India

Key findings and conclusions at the national level

• Community collaboration for assessment, planning, implementation and monitoring of risk reduction plans and activities needs to be institutionalised
• Community awareness and access to resources and information on local level risk reduction plans and activities needs to be improved
• There is a need to collaborate with civil society organisations to build the capacities of communities on resilience-building behaviour and activities
• Communities most at risk continue to be excluded from risk reduction activities

Surveys undertaken in India

Our Views from the Frontline surveys in India were undertaken in 2019.

Who was surveyed?

We surveyed 1,003 random households, 151 civil society organisations, 151 local government representatives, and undertook 75 community consultations.

Risk locations prioritised

We prioritised four risk areas:

• Bihar
• Gujarat
• Odisha
• Sikkim

Communities surveyed

We surveyed people from 15 communities: Kochelli; Surigaon; Sonawan; Bakhtiarpur Ward No. 18; Patna Ward 37; Kathi; Bhuj Ward No. 3; Katediya; Boriguma; Kotpad Ward No.10; Pottangi; Japabhuan; Jayaksankhapur; Mangan Ward No. 2; Kabi.

Our impact

Activities undertaken in response to community-level findings and conclusions

• Awareness generation and training/capacity building of communities (including women and youth groups) on disaster thematic areas to build an understanding of local risk and threats
• Formation and strengthening community-level disaster preparedness committee, contingency plans, and training on community-based disaster preparedness
• Advocacy meetings between government and communities at a platform concerning preparedness and responses during and post disasters
• Demonstration of good practices on disaster management for adoption by local communities so that they know their role to reduce risk
• Development of information and guiding documents in the local language for generating awareness of local stakeholders on disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation and ecosystems

Impact of activities

• The local communities can better understand disaster risk and early warning systems, and will be able undertake preparedness and mitigation measures to reduces the impact of disasters
• Community member will actively participate during planning, assessment, implementation and monitoring led by the government to address disaster risks or threats
• Local community members have gained knowledge on their role in ecosystem management, DRR and are now involved in the implementation of actions taken to reduce risk

Our project partners in India

Our Views from the Frontline programme is implemented by GNDR member organisations and partners in the country.

National coordinating organisation

• Orissa State Volunteers and Social Workers Association

Partner organisations

• Action for Community Empowerment
• All India Disaster Mitigation Institute
• National Youth Service Action and Social Development Research Institute
• Indo-Global Social Service Society