South Asia represents a region highly prone to natural disasters. Disasters not only disrupt the normal life of the affected communities and the countries but also impede developmental efforts. By and large, the approach of the major stakeholders has been 'reactive' rather than 'proactive'. There is indeed, a dire need for concerted and well-planned efforts to achieve risk reduction through risk identification, and sharing and transfer of information.
This edited volume explores how the risk of disasters can be reduced by structural and non-structural measures with detailed, comprehensive and participatory strategies. Twenty-seven contributors, both academicians and practitioners, investigate the challenges that the region faces and how changes can be effected at the community, society, government and non-government levels to foster a culture of preparedness.
The overall focus is on risk reduction through prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. Some case studies from different settings dealing with various disasters have also been included. Since disaster risk reduction is an area of great concern and there is absolute dearth of literature addressing this issue with regard to South Asia, this volume will be of immense utility and interest to government departments, NGOs, insurance companies, universities, training institutions, professional associates, media, general public, and students pursuing courses in disaster management.
PARDEEP SAHNI,is Professor of Public Administration at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). He also holds the additional charge of the Head, Material Production and Distribution Division of the university. Prior to joining IGNOU, he served with the Punjabi University, Patiala and the Haryana Institute of Public Administration, Chandigarh. He has over 32 years of experience in teaching and research. In addition to being the author of seven books, he has published a number of research papers and articles in reputed Indian and foreign journals. He received his M.Phil. and Ph.D. from Punjabi University, Patiala. Prof. Sahni, along with his colleagues, has shown pioneering initiative in developing courses and undertaking extension activities in the field of disaster management. He has also been a consultant in disaster management for the Disasters Emergency Committee, UNDP and the World Bank. He is involved in the development of Postgraduate Diploma in Disaster Management and the Masters Programme in Public Administration, both courses being conducted by IGNOU.
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MADHAVI MALALGODA ARIYABANDU, holds an M.Sc. in ‘Agricultural Economics’ and an M.Sc. in ‘Agronomy’. With her long and varied experience in the field of disaster management, she has accumulated extensive knowledge of disaster and conflict issues. She is the Programme Manager, Disaster Mitigation, at the Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG), South Asia. She is also in charge of the South Asia Regional Initiative on Livelihood Options for Disaster Risk Reduction, a programme of work with a holistic approach to address the issues of disasters and vulnerability, implemented in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The programme has identified the linkages between disaster risk and livelihoods, and demonstrated livelihood options which have the potential to reduce disaster risk. Ms. Ariyabandu is the author of many books, articles and papers in the area of disaster mitigation.
