Disaster Risk Reduction: The Indian Landscape

Abstract

India has registered a remarkable progress in reducing disaster risk since the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) went into effect in 2005; still it remains as one of the most disaster-prone countries of the world. Even though the HFA Monitor shows that nations across the world are making good progress towards the goal of reduced disaster losses and impacts, national and global disaster loss databases and global risk models indicate rising economic and livelihood losses (FLACSO, UNISDR. The future of disaster risk reduction. A Scoping Meeting for GAR 2015. San Jose, Costa Rica. Available at: http://www.unisdr.org/files/35715_thefutureofdisasterriskmanagement.pdf, 2013). Also, there is a little evidence that current risk governance arrangements are fit or suitable to effectively reduce underlying risk factors (UNISDR. Chair’s summary fourth session of the global platform for disaster risk reduction, Geneva, 21–23 May 2013. Available at: http://www.preventionweb.net/files/33306_chairssummarypostdraft1.4.pdf, 2013). The institutional and legislative arrangements have largely taken the form of disaster-focused organisations and systems, which had little real influence on development processes (UNISDR. Synthesis report: consultations on a post-2015 framework on disaster risk reduction (HFA2) Geneva: Switzerland. Available at: http://www.unisdr.org/files/32535_hfasynthesisreportfinal.pdf, 2013). Thus, the call for appropriate risk governance, defined as system of norms, institutions and interactions that determine how decisions are made and enforced, is clearly identified in the Sendai Framework. This paper discusses disaster risk, governance structures, stakeholders and opportunities for effectively managing disaster risk in the Indian disaster risk reduction policy landscape. This paper tries to trace the progress made in disaster risk reduction efforts from national to local levels from the perspectives of DRR.