activities, documentary films, model CBDRR villages, photo
gallery etc. and campaigned for various advocacy issues with illustrations like
posters, demonstration, leaflet, booklet etc. National Disaster Response Force presented
various search and rescue equipments and tools, also displayed their activities
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reductionis celebrated on any day
from mid October to Mid November every year in West Bengal, through various medium
in association with local and international NGOs at district and block levels across
West Bengal for generating awareness about the importance of DRR involving all section
of the society.
A disaster management stall is showcased for 5 days and sometimes for the
whole month on the occasion of various fair (Mela) like Ganga Sagar Mela, district
fair and also local fair in collaboration with Civil Defence, Fire Services and
local NGOs.
A Bengali film “Chitto Jetha Bhoy Shunyo” (where the mind is without fear)
of 40 minutes which tells shocking story of individual and family and also the coping
capacity of all stakeholders particularly family, community and Panchayats during
& after cyclone Aila. It also illustrates use of life support skills and community
& family level preparedness. Display of this film is still going on at remotest
villages of West Bengal.
Platform for State Inter Agency Group West Bengal
State Inter Agency Group West Bengal was formed in the year 2000 to promote GO-UN-NGO
coordination and a united response and preparedness mechanism. Since 2009 State
IAG is working in close collaboration with Department of Disaster Management, Government
of West Bengal with a view to promote Disaster Risk reduction activities amongst
all the stakeholders across the State. It is an autonomous in nature – a forum of
GO, CSOs, INGOs & UN agencies with about 80 member organizations, Universities and
technical institution. IAG has Executive Committee comprising UNICEF, UNDP, INGOs/
NGOs under chairmanship from Disaster Management Department, GoWB. IAG has organized
number of capacity building and awareness campaign in partnership with Government
for the last few years. A few are Workshop on Emergency Need Assessment (ENA), Workshop
on Hazard Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (HRVA), Inter-State Exposure Visit to
Odisha & Assam, Sharing of lessons learned & knowledge management through regular
and proper documentation by various media/ channels, State Disaster Risk Reduction
Congress, Coordination Meetings at State and district level at the time of emergency.
A few are furnished below.
- Workshop on Emergency Need Assessment (ENA) organized for 46 organizations
from different districts and also many government officials was held in Jalpaiguri
division, from December 7th to 12th 2011 in Burdwan division, from March 8th to
10th 2012 in the Presidency Division with the objective to minimize the vulnerability
during the disasters.
- Workshop on Hazard Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (HRVA) was organized
at Loyola Pastrol Centre in Silguri for 26 different NGOs from North Bengal along
with 9 Disaster Management Officers from North Bengal Districts. The objectives
of the workshop ware to understand the methodology for carrying out a multi hazard
risk assessment in different settings (urban and rural) and different types of geological,
hydro-meteorological, ecological hazards etc. The workshop was also emphasized to
the procedures to collect secondary data and information in regard to hazard assessment,
vulnerability and loss estimation
- Coordination Meetings: State IAG conducted coordination meetings on excessive
downpour, flood-like situation for reviewing the extent of damage. Representatives
from different NGOs in collaboration with district and block officials have paid
a visit to the affected areas for multi-sectoral assessment in two spell during
June and September 2011. On the basis of this assessment and proposed by the District
Administration as well, UNICEF and other international agencies responded accordingly
in few areas of Hooghly and Malda District.
- Inter-State Exposure Visit : A seven member team including two disaster management
officers from State IAG – WB went on an interstate exposure visit to State IAG Assam.
The team visited DRR activities and had interaction with the representatives of
State IAG of Assam & Government officials. The learning of this visit was widely
shared to all partners and also with different line Departments to implement few
leanings like Geo-tubing for embankments in Assam.
- Development & Maintenance of Website : State Inter Agency Group West Bengal
has developed website namely www.iagwestbengal.org.in
in association with Department of Disaster Management, Government of West
Bengal under GOI – UNDP disaster risk reduction programme in West Bengal. Many information
and documents of the department of disaster management like DM policy & framework,
History of Natural Disaster - West Bengal, State disaster management plan and few
IEC & training materials have been uploaded in this site. In addition, any advertisement
relating to DRR of the State Government use to upload in this site for wide sharing
& circulation among disaster management community in the State.