MONTHLY FEATURE uuu POLICE AND SECURITY uuu APRIL, 1993

Dr.S.Subramanian, IPS (Retd.)

The need to be prepared for a grave emergency has been highlighted by Bombay bomb blasts. In recorded history, danger has been an integral part of human existence and society attempted to anticipate the unexpected and devise measures to reduce the losses. Natural causes like earth quakes, floods, drought, cyclones exacted the maximum too in the past. In modern times, technology is emerging as a major source of danger as exemplified in Bhopal Gas tragedy, Cheronobyl and Three Mile Island incidents. Twentieth Century added one more dimension - Environmental Pollution, Terrorism and Organised Crime. Our Metropolises and cities are ‘Risk Prone’ to natural calamities and man-made hazards. Concentration of population, economic and industrial activities, unplanned growth have made them vulnerable to maximum damage. At present emergencies are seen from ‘CRISIS-REACTIVE’ perspective whereas only ‘CRISIS-PROACTIVE’ approach can minimise loss of lives and damage to properties. This calls for preparedness and advance action.

Historically, emergency management was assigned to the Police and Fire Services for the simple reason they are on call round the clock throughout the year. They called upon the Health Services and Civil Administration to help, where situation warranted. Civil Defence organisation with their orientation to an enemy

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in a multi-storeyed building in a city, the fire originated in a chemical laboratory located in the building. There is crass ignorance and wanton negligence of safety measures and enforcement is lackadaisical. Dams, Power Houses, Nuclear facilities, oil dumps, gas storage facilities etc. are located from technical and economic angles with little or no regard to public safety. An emergency developing in these, is hardly visualised.

A Risk Reduction Programme would identify the risks to health, safety and welfare of the society and take necessary steps to eliminate them or taking counter measures to reduce their impact.

Having identified the risks and risk-prone locations, a detailed "Response Plan" should be worked out to deal with emergencies that may develop. These plans should focus on the resources available on the site and shouldn’t depend entirely on outside assistance. They should aim at containment and damage control till the arrival of the specialists. The plan should aim at the residents/occupants of the area, who will be the first responders to the crisis, on organising systematic evaluation, rendering first aid, fighting the fire and containment and control of damage. Periodical joint mock drills are to be held with the ‘specialist units’ to make the ‘first responders’ proficient in their assigned tasks.

A need based assessment of the capabilities of the specialised emergency services like Fire, Ambulance, Police, Medical Services is to be made, deficiencies rectified and their equipment upgraded. Their ‘sitting’ should be done on need basis. In our cities, Fire Services are inadequate and it is not possible for the public exchequer to provide finances for their expansion. The answer to this problem would like in making every building and establishment self-sufficient to fight fires and train their people in the art of fire-fighting and evacuation. Through suitable financial incentives and subsidies, these establishments could be encouraged to acquire fire-fighting equipment, Ambulances, stock emergency medical supplies etc. National Red Cross should establish Blood Banks in all important centres and donors should be encouraged to enlist and be available to donate blood in an emergency. Medical specialists and Para medics in Private Service are to be encouraged to maintain a link with Public Medical facilities to be available for service in an emergency.

It is an unfortunate fact that Police in our cities and Metropolises are handicapped in dealing with explosives due to lack of adequate equipment, which are all imported. Government of India should immediately import Explosive Detection and Neutralisation Equipment in bulk and distribute the same to the States and Cities so that they are self-sufficient in dealing with emergencies arising out of use of explosives.

This is an area, where there is vast scope for private non-governmental organisations to play an useful role. To be of assistance in an emergency, these organisations should know what they could do and how to be of help. It is, therefore, necessary that they are briefed fully about the risk evaluation, plans for response etc. and assigned specified tasks in the areas of relief and rehabilitation.

To coordinate Government and private efforts in dealing with emergencies, there is need to establish an umbrella organisation. This could be called National Emergency Management Organisation. This apolitical organisation should have the President of India as Chairman, the Prime Minister as Vice Chairman, Ministers of Home, Defence, Civil Aviation, Surface Transport and Finance as Executive Committee Members. Eminent citizens should find a place in the Executive Committee. The organisation should have its branches in all States, Districts and Cities with appropriate organisation. The emphasis should be to involve the public spirited citizens in this activity. All responding emergency services should have a representative in the executive of the organisation. The organisation should concentrate on educating the public on ‘Risk Reduction’ and coordinate training programmes for the public as first responders. There is a vast untapped reservoir of human resources in this country in Retired Defence Services and Police personnel and Government servants. They should be persuaded and motivated to join this organisation. Care should be taken to ensure the voluntary and public character of this organisation and it should not be allowed to become part of the Emergency. To enable the organisation to finance its activities, grants from Prime Minister and Chief Minister relief funds and through suitable fiscal incentives, Business and Industry should be encouraged to donate funds.

In emergencies, Media has an important role to play to direct and channalise the energies of the public in the right direction by providing required and accurate information, defusing panic and in general providing a claming effect. Media too should focus its attention inwards to examine its current practices and norms to ensure that it plays a positive role. Media should work out a ‘Code of Procedure’ to be followed in emergencies.

Planning for Emergencies should commence with our Metropolises and Industrial Centres and later extended to areas prone to risks from Nature and ultimately it should cover all the Districts in the country.

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