INTRODUCTION ABOUT THIS ISSUE Floods Again: What Can Be loods are the most common Fdisaster in . According to the World Resources Institute Done Differently in South Asia? (WRI), India tops the list of 163 nations affected by river floods in loods are age old but must South floods in forests and manage forests terms of number of people. As FAsia's response to floods be age to reduce floods in South Asia. Women several parts of the country face the old as well? South Asia is now leaders in Nepal are thinking and fury of floods this year, it is worth emerging to be a leader in reducing reflecting on this overlap from a examining what are reasons for disaster risk. Such regional efforts leadership point of view. India's high exposure to flooding were well received by Asian and what can be done differently countries in the recent Asian The Fourth area is ongoing activities to mitigate the adverse impact of Ministerial Conference on Disaster around DRR road maps. DRR road this recurrent catastrophe. This Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) held in maps do not adequately address issue of Southasiadisasters.net is Delhi in November 2016. issues of rampant and repeated titled 'Foods Again: What Can be floods and how to reduce flood Done Differently' and examines all The ongoing floods in in the impact as well as its causes. A road these issues. North East of India and in map for flood prone areas such as the West of India offer an Assam or Gujarat in India is There are several reasons for opportunity to re-look the flood overdue. Hazard specific action plans India's enhanced vulnerability to response in South Asia. are overdue at the sub-national floods. For instance, the county level. The challenge of receives 75% of its entire rainfall Therefore, this issue of mainstreaming floods in South over a short season (June- Asia's DRR road maps is widely September). Similarly, 12% of Southasiadisasters.net enlists what India's land area is considered can be done differently. Cyclones are shared in civil society members in prone to floods which makes one such area. Floods and cyclones Nepal, , and Pakistan. flooding a perennial phenomenon go hand-in-hand and the recent in at least five Indian states of cyclone Mora in offered Fifth, is it smart for a city to be Assam, , Odisha, Uttar an opportunity to look at floods flooded: have water logged roads Pradesh and . More recovery in an urban setting. New and partially submerged housing importantly, due to the advantages ways must be found to deal with colonies? Smart City infrastructure offered by living close to rivers, floods in cities and towns that propel investments in India offer an there has been a historic trend of South Asia's economic growth. What opportunity to reduce risks, if not overpopulation in India's is needed is "new dimensions" that all, at least flood risks faced by its floodplains. Climate change has David Sanderson and others offer in economic hubs and low income compounded this problem even the recent book titled, "Urban communities. more. All these factors interplay Disaster Resilience". with each other to precipitate Sixth, relief offered after floods is not regular flooding in the country to The second area is . A large new to South Asia. What is new is disrupt the lives of 4.85 million number of dams are built in South possible and now pioneering use of India's every year. Asia, and many more are being cash transfer in such relief. ECHO built to irrigate and mange floods. South Asia has done effective work However, there are a lot of But are these safe from floods? in cash transfer after floods with its mitigation measures that can be adopted to reduce the debilitating Are they safe enough to protect the partners in Odisha in India in 2014. impact of . Chiefly, development and progress that they And the direction is promising. district disaster management plans are supposed to spawn. (DDMPs), forestry, cash transfers The above six are not the only ways for flood relief, newer technology Third, obvious but not well to deal with floods differently in for early warning and capacity recognized area is floods and South Asia. But the above are some building of line departments on forestry in South Asia. Forests slow of the key ways that need urgent and climate change represent an entry down run-off and thus reduce floods. additional attention while dealing point to mainstream flood Floods wash away forests. Both with floods in South Asia. preparedness in the country. Read on impact each other and yet there is – Mihir R. Bhatt to know more. – Kshitij Gupta no clear direction on how to manage

2 southasiadisasters.net July 2017 FLOODS AGAIN Floods in India in 2017

s India is lashed by an above It is already known that 83 people State Disaster Management Anormal monsoon, several have died this year due to these Authority (ASDMA) has done states of the country are suffering floods and close to 1.5 million have effective work in evacuating people from a flood situation. The most been displaced in Assam and and shifting them to relief camps adversely affected states include Arunachal Pradesh.1 According to the from some of the most flood affected Gujarat, Assam, Odisha, and Andhra United Nations' Global Assessment districts in the state. Such efforts are Pradesh. As photos and videos of Report (GAR), India loses close to praiseworthy but the larger problem inundated streets and submerged US $ 7 billion on account of floods of flooding needs to be tackled houses from different parts of India on average annually. Given the great through proper preparedness and make rounds on the electronic and human and economic costs incurred mitigation measures. According to print media, it is high time to ask by the country due to the wrath of the World Resources Institute (WRI), some important questions. Questions the floods, it is imperative to build India has most number of people in like 'What makes floods in India so resilience to it. This resilience can the world exposed to the risk of destructive and debilitating' need to be built up in many forms. flooding. (See the graph below captures be answered. Similarly, given the that) widespread death, destruction and In the face of this disaster, the displacement brought by the floods National Disaster Response Force Given the enormity of the problem, it is important to ask why isn't there (NDRF) and the Indian Air Force there needs to concerted efforts in a statewide mechanism for better (IAF) have rescued 400 people making the country better prepared preparedness. stranded due to floods in different for these recurring floods. A robust parts of Gujarat. Similarly, the Assam way of mitigating the impact of

1 http://www.firstpost.com/india/monsoon-alert-8-dead-in-floods-across-india-more-rains-in-store-says-weather-forecast- 3824715.html

July 2017 southasiadisasters.net 3 floods is through preparedness at the changing climate has been a major Disaster Management Authority's sub-national levels. India already has contributing factor for all the (OSDMA) humongous evacuation of a National Disaster Management Act, increase in the frequency and 52,000 exposed people during which mandates all the districts in intensity of floods. However, the Cyclone Phailin in 2013. the country to prepare an annual line departments of the government District Disaster Management Plan possess only a limited Ever since 1987, the All India Disaster (DDMP). However, most of the understanding on this issue. Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) has times, these DDMPs are seen as an Capacity building of these line worked ceaselessly to build the instrument to facilitate post-disaster departments on understanding the resilience of the country's poor and response and relief operations. concepts and impacts of climate vulnerable communities. In this change can also lead to better journey, AIDMI has found that These DDMPs in fact represent an preparedness and response to floods DDMPs represent an entry point for opportunity to mainstream and at the sub-national levels in the starting preparedness work against institutionalize preparedness against country. disasters of all kinds, particularly floods in the country. Key systems floods. It is hoped that more such as water supply, health, power, Leveraging technology for better scientific DDMPs which integrate communication, housing and forecasting and issue timely climate change with disaster agriculture need to be taken into warnings is key to mitigating the concerns and along with laying out account when planning for flood impact of floods. In this respect, provisions for building up the preparedness as they are all affected investing in more sophisticated capacities of line departments will by floods. This can be done well if the technology for accurate prediction become the norm in the country. hazard and risk mapping of potential and setting up of a robust network Such pro-active measures will go a disasters is scrupulously conducted. for early warning dissemination is long way in making India resilient imperative. Early warning has the to the risks of flooding. There is a considerable body of potential of savings millions of lives – Kshitij Gupta scientific evidence that suggests that as evidenced from Odisha State

WHILE RESPONDING TO MORA CYCLONE Responding to Cyclone Mora's Impact

s Cyclone Mora made landfall of the latest World Humanitarian Aat Cox's Bazaar in Bangladesh, Summit a reality. This book can I could think of no better book than provide a robust Road Map for "People, Aid and Institutions in doing so. The response to Cyclone Socio-economic Recovery Facing Mora related loss and damage has Fragilities". As this cyclone ravages to be more embedded, offered with through the lives and livelihoods of more humility and pursued in the the fragile communities living on development direction desired by the borders between Bangladesh and the local citizens. This response also Myanmar, this book offers many needs to be pushed away from valuable lessons to plan an effective universal standards and standard recovery. The detailed and rigorous operational procedures to address research in this recently published case sensitive decisions that are book is of immediate value to those people centric. who fund, receive, deliver, and who may oppose relief. Cyclone Mora offers an opportunity to reduce risk and build prosperity Although the book is not about among the affected communities and Bangladesh or Myanmar and does citizens. For this purpose, it is not exclusively focus on cyclone suffering sudden and additional loss imperative to put knowledge into relief, the ethnographic case studies or damage. Cyclone Mora also action especially in humanitarian presented in it offer useful lenses to presents an opportunity to action, otherwise its value stands to view the day-to-day process of relief humanitarian actors around the be diminished. and recovery in fragile communities world to make the 'Grand Bargain' – Mihir R. Bhatt

4 southasiadisasters.net July 2017 EMERGENCY RESPONSE Floods in North

loods in Assam have claimed 45 with thousands of people seeking Dhansiri at Numaligarh in Golaghat, Flives while at least 1.7 million shelter in more than 300 relief camps and the Barak at Badarpurghat in people have been badly affected. set up by the state authorities in Karimganj, and Kushiara river at Assam. Authorities have declared a Karimganj. About 20% area of the The Brahmaputra river, which flows "maximum health alert" to stop the is still from down to India and then spread of disease, a common feature inundated, which has affected about through Bangladesh, has burst its following such floods. 35 anti-poaching camps at Kohora, banks after torrential monsoon rains, Bagori and Bishwanath ghat. swamping more than 2,500 villages The floods have not spared spread in 24 districts of the state in endangered one-horned rhinoceros The current wave of floods has badly Assam state over the past weeks. in Kaziranga National Park, a affected animals and poultry in the Among the affected districts are UNESCO world heritage site. The flooded districts covered by forests. Lakhimpur, Karimganj and Majuli, flood waters have swamped the park A total crop area of 205,587 hectares with thousands of families losing all with more than 90% park under have been affected in 29 districts, the their valuable possessions including water, according to Assam Forest ASDMA report said. household items. Minister Pramila Rani Brahma. Altogether 15,205 people have been More particularly, situation in Assam Floods rescued by the national and state Lakhimpur has remained grim since disaster response forces, Central the last few days after the North- The death toll in the Assam floods Reserve Police Force (CRPF), army, Eastern Electric Power Corporation climbed to 69 as four more deaths police, forest police, and district (NEEPCO) released a huge quantity were reported on July 18, while administrations. of water from its Ranganadi hydro- nearly a million people remained electric project dam in Arunachal affected in 16 districts in the state in Around 122,850 people have taken Pradesh. Over 2.80 lakh people were one of the worst floods disaster in shelter in 334 relief camps where affected in Lakhimpur district alone, recent years. they have been provided with food, while 1.38 lakh people have been tarpaulins, disinfectants, candles, affected in adjoining Dhemaji district. The worst hit district in Assam is drinking water and medicines, the South Salmara where 125,040 people ASDMA said. In island district of Majuli, the are affected, while in Morigaon district – Vandana Chauhan Brahmaputra has caused three nearly 100,000 people are facing the breaches on its embankments, flood fury as the state authorities Floods in Gujarat inundating houses of over 50,000 struggle to reach out to affected people. Over 50 families have lost populations spread in vast areas. ujarat continues to witnesses their homestead and cultivation land Gheavy rains across the state due to massive river-bank erosion According to ASDMA, the swirling that has led to flooding in various caused by the river. waters claimed four more lives and parts. According to the Gujarat almost a million people have been government’s emergency control Union Minister of State for Home, affected in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, room, five people including two women died when lightening Kiren Rijiju, accompanied by a team Biswanath, Nalbari, Barpeta, struck them in three separate of officials from Niti Ayog, NDRF and Bongaigaon, Dhubri, South Salmara, incidents in the state. In two Union Home Ministry, have been Goalpara, Morigaon, Nagaon, incidents of lightening, four visiting the affected places in Assam Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, people were killed in and Arunachal Pradesh to take stock Karimganj and Cachar districts. district and one in Morbi district. of the floods and landslides that have The water in the Brahmaputra and claimed several lives. Fourteen persons With five deaths, total 65 people the Barak rivers, and their were buried alive after a massive have died in rain related incidents tributaries, have been showing a landslide wiped out half of Laptap, in the state since June 1st while 21 receding trend at several places in a village in Papum Pare district in have died since July 14 when the Arunachal Pradesh on July 11. the state with cessation of rainfall. state came under spell of incessant rains which still continue in July India's Prime Minister expressed his But the Brahmputra is still flowing 24 to 26 spell. anguish over the human suffering, above the danger level at Dhubri, – Vishal Pathak

July 2017 southasiadisasters.net 5 INVESTING IN DRR Making Dams Safer Is there a need for a national framework for investing in Dam safety?

ne of India's largest hydro reduction (DRR) activities across and also lead to a rise in hydro Odevelopment projects, the India. Similarly, this effort can also power generation from current 1300 Narmada Dam in Gujarat, has be complemented by the Gujarat MW to 1450 MW. received the final clearance from the State Disaster Management Narmada Control Authority (NCA) Authority (GSDMA) which builds The water audit (use for agriculture, giving a go ahead to the Gujarat the resilience of the citizens of industrial and domestic purposes) government to close the Sardar Gujarat to the various disaster risks can provide useful findings for Sarovar Dam (SSD) gates on the faced by them. The draft Dam Safety future risk reduction actions for the Narmada river. This marks the Bill is being finalized by the Ministry National Water Development completion of the project, almost 56 of Water Resources, of Government Agency (NWDA) and other water years after the dam's foundation was of India. institutions. laid by the then Prime Minister in 1961. Perhaps it is time to think of The NCA permitted increasing the Gujarat should share the lessons -on the various ways of reducing the dam's height by lowering of 30 sluice how to move faster, and effectively risk of extreme events like gates and impounding of water in - from this 56-years of hydro earthquakes, droughts or floods on the reservoir upto its Full Reservoir development journey which can be projects such as the SSD. Level (FRL) of EL 138.68 metres. useful for the fast expanding Indian Rivers Inter-link project and for These risk reduction activities can be The latest move by NCA will lead making it ecosystem based. led by the National Disaster to completion of the project and will Management Authority (NDMA) result in an increase in the dam's This additional storage of SSD would which plays the key role in guiding storage capacity from 1565 million irrigate about 8 lakh hectares of land, national investments for disaster risk cubic metres (MCM) to 5740 MCM mostly in water starved areas in and . It is Reducing Disaster Risk now time to think of more measures needed to protect irrigation and ater: There is a total of 28 million acre feet water of Narmada in arrest water starvation in these areas. Further, this increased storage SSD. The state wise distribution is thus: 18.25 MAC to Madhya W level can have long term benefits in Pradesh, 9 MAC to Gujarat, 0.5 MCA to Rajasthan and 0.25 MAC to providing effective balance to deal . How to protect this water flow from floods and drought? with flood and drought situations in the catchment areas. Electricity: Total 1450 MW hydro power to be generated at the dam site by SSD. gets lion's share with 57% total power to be About one crore people would get generated, Maharashtra gets second largest portion of 27% and Gujarat assured drinking water and gets 16 % of power. What can be done to reduce flood, cyclone, and irrigation facilities. The SSD would earthquake risk faced by this hydro-power grid? primarily meet the water requirement of drought prone and Canal Network: Total 71,747 km long canal network of SSD spread in desert areas of Gujarat, Madhya over 20 districts in Gujarat. So far, the authorities have completed 47,104 Pradesh and Rajasthan. In some ways km long network, which means 66 % works stand completed. Who will SSD is one of the biggest anti- reduce risks of disasters faced by these canals? drought and anti-desertification measures in India. Project Affected Villages: Total 244 villages in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat have been affected, submerged fully or partially due to SSD. The time has come to protect SSD, From these villages, 46,840 families have been resettled and rehabilitated the life line of Gujarat, from all with compensation by the authorities. What measures are needed to make kinds of disaster risks, including that these families and villages resilient to disaster and climate risks? of floods and earthquakes by

61 southasiadisasters.net July 2017 considering the recommendations of measures and policies in place to be continued even after its scheduled the national authorities and the protect the big dams and economic culmination of 2018. Sendai Framework. growth of India. Needless to say disaster The Environment Sub-group of NCA The Central Water Commission preparedness needs to be an integral chaired by union secretary of (CWC), which is the apex part of these safety measures to environment and forest had organisation for water resources prevent any mishaps. Ministry of reviewed implementation of management, in 2006, asked the Water Resources, River environment safeguard measures states to come up with an emergency Development and Ganga and recommended lowering down action plan for large dams and laid Rejuvenation with the financial of the gates for completion of the down guidelines for that purpose. support from the World Bank has project. The disaster risk faced by the The ministry of water resources, too, embarked upon a six year Dam dam and canals need to be assessed in 2011 came up with crisis Safety Rehabilitation and and reduced. management plans for states to Improvement Project (DRIP) in the handle dam related contingencies year 2012. Under this project, The Resettlement and Rehabilitation and asked them to set up dam safety comprehensive rehabilitation and sub-group chaired by the Union organisations. So far, half of the improvement of 225 large dams are Secretary of Social Justice & states have complied with the carried out in seven States. In Empowerment had also reviewed directions of the water resources addition, institutional reforms and the rehabilitation and resettlement ministry. strengthening of regulatory of project affected families as per the measures related to safe and Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal The government has prepared a financially-sustainable dam (NWDT) Award and the Supreme draft law for ensuring dam safety operations are carried out. The seven Court order was delivered in and has circulated to the states. CWC states where the project is being February 2017. The next step is to is running a six year Dam implemented are: Jharkhand, build the resilience of these families Rehabilitation and Improvement , , Madhya Pradesh, to the disaster risks they face. Project with financial support from Odisha, , and the World Bank. It covers 5% of the . A national framework As the SSD project stands completed unsafe dams spread across seven for investing in dam safety will after 56 years of its inception, states. This scheme needs to be make India's dams and related perhaps it is time for a little extended to include all the unsafe economic growth safer. introspection. We should introspect dams in the country and it needs to – AIDMI Team on how to make the SSD resilient to the various climate and disaster risks so that the gains that it delivers Global Humanitarian Assistance to the people are safeguarded. What Report 2017 is needed is a framework to reduce disaster risks faced by SSD. Under ndia can not isolate itself from the leadership of NCA, GSDMA, and Iglobal humanitarian assistance, NDMA, the SSD can become India's its impact, and its thinking as first SFDRR compliant dam. India itself is more and more actively reaching out to the victims Dam Safety Measures in India of natural and extreme climate Close to 80% of India's 5,198 large events in its neighbourhood. The dams are over 25 years old and are latest Global Humanitarian confronted with safety challenges. Assistance Report (GHAR) 2017 Many experts believe that the wear offers both, lessons for India to and tear along with the sub-par take on its humanitarian agenda, maintenance of these dams is as well as what India should avoid. jeopardizing their safety. The most Flexibility of financing is a key to worrying are those dams that lie in higher impact and channelling high seismic zones and can be funding through local people and destroyed by medium to high organisations is a proven way to intensity earthquakes. In this context, better performance. it is essential to review the safety

July 2017 southasiadisasters.net 7 UNDERSTANDING DISASTER RISKS Women's Leadership in Forest Recovery in Nepal

Round Table discussion on A"Agriculture, Environment and Forestry: Role of Women's Leadership" was held in Ahmedabad on July 10, 2017 with women leaders from Nepal who have been working on key issues of sustainability and conservation in Nepal ever since a devastating 2015 earthquake had hit their country.

The role of small business in forest produce trade; the scope for green bonds to invest in forestry; and linking forestry recovery with national development planning came up in the discussions.

The leaders discussed ways to Photo: AIDMI. feminize forestry activities in favour argued lessons from ongoing In addition needs capability building of work, income, and ecosystem recovery in Nepal. The earthquake were discussed, which included ways away from profits, timber trading, recovery may deepen the inequality of understanding multi-sectoral and singular business interests. between those who benefit from forestry needs of women; disaster forests and those who do not. For vulnerability of forests; integrating The leaders agreed that there was a the people dependent on forests for women's livelihoods and protection need to rethink the very foundations their livelihood, the aftermath of the programming for forestry recovery; of modern forestry with historically earthquake mattered more than the and understanding new stakeholders grounded, highly current, and well actual earthquake. in forestry recovery.

The participants pin pointed four areas for more work in building resilience of forests to disasters: formal and informal institutions; forest households; forest produce markets; and forest related policies such as water harvesting, and carbon sink.

It was concluded that more investment was needed in building capabilities of local leaders to find local ways to plan for DRR compliant forestry in the districts. A pedagogy of risk reduction is needed for the forests of the past, present, and the future.

– Mihir R. Bhatt

8 southasiadisasters.net July 2017 RISK PLANNING DRR Road Maps of Indian States

ach state of India needs a Road EMap to implement its State Disaster Management Plan. The following are the opportunities and challenges to support state level disaster risk reduction (DRR) Road Map for making India safer from disasters.

Opportunities 1. The state DRR Road Map is an instrument that integrates priorities of SFDRR and SDGs and NDCs. It ultimately targets poverty reduction and provides policy support to the state as well as national development agenda. 2. Strategic priorities and actions for the disaster prone Photo: AIDMI. geographical areas and District level stakeholders' consultations on making district disaster management populations can be converged in plan pro-poor of Puri, Odisha. the Road Map. 3. The Road Map can be a valuable in India offers a way ahead to find 2. The engagement — vertically source to plan and initiate risk support for making such a state and horizontally — of institutions avoidance, risk transfer, risk level Road Map. requires pro-active role for DRR sharing and residual risk Road Map making which must be management between two Challenges flexible and usable. disaster responses in the 1. The sustainability of DRR 3. The Road Map must not be just a vulnerable states. In Assam the institutionalizing process is list of 'stations'. It must have ASDMA is engaged with AIDMI, challenging. It requires long term practical guidelines for the ACT and others to develop a risk planning and commitment of planning and implementation of transfer approach to the Road human and financial resources. the activities. Without this the Map. The Road Map needs to link journey can be finished by 4. Recent interest in and action on short-term targets with long term missing all the stations on the heat wave preparedness in cities targets. road. 4. The initial orientation and For more information: stakeholder engagement in 1. A Disaster Risk Reduction Roadmap for the World Meteorological preparing of the state DRR Organisation (2016); WMO. https://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/drr/ documents/roadmap/documents/WDS-DRR-16948_en.pdf. actions is not only for increasing 2. Asia Regional Plan for Implementation of the SFDRR 2015-2030 (2016). ownership but also for preparing http://www.ndmindia.nic.in/AsiaRegionalPlan.pdf. an enabling environment for 3. DRR and Health Technical Note (2011), UNICEF. http:// local implementation. Thus, the www.unicefinemergencies.com/downloads/eresource/docs/DRR/ Road Map needs to ensure that FINAL%20DRAFT%20DRR- the process is detail oriented. Health%20Technical%20Note%2021%20May%202012.doc. 5. The state DRR Road Map should 4. Implementing Cancun Agenda in South Asia (2017), AIDMI. http:// www.preventionweb.net/files/submissions/ not only deal with the finance 53573_157snetimplementingcancunagendainsouthasia.pdf. and planning but also with 5. National Disaster Management Plan (2016). http://ndma.gov.in/images/ planning of human resources policyplan/dmplan/ across the state that deal with National%20Disaster%20Management%20Plan%20May%202016.pdf. DRR (and not only disaster 6. Roadmap for DRR 2015-2030 (2016), BSDMA. http:// management). www.disastermgmt.bih.nic.in/Circulars/Draft_Bihar_DRR%20Roadmap.pdf. – Vishal Pathak, AIDMI July 2017 southasiadisasters.net 9 REDUCING IMPACT OF RISK New List of Smart Cities is a New List of Disaster Risk Reduction Opportunities

he Government of India has housing projects that benefit the the citizens and city governments Tannounced a new list of 30 cities urban poor; 26 cities will be taking proposed the projects for fixing the to be added under the ambit of its up school and hospital projects; and infrastructure deficit in their flagship scheme called Smart City 29 will be taking up redesign and respective cities. So in many ways Mission last month. This new list redevelopment of roads. These Smart City Planning has been a offers opportunities to reduce a wide proposals offer opportunities to make bottom up process where cities have range of disaster risks faced by the urban shelter safer from earthquake, a say in how to make a city smart as citizens of urban India. flood, to fire disasters; reduce loss well as safe. Ongoing research work and damage caused due to disasters on uncertainty of Dr. Parth of IIT Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, to schools and hospitals; and invest with experts from UK and Norway Naya Raipur in Chhattisgarh and in what is being called "green" and in Mumbai indicates that more such Rajkot in Gujarat figured in the new "blue" roads and urban infrastructure. bottom up, and top-down list of 30 cities announced for Climate and Development consultations processes take place, development under the Government Knowledge Network (CDKN) with the greater are the chances for active of India's Smart City Mission. This Atkins of UK and Dhan Foundation urban transformation that is “green” mission is one of the most ambitious in Tamil Nadu have designed such fair and sustainable. initiatives by the Government of "blue" and "green" infrastructure India in terms of financial resources projects for the city of Madurai. Shri Naidu also launched the City allocated, cities covered, citizens Liveability Index (CLI)—a first of its involved and a leap ahead planned All the 30 cities will put in place kind Pan-India—which will help a in technology: digital and other. integrated command and control city to know where it stands in Some of the best firms and experts— centres that enable coordination ensuring the quality of life to its from UK, France, Japan, China, and among various agencies for better citizens. The CLI, with suitable —are involved in making service delivery and effective changes, can also tell the city how this mission a reality. management of scarce resources such safe the lives of citizens are. Such a as water and power. These command CLI will help cities find ways to This latest announcement takes the and control centres offer an prevent new and reduce existing number of cities covered under this opportunity to include disaster disaster risks through the initiative to 90. These cities have response and preparedness as a key implementation of integrated been selected for part financing of urban function. In addition, ongoing measures. The CLI exercise will be projects by the Government of India work of Assam State Disaster taken up in 116 cities–covering all under this scheme. Management Authority (ASDMA) smart cities, capitals and cities with with Action for Climate Today over one million population each, An investment of Rs 57,393 crore indicates the management need to he said, adding the first ranking will (US$8,902,936,365) has been prioritize the potential of risk be out in 2018. proposed for development of these insurance in addressing climate and 30 cities. Of the planned expenditure, disaster risks in cities. Under the Smart City Mission, the Rs 46,879 crore (US$7,271,301,617) Government of India provides Rs 500 will be for core infrastructure and The challenges faced by cities of crore to each city over a period of Rs 10,514 crore (US$1,630,683,011) for India to reduce disaster risks includes five years for implementing strategic technology-based solutions in public lack of nation-wide city-to-city urban projects. Launched on June 15, 2015, transportation, solid waste humanitarian response system. the Government of India proposes management and augmenting civic to develop 100 smart cities under the centres. With this, the total For such a system, a sound mission that will launch India into a investment approved under the understanding of vulnerability and trajectory of rapid economic growth smart city plans of 90 cities has gone needs for safety in urban India as and shared urban prosperity. This up to Rs 1,91,155 crore well as integration of livelihoods of growth and prosperity must be (US$29,649,643,989). the citizens is needed. protected from various disaster and climate risks and the mission offers Of the 30 cities announced this week According to Shri Naidu, Union an opportunity to do so. In the end, 26 have proposed affordable Minister for Urban Development, it is indeed smart to be safe. – AIDMI Team 10 southasiadisasters.net July 2017 INVESTING IN DRR Cash Transfer in Humanitarian Action: Local Lessons for Global Use? the world. Even the June 2016 released National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) of India highlights the role of cash for work in early recovery (03-18 months).3 The Ministry of Home Affairs (Disaster Management Division) in a letter dated April 3rd, 2017 has stated that effective from April 1st, 2017, State Governments should invariably use Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the account of beneficiary to provide various kinds of beneficiary oriented assistance under SDRF/NDRF.4 This, AIDMI finds, is one of the most important steps in making humanitarian action

Photo: AIDMI. more citizen oriented. Clients in Ketakipatna gram panchayat, Puri district brought their Afat Vimo insurance policies when asked about it and shared the importance to local authorities. The world is rapidly urbanizing and cash transfers in urban crisis are ndia has become a leading lab for security progamme in the world.1 quicker and more effective. Cash Isocial security and cash transfers Similarly, the Direct Benefit Transfer transactions are a way of life for the innovations. According to the World of LPG, the PAHAL scheme, has been urban poor and an important Bank Group's report 'The State of acknowledged by the Guinness Book consideration to participate in Social Safety Nets 2015', India's of World records as the largest cash disaster risk reduction or adaptation Mahatma Gandhi National Rural transfer programme in terms of activities. An IIED study, "A review Employment Guarantee Act number of households with 12.57 of evidence of humanitarian cash (MNREGA) which provides a social crore households receiving cash transfer programming in urban security net to 182 million transfer as of 30th June, 2015. As on areas" notes that "because most urban beneficiary (15 per cent of India's December 3, 2015, 14.62 crore LPG markets are diverse and responsive population) is the world's largest consumers have joined the PAHAL to increased demand, cash in these public works programme. The scheme and are receiving the subsidy contexts allows people to efficiently report ranked India's Janani directly into their Bank Accounts.2 and effectively meet a range of needs Suraksha Yojna with 78 million whilst also contributing to economic beneficiaries' mothers as the top- ntroduction recovery through multiplier effects".5 most social security programme with I Cash transfer in humanitarian conditional cash transfers and the action is now a well-accepted idea It was in 1998, after the Kandla Indira Gandhi National Old Age and several pilots that co-create cyclone on the coast of Gujarat that Pension Scheme as the second-largest knowledge and build capacities on AIDMI, with Oxfam GB, initiated its unconditional cash transfer social this theme are well under way across first cash transfer to the small

1 PTI 2015. The Times of India. MNREGA world's largest public works programme: World Bank. http:// timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/MNREGA-worlds-largest-public-works-programme-World-Bank/articleshow/ 47978976.cms 2 Press Information Bureau 2015. PAHAL-Guinness world record. http://pib.nic.in/newsite/ PrintRelease.aspx?relid=132587 3 National Disaster Management Plan, 2016. A publication of the National Disaster Management Authority, Government of India. May 2016, New Delhi. http://ndma.gov.in/images/policyplan/dmplan/ National%20Disaster%20Management%20Plan%20May%202016.pdf 4 Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI 2017. Letter dated April 3rd, 2017. http://ndmindia.nic.in/DBTrelief06042017.pdf 5 Gabrielle Smith and Lili Mohiddin. 2015. A review of evidence of humanitarian cash transfer programming in urban areas. IIED Working Paper. IIED, London. http://pubs.iied.org/10759IIED

July 2017 southasiadisasters.net 11 businesses that had lost all. Since, Third, the progress so far is scattered and UNICEF along with other cash transfer is used by AIDMI in and uneven. Targets are needed to agencies have used cash transfers in over 9 disasters and across 6 states use cash transfers for reducing losses earthquake recovery efforts. of India directly and 12 disasters and and accelerating the recovery of across South Asia with other livelihoods. While EC considered cash transfers partners. AIDMI is currently as the preferred mechanism for relief working on ways by which cash can Fourth, a consensus on the top 3 to 5 assistance, particularly in the be used to make urban recovery priorities from a myriad priorities Kathmandu Valley6, "UNICEF faster and safer and arguing that can needs to be achieved to avoid supported the Government of Nepal there be universal basic cash relief? unnecessary confusion. Fifth, the to provide emergency cash transfers The following insights have guiding principles of cash transfer to more than 430,000 vulnerable emerged from AIDMI's work across need to be spelt out as well. How people in 19 districts most affected 66 cities over past 15 years in India. can cash transfer and minimum by the earthquakes".7 wages (such as MGNREGS) go hand ocal Lessons in hand? Can electronic payments Using cash as a leading option in L So what are the local lessons of with cash transfers lead to greater responding to emergencies is cash transfer for global use in shaping accountability? gaining policy momentum world- international humanitarian action? wide. Newer forms of cash transfer Sixth, fair estimation of contribution approaches and operational First, there is no universal to larger socio-economic and modalities are being tried and tested. framework that defines the scope ecological development must be The following are needed to make and purpose of cash transfer in made. Cash-based programming cash transfers more effective a) co- humanitarian action that the national must lead to job-creation and local creation of knowledge with local authorities have agreed to and wish market development without any actors, and b) capability building of to use in humanitarian action. adverse consequences on ecology. local authorities and NGOs and citizen groups to monitor, measure, Second, the objectives of cash transfer ay Ahead and enhance its re-generative impact may change from context to context W These local lessons are highly on the economically weaker sections and there is no global support to relevant to South Asia, including of society. offer this flexibility to local actors. Nepal where donors such as ECHO – Mihir R. Bhatt

6 EC Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection 2015. Nepal Earthquake. ECHO Crisis Flash No. 10. http:// www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2014_2019/documents/deve/dv/echo_crisis_flash_10_nepal_earthquake_/ echo_crisis_flash_10_nepal_earthquake_en.pdf 7 UNICEF. Nd. Reaching The Most Vulnerable: Cash Transfers As An Emergency Response In Nepal. http:// unicef.org.np/latest-updates/videos/2016/06/17/reaching-the-most-vulnerable-cash-transfers-as-an-emergency- response-in-nepal 8 Barnaby Willitts-King and John Bryant 2017. Scaling up humanitarian cash transfers in Nepal. ODI Working Paper 503. https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/resource-documents/11284.pdf

Editorial Advisors: Denis Nkala Madhavi Malalgoda Ariyabandu Regional Coordinator, South-South Cooperation Sub-Regional Coordinator, Central Asia & South and Country Support (Asia-Pacific), United Caucasus, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Nations Development Programme, New York Reduction (UNISDR), Kazakhstan

Ian Davis Mihir R. Bhatt Visiting Professor in Disaster Risk Management in All India Disaster Mitigation Institute, India Copenhagen, Lund, Kyoto and Oxford Brookes Dr. Satchit Balsari, MD, MPH Universities The University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell, New York, USA Dr. John Twigg Senior Research Associate, Department of Civil, T. Nanda Kumar Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Chairman, Institute of Rural Management Anand University College London, London (IRMA), Anand, Gujarat, India

ALL INDIA DISASTER MITIGATION INSTITUTE 12 southasiadisasters.net July 2017 411 Sakar Five, Behind Old Natraj Cinema, Near Mithakhali Railway Crossing, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad–380 009 India. Tele/Fax: +91-79-2658 2962 E-mail: [email protected], Website: http://www.aidmi.org, www.southasiadisasters.net