Local bodies play a very important role in various phases of Disaster management. Discuss.

Disaster management involves various steps pertaining to things to be done pre and post-disaster. The role of communities is essential at every stage of the disaster management cycle. Local bodies and local communities play a crucial role in various phases of DM.

• Mapping and documenting the locations of disasters, time & duration, impact, and vulnerability, etc.
• Mitigation and Preparedness – It involves short-term and long-term planning, suggesting measures to reduce socio-economic vulnerability. Local communities have expertise in building traditional and disaster-resilient infrastructure like Dhajji Dewari, Upraised houses, etc.
• Communication and coordination during the disaster phase.
• Relief operations during and after the disaster occurrence.
• Volunteer to assist the administration.
• Long-term relief and build-back measures like livelihood creation and recovery (both social and economic) etc.

Hence community-led disaster management planning at the local bodies level can give real-time results both in planning and implementation. During the COVID pandemic, the role of local bodies in helping the administration was very actively visible, like:

• Setting up quarantine camps
• Vaccine availability
• Awareness generation
• Providing food and water security
• Retaining youth and immigrants in local jobs
• Sustaining on limited resources, etc.

Hence, decentralized planning and coordinated efforts can help reduce the fatalities caused by the disaster and its aftermath.