The recent earthquake in Gujarat has once again exposed our inability to effectively respond to disasters. In the past also, we were found wanting when calamities like Bhopal Gas Tragedy, Bombay Bomb Blasts, Latur Earthquake etc struck. In recorded history, danger had been an integral part of human existence and societies attempted to anticipate the unexpected and devised measures to reduce the losses. Disasters of various kinds afflict all countries. Compared to some, India is spared of tidal waves, typhoons, Volcanoes, Tornadoes and the like. Our natural calamities, other than earthquakes, have almost a set pattern and chronological sequence of occurrence. Examples are Andhra Cyclones, Floods in Assam, Cold and Heat waves, Monsoon Floods etc. In modern times, technology, environmental pollution, Political violence and organised crime have become the generators of disasters. Yet, when these occur, we are not ready to meet them and there is avoidable loss of life and property. At present, we deal with emergencies from the 'Crisis-Reactive' mode, i.e. we wait till the disaster strikes and tackle the losses as they occur. Whereas only a 'Crisis-Proactive' attitude will help in reducing loss of lives and property.

To contain the damages caused by Disasters and to reduce the loss of lives and properties, a well planned strategy of 'Risk Identification', Risk Reduction' and 'Risk Management' has to be evolved to marshal all available resources and their deployment within the shortest possible time in an emergency. We must learn from countries like Japan, which is living constantly with the threat of earthquakes and has a wonderful system of responses to minimise damage to life and property. The difference between a Country well prepared to meet the Disasters and the one ill prepared, can be judged, when we compare the casualties that occurred in USA and India during earthquakes. The Californian earth quake, which measured 6.5 in Richter scale resulted in loss of only 65 lives, whereas the earthquake in Latur, which measured 6 on the Richter Scale, took a toll of over 15,000 lives, not withstanding the fact that Latur is in a rural area and there were hardly any big buildings.

Management of Disasters is like managing a War. One should be prepared always to meet it and do well to survive. It calls for a well-formulated and coordinated responses and not knee jerk reactions. Entire Country should know what to do in an emergency. Management of disaster should be approached from two angles-'Administrative Response' and 'Mobilisation of Citizens' Help'.

To direct the administrative response, there should be a standing committees for Disaster Management at the Union and State Cabinet level, consisting of the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister as the Chairman, and Ministers of Home, Finance, Health, Transport and Defence (in the case of Union Government). These committees should automatically meet as soon as news of any Disaster is received and implement the Plans earlier approved for action. Orders of these committees should be deemed to be the orders of the Government for all actions including release of Funds. To assist these committees there should be statutory 'National Disaster Management Authority' and 'State Disaster Management Authority'. These authorities should have the benefit of the advice of experts for various types of disasters on continual basis.

To mobilise the Citizens assistance, there should be a 'National Committee of Citizens for Disaster Relief' with the President of India and the Governor of the State as Chairman, and the leaders of all Political Parties represented in the Parliament and State Legislatures and of Non-Governmental organisations as members. This committee will concentrate on mobilising the public assistance to supplement the relief work done by the Government and also act as the 'watchdog' to ensure that the government schemes for relief are properly implemented. To enable this committee to maintain its independence and from deteriorating in to as another arm of bureaucracy and to act boldly, no official should be allowed to be a member of this committee. In disaster prone areas, there could be regional committees appropriately constituted.

The National Disaster Management Authority should commence its work first by identifying the Risks. For example, the presence of a Nuclear or a dangerous Chemical Plant near highly populated areas or a big town just on the shores of the sea, prone to cyclones or population on the banks of rivers prone to change of course during floods etc. Competent experts should survey entire country and disaster prone areas are to be identified. Worst possible scenario should be created and studied in depth. This exercise should be completed within a period of 12 months.

Having identified the 'Risks', steps should be taken to reduce the impact on the population if the risk materialises. For example, it should be prudent to move the population away from Nuclear Power Plants, dangerous chemical plants and Ammunition dumps. In earthquake prone areas building safety codes are to be rigorously implemented and unstable buildings are to be pulled down. Similarly in flood and cyclone prone areas, steps should be taken to realign the National Highway and Railway tracks to prevent loss of life and breakdown of communications. People should be permanently moved out from low-lying areas and seashores to higher elevations.

This is the most important part of the exercise consisting of:

• Identification of Resources:

• Stock Piling:

• Distribution of Relief and Assistance:

Every State should have a compact group of personnel trained to deal with a particular type of disaster and located in disaster prone areas. This task should be entrusted to the Central Police Organisations and the State Armed Police Formations. These units should consist of volunteer personnel, who should work for two/three years in an area and later move on to different locations. Such Units will not only render immediate assistance but also provide the leadership for the general public, who are ever ready to help in emergency situations their fellow citizens but do not know what to do.

In advanced countries, NGOs take an active part in organising relief and succour to the affected. Many of them have acquired expertise in specified area of emergency relief. Indian NGOs should also think in terms of specialising in relief work required in different areas of the country.

None of these suggestions are difficult to implement if we have the political will and the Public opinion to back them. Let us not lapse into collective amnesia till the next disaster strikes.