Background

With paradigm shift from response and relief oriented focus to a balanced approach giving emphasis on mitigation, prevention and preparedness, the erstwhile Relief Department was re-structured into the Department of Disaster Management. With the launch of GOI-UNDP Disaster Risk Management programme in the State since 2004 emphasize has always been given in the State inculcating the Culture of Resilience through prevention and preparedness. Further the enactment of the DM Act in December 2005 provided great impetus to the institutionalization of disaster management at the National, State and District levels. DM Act provides the legal framework for disaster management and explicitly states the roles and responsibilities of the designated authorities and departments at the national, state and district level towards disaster preparedness, response and mitigation.

Hence, effective disaster management requires trained human resources to deal with complex situations where effective and speedy handling can reduce the impact of a disaster on human life and property. It is necessary to continuously undertake measures to build capacity amongst those handling response and creating awareness among people. Capacity Building, Assessment, Awareness Campaign, enabling environment through strengthening infrastructure and Training are the five major components by which mitigation activities can be focussed on disaster risk reduction.

Gap in the capacity building of the State

Disaster Management covers a wide range of functions and skills, which include planning, organizing day-to-day management activities, counter-disaster operations, crisis management activities, recovery functions and specific tasks relating to information and communication. With these views, there is dearth of structured and implemented education, training, development of IEC materials, upgradation of communication system & equipments, awareness generation and orientation programmes which are urgent need for development of competence and organization of expertise.

Existing Infrastructure for Capacity Building

• About well trained 50 disasters management officers are available across the State and sitting at State, District, Block offices. After all, The State has a full – fledged Disaster Management Department upto block level. The State has Civil defence Department and Fire & Emergency Services Department who are capable for capacity building of community volunteers in terms of Search & Rescue and Fire Safety. In addition, About 25 resource persons are available along with strong Inter – Agency Groups – West Bengal comprising NGOs and INGOs in the State who are well versed for capacity building in terms of community based disaster risk reduction.
• Administrative Training Institute has Disaster Management Cell with modest training facilities. In addition, State Institute of Panchayat & Rural Development (SIPRD) and Institute of Local Government & Urban Studies (ILGUS), are available for capacity building of Government officials. In addition, Bengal Engineering and Science University(BESU), Jadavpur University, Durgapur Regional Engineering College and Jalpaiguri Engineering College act as as State Resource Institutes(SRI) for imparting training on disaster risk management technology to serving public and private engineers. PWD provides the training of masons in the districts in the construction of earthquake and cyclone- resistant houses. - In West Bengal, number of manuals has been developed under GOI – UNDP DRMP and DRRP like training manuals for development of Gram Sansad DM Plan, GP level training, block and district training manuals, etc.

Stakeholders for Capacity Building

Government officials concerned with disaster management and representatives of Panchayat, Urban Local Bodies and community at large are major stakeholders for the Capacity Building. In addition, capacity buildings of media personnel, lager number of civil society organizations, Self Help Groups, Private agencies including Engineer and Doctors Association, corporate officials are needed. Let us sketch West Bengal’s Administrative and PRI & ULBs structure to realize link of the Stakeholders in general.