‘Preparedness at the local level crucial to disaster management’
(From Left) Parliamentary Secretary for Prisons, Home Guard & Civil Defence, Fire & Emergency Services W. Kithan; Member of the NDMA, JK Sinha; NDMA’s Incident Command System Specialist BB Gadnayak; and Special Secretary (Home) also DIG Fire & Emergency Services, L. Singsit, IPS at the inaugural on Saturday, November 28 at Rhododendron Conference Hall, NAPTC, Chumukedima. (Morung Photo)
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 28 (MExN): A three-day sensitizing programme for disaster management personnel began Monday, November 28 in Dimapur. Organised by Nagaland Fire & Emergency Services at Rhododendron Hall, NAPTC in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the seminar - ‘Incident Response System for Formation of Incident Response Team’ – seeks to update the state’s disaster response personnel on the existing disaster management apparatus or ‘incident response systems’ and the corresponding action thereof, albeit, under a coordinated and unified chain of command for optimum results.
Member of the NDMA, JK Sinha came all the way from Delhi just to attend the seminar. In his address, Sinha outlined that the term disaster management is nothing but an organized way of responding to a given situation, man-made or natural, through a coordinated and pre-determined set of action. “It is not rocket science, what is required is bare common sense” and making the best use of the available resources, he said. Talking of resources, he said that the ‘cutting edge’ for any response (to a situation) lies at the local level or the district officials nearest to the place of incident, who are charged with the responsibility of responding to such situations. “That is where we need to organize things.”
In the case of Nagaland, one can take advantage of the existing community structure, where the authorities can take the assistance of the various tribal bodies. The community or the locals, is a very important component. They are the ones affected as well as the first to respond. That is why keeping the people up-to-date on the response mechanism is a crucial factor, he said.
Stating that landslides and earthquakes are two definite disasters known to the state, he said that Nagaland must be prepared in this aspect. What is required is putting in place the requisite emergency equipments and other resources, he added; crucial among them being, having a reliable, all-weather communication apparatus.
After all has been said, having a fair idea of the predesigned ‘disaster management plan’ is vital as well as a map of the resources available. Everyone should know of it and should know the plan for the area, if in case disaster strikes, he maintained. Further, the state’s fire fighting capabilities must be upgraded by investing in modern equipments developed for the purpose, he said. Funding or rather the lack of it being a problem, he informed that the 13th Finance Commission has channeled a lot of money towards capacity building.
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