Disaster Management - Approach and Emerging Strategies in India
In India, the colossal loss of life and property, the social and economic disruptions caused by the increasing frequencies and severity of natural disasters has increased awareness on natural disaster management at all levels including political circles. However, the terrorist attack over World Trade Centre in USA and the spread of anthrax fear in its aftermath has shifted our attention towards potential danger of the biological and other manmade disasters. It is in this context that disaster management as an important issue draws attention of various stakeholders in the disaster management community to introspect how prepared we are to tackle this type of disasters. The present paper aims at giving a comprehenvsive account of the disaster management mechanism in our country. It also briefly discusses the efforts made and major challenges and various issues of disaster management in our country. In addition, it gives an account of the emerging strategies in managing future disasters - both natural and manmade. The various aspects covered in this paper will provide valuable inputs to the planners, policy makers, administrators, scholars and other stakeholders.