All India Disaster Mitigation Institute: Institutionalizing Disaster Risk Mitigation through

Community Based Initiatives

All India Disaster Mitigation Institute411, Sakar Five, Near Natraj CinemaAshram Road, Ahemdabad - 380 009

Tel: 0091-79-26586234/26583607, Fax: 0091-79-26582962,E-mail: dmi@icenet.co.in

Website: http:www.southasiadisasters.net, www.sphereinindia.net

Contents

1. All India Disaster Mitigation Institute2. Gujarat Earthquake and Key Risk Reduction

Activities of AIDMI3. AIDMI with Tsunami affected Communities4. Key Challenges5. Conclusions

All India Disaster Mitigation Institute

• Established in 1989 after repeated droughts.• Focus is on Action and Learning, both.• Four sector programmes: Food, Water,

Livelihood and Habitat.• Eleven Activity Centres.• Team of 78: multi-disciplinary and multi-

level.• Implementing projects in Gujarat and Tamil

Nadu, and working in Assam, Orissa and Jammu and Kashmir.

AlDMI Team

Food Security Shelter Security Water Security Livelihood Security

Four pillars of AIDMI

1. Food Security: Nutrition Support, Fodder Security

2. Water Security: Research, Advocacy, Training and Implementation of Water Harvesting Practices.

ProgrammesProgrammes

3. Habitat Security: Risk Reduction, Action Planning, Training, Information Dissemination

4. Livelihood Security:Livelihood Protection, Long Term Assistance

ProgrammesProgrammes

1. Action Review and Research Services2. Bhuj Reconstruction Programme3. Building Peace and Protection4. AIDMI-AMA Joint Centre for Disaster

Risk Management5. Emergency Food Security Network6. Emergency Health Unit7. Learning Resources

AIDMI Activity CentresAIDMI Activity Centres

8. Livelihood Relief Fund9. Organisational Resources10. Sphere Resource Centre11. Water Security Programme

AIDMI Activity CentresAIDMI Activity Centres

Network of NGOs Coordinated byAIDMI

• Banaskantha Vikas Mandal• Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Small

Business• Danilimda Mahiti ane Rojgar Kendra• Emergency Food Security Network• Foundation for Public Interest• Sabarkantha Vikas Mandal• Urban Planning Partnerships

Brief Overview of 2001 Gujarat Earthquake

• Earthquake of magnitude 6.9 on Richter Scale hit Gujarat on January 26, 2001

• Over 11 lack houses got affected by the calamity along with over 2000 schools and 300 hospitals

• 167,000 persons suffered injuries and 13,803 lost their lives

• Over 10,000 small and medium industrial units went out of production and over 50,000 artisans lost their livelihoods

• The impacts of earthquake were compounded by two years of continuous drought

Community Demand for Activities

• Economic recovery through livelihood support and business development linkages.

• Risk Transfer through convergence of micro credit, micro mitigation and micro insurance.

• Availability of mitigation measures at local level in addition to capacity building inputs.

Key Risk Reduction Actions of AIDMI

• 172 Local Capacity Building Cycles (LCBC) has trained 4700 local respondents of Disasters.

• LRF has provided one-to-one retail relief to over 12000 earthquake affected victims.

• A group of 4500 victims insured under the Afat Vimo (Disaster Insurance) Scheme, which converged life and non-life risks.

• Establishment and expansion of CCISB from 1200 to 1500 micro businesses.

• The Water Security Programme has reach out to a group of 2000 water harvesters.

Spirit of Learning

-“The ability to learn about learning and develop the learning process is the critical issue of the

twenty first century.’-(Burgoyne J et.al., 1998)

Eternal value of Learning:“Naasti Gyanat Param Sukham”

(There is no achievement greater than knowledge)-Chanakya, Arthashastra, 3rd Century BC

Learning ResourcesObjective:1. Building preparedness capacities at various

levels through context specific action learning publications, courses, reviews and evaluations and consultations on disaster risk mitigation and reduction.

Activities:1. 32 Experience Learning Series (ELS) on field

level learning on issues such as long term recovery, urban food security assessment, urban flash floods.

2. 16 National Course Series (NCS) with a University in Switzerland; and universities in UK.

3. 172 Local Capacity Building Cycles (LCBC) on Application of Science and Technology to school safety.

4. 9 Action Review and Evaluation Series (ARES) on Risk Transfer for agriculture, shelter, life, livelihood.

5. 40 Exchange for Change Internship Programme with 18 countries and 10 universities.

Livelihood Relief Fund (LRF)Objective:To build livelihood security and reducingeconomic risks through sustainable long-term recovery.• One of the key activity centers of AIDMI.• Started by All India Disaster Mitigation Institute

(AIDMI) on June 1998 after Kandla Cyclone.• Focusing on Livelihood recovery of the poor.• Linking Relief and Rehabilitation with recovery.• Has provided one-to-one retail relief to over 12000

micro businesses and families to recover. Almost all in low-income urban and rural areas and are below-poverty line.

Long-term Recovery Model

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Small Businesses (CCISB)

Objective:• Victims as Economic Engines• Disaster risk mitigation through better livelihoods and

stronger inter-community networks• Economic sustainability.

Self Financing Activities:• Revolving Capital for 12000 • Developing Market Opportunities for 300• Capacity Building for Continued Recovery for 5000• Vocational Training Services for 7000• Risk Transfer for 2000.

Linking Community Based Initiative with GIS/MIS

Risk Transfer through Afat Vimo

• Afat Vimo (Disaster Insurance)• Demand Survey of affected businesses• Covers life and non-life losses• One-time upfront premium• Integrates insurance with revolving fund

and mitigation measures• Scheme performance• Coverage is for 15 types of disaster

Client Profile

• All disaster affected.• All low-income families.• All in low-income areas.• Men and women both.• Mostly micro businesses.• Assets worth Rs.9000 on average.• Annual incomes Rs.12000 to Rs.18000.• Savings Rs.200 to Rs.400.• Family involvement.

Plans Ahead

A. 1. Systematisation2. Capitalisation3. Expansion

B. Diversify1. Agriculture insurance2. Weather insurance3. Related fields such as mitigation measures and public awareness.

Key Challenges

• Disaster risk mitigation is very low on disaster management agenda

• Continued separation between action and learning and policy and practice

• Marginalisation of communities in policy formation and practice

• Relief is not viewed as risk transfer or risk reduction investment

Conclusion• Invest in disaster

risk mitigation action and research.

• Invest in community based initiatives.

• Invest in institutionalis-ation of initiatives.

Thank youThank you……