"Tsunami : Science, Society and Governance"

A report from the first-ever National Tsunami Disaster Symposium organised by Sparta Institute of Social Studies who are working as Consultant to UNEP and UNESCO.

Report of the National Symposium on "Tsunami : Science, Society and Governance"- March 21-22, 2005 in Kerala House, New Delhi and Recommendations of the Symposium.

The following are the recommendations of the first-ever National Tsunami Disaster Symposium organised by Sparta Institute of Social Studies:

1. An efficient early warning system for cyclone and tsunami should be immediately implemented and till that time cooperation with other agencies should be established.

2. There is lack of interdepartmental coordination in disaster management. A Central body should be established with participation from different agencies.

3. Anthropologists, Psychologists, Sociologists should be involved in the framing of policies and implementation of programs for disaster management.

4. CZMP (Coastal Zone Management Programme) should be effectively implemented for reducing the impact of tsunami and cyclone disasters.

5. Department of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Education should be properly involved in rehabilitation and reduction of trauma and education of the women and children in disasters.

6. Professional and timely assistance should be provided for genuine psychological rehabilitation of the individuals affected by tsunami and other natural disasters.

7. Education, awareness and communication should be given emphasis and properly implemented by individuals and agencies having research, training and field work experience. Disaster awareness programs should have proper framework, content and communication strategies. These programmes should be introduced in schools and colleges and through NSS and NCC.

8. The vulnerable tribal population of Andaman and Nicobar Islands should be sufficiently rehabilitated with utmost care by Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

9. The Island Development Board should be rejuvenated from proper development and for reducing the impact of disaster in coastal areas of the islands.

10. The youth, the community leaders and women self-help groups should be involved in the long-term disaster mitigation plans at different levels.

The first-ever National Tsunami Disaster Symposium was organised by Sparta Institute of Social Studies who are working as Consultant to UNEP and UNESCO.

In his inaugural address, Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyer, Minister for Petroleum and Panchayati Raj, Government of India pointed out the apathy of media and academicians and scientists to Tsunami disaster which occurred only three months ago.

The Indian Ocean Tsunami is the greatest disaster in recent years. He pointed out that the vulnerable tribal population in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the fishermen in the mainland must be provided through involvement of different Ministries.

He also recounted his visits to these areas for a number of tribes and interaction with the local population and the psychological trauma being faced by women and orphan children. He stressed the need for qualitative psychological counselling for brining them back to normal life.

He talked about the fate of Island Development Board farmed during the time of Mr. Rajiv Gandhi. He pointed out the anthropologists, psychologist and sociologists must be involved in the Task Force for Disaster Management and in the National Disaster Management policy.

Dr. A. K. Shukla of the Department of Meteorology elaborated the science of tsunami and the origin of Sumatra earthquake and its transformation. He also analyzed the feasibility of advance early warning systems in the Indian Ocean.

Mr. Sanjeev Kumar of Centre for the Study of Developing Society who had been researching in Nagipattinam district of Tamil Nadu for the last three months recounted his field work experience. He pointed out that initially the local community consisted of different types of fishing communities, muslim and the dalits were first responders in the Tsunami disaster. The dalit community is neglected and marginalised in the relief and rehabilitation measures of the government.

Mr. Bal Krishna of GIS Development highlighted the significance of GIS in disaster mitigation. He also pointed out how there was complete lack of coordination between Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Science and Technology in not issuing a timely warning or in issuing a false warning based on unreliable scientific data. He also pointed out the low quality and coverage of disaster awareness programs of different ministries and the absence of any central authority for disaster management and preparedness in India as compared to Japan.

Prof. G.S. Roonawal of Delhi University lamented the paucity of reliable scientific data and the total inadequacy of computer simulation models in the case of earthquake and tsunami.

Prof. R.B. Singh of Department of Geography, Delhi University analyzed the short-term and long-term measures for disaster management and the differences in approaches in developed and developing countries. He stressed on the implementation Coastal Regulation Zone Management for reducing the impact of future tsunamis. He also stressed on mangrove forestry and plantation along the seacoast for protection against tsunami disaster. Prof. P.R. Sinha dealt with the implementation of programs for disaster management.

Mr. Videh Upadhyay, a well-known legal expert from ELDF enumerated the history of disaster laws in the country and how the word 'disaster' does not appear in the constitution. He highlighted the disaster should included in the concurrent list rather than only Bihar and Gujarat government passing any kind of disaster laws. CRZ is only a notification and not a law introduced in 1991 and amended seventeen times due to lobby and pressures from different quarters. He highlighted the urgent necessity of implementing CZMP and micro- zoning for coastal disaster management.

Prof. D. Mukhopadhyay highlighted the gender issues in disaster reduction. Disaster affects men and women differently and the contribution of women in the informal preparedness, mitigation and rehabilitation is significant. In tsunami, maximum number of death occurred for the women and children and they had the face the serious psychological trauma after the tsunami. Very little concrete measures had been taken by Department of Women and Children as reported by field work and research experience. He also highlighted the importance of gendered traditional knowledge in disaster reduction and management.

Dr. Anuj Sinha of Department of Science and Technology highlighted the programs being planned by their department. He suggested the involvement of experts, academician, trainers in this effort.

Mr. Hemant Kumar of Delhi University enumerated the aftermath of tsunami disaster and the relief and rehabilitation measures being undertaken by the government and civil society organisations. Mr. Miachel Siromony, Resident Representative of Kerala Government and earlier Director of National Disaster Management highlighted the gaps in the governances of disaster in India. He poi8inted out how the general public should be aware and educated, the government machinery should be prompt and the health management system should be efficient.

Dr. S.K. Pachauri, Secretary Home, Government of India in his address highlighted the preparedness measures to be taken by the community, the government and the civil society organisation and the need for interdepartmental coordination. Women and children should be properly rehabilitated on a long term basis.

Mr. Kapil Sibal in his valedictory address and interaction pointed out that early warning system in the Indian Ocean is being implemented. He pointed out the responsibility of the scientific community and researchers in disaster management. he pointed out the formation of Central Authority for Disaster Management which would have members from different ministries. He highlighted the need from properly framing the message of disaster awareness and its communication through appropriate media for maximum effectiveness.

The meeting ended with a vote of thanks by Mr. Sanjeev Kumar.

Recommendations of the Symposium on "Tsunami -Science, Society and Governance" organised by Sparta Institute o Social Studies on March 21-22, 2005.

Published: 27 Jul 2006

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