Report of the

Exposure visit by the Kerala Partners of

Community Based Disaster Preparedness Programme

to Thanjavur and Puducherry

Organised by

16-20 February 2010

Kerala Social Service Forum

Participants of

the exposure programme

Rev.Fr.Romance Antony, Executive Director, KSSFRev.Fr.Jacob Kattady, Director, CHASSS

Rev.Fr.Jaison Vadassery, Asst.Director, ESSSRev.Fr.Paul Cherupilly, Asst.Director, WSE

Mr.John Pookunnel, PSO, Caritas IndiaMr.Deepak.O.J, Program Officer, KSSF

Ms.Lakshmi Shankar, Documentation Officer, KSSFMrs.Silpa Treesa Sebastian, Gender Coordinator,KSSF KSSF

Mr.Jaison Varghese, Program Officer, KSSFMr.John Cyril, Project Coordinator, TSSS

Mr.Tomy Kuriakose, Asst.Project Coordinator, TSSSMr.Thomas George, Project Coordinator, MSSS

Mr.George Daniel, Project Officer, MSSSMr.Karthik Sasi, Field Officer, QSSS

Mr.Umesh Unnikrishnan, Field Officer, QSSSMr.Shaiju Elias, Field Officer, QSSS

Ms.Savitha, Project Coordinator, WSEMr.Siju Varghese, Asst.Project Coordinator, WSE

Mr.Edwin Michael, Project Coordinator, CSSSMr.P.L.Johnkutty, Project Officer, CSSS

Mrs.Philomina Joseph, Field Animator, CSSSMr. Vipin Joe MJ, Asst.Project Coordinator, ESSSMs.Jiji Ponnan, Project Coordinator, ADC & SWS

Ms.Amrutha Sebastian, Asst.Project Coordinator, ADC & SWSMs.Alby Stephen, Project Coordinator, KIDSMr.Ujesh N, Asst.Project Coordinator, KIDS

Mr.Toney Thomas, Project Coordinator, BodhanaMr.Bobbin Thomas, Asst.Project Coordinator, Bodhana

Mr.Siji Mathew, Field Animator, BodhanaMr.Jinto Varghese, Office Assistant, KSSF

Mas.Nevin John Tony

Documentation : Deepak.OJ, Lakshmi ShankarPhotos: Jaison Varghese, Fr. Paul Cherupilly

erala Social Service Forum, with the support of KCARITAS INDIA, organised an exposure visit for the CBDP SOA II Phase partners in Kerala. The programme intended to augment the knowledge and experience of the team members working with disaster mitigation programmes at diocesan level and to make an understanding on the best practices in other organizations in the same field.

Objectives of the programme were to provide the delegates

An opportunity to interact with the members of Community Based Organisations involved in disaster mitigation activities

An exposure to the best practices in disaster preparedness

Better understanding of systems and procedures that are in place at community level to respond when emergency occurs

An interaction with the staff members/volunteers involved in disaster mitigation programs in the respective Dioceses

A view to the rehabilitation houses of the displaced people in the tsunami disaster

Participants for the programme:

The programme intended only for the personnel who involved in CBDP programme in Kerala. A total of 37 members attended the tour programme.

?Directors, point persons and Assistant point persons of the 10 DSSSs involved in Disaster preparedness.

?Director and CBDP team members from KSSF ?Programme Support Officer Caritas India

The team visited the operational areas of TMSSS and Pondicherry Multipurpose Social Service Society (PMSSS). Rev.Fr. Antony Arokyaraj welcomed the team members at TMSSS. He presented the activities of TMSSS and CBDP interventions. The team visited the Tsunami housing project at Sellur and interacted with the tsunami victims. The group visited the Village Coordination Committee at the village Esanoor Kattalai. VCC members shared their experiences in disaster mitigation programmes. Mock drill on water rescue methods was demonstrated by the villagers.

Rev. Fr. V. Albert Thambidurai introduced about the activities of PMSSS. Presentations on Information Communication Technology (ICT) and disaster preparedness programme of PMSSS provided new insights in disaster mitigation and preparedness. Effective utilisation of information technology devices at Village centres are the high light of their programme.

Learnings from the experienceof people....

DAY ONE: 16 FEB, 2010

Self introduction by participants

Team at Bharananganam

About the agency:

Thanjavur Multipurpose Social Service Society, TMSSS, established in 1968. Its operational area covers four Districts and 650 villages. TMSSS's vision is to empower the economically and culturally backward and socially and politically disadvantaged towards holistic human development

Major programmes of TMSSS

?Relief and Rehabilitation?Ecological and environmental education?Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture?Community Based Rehabilitation of differently challenged

persons.?Formal and non-formal vocational training?Promotion of indigenous herbal medicines?Community based disaster management ?Antihuman trafficking project

Major Achievements of TMSSS

?2100 Self Help Groups formed with main focus on Women Empowerment.

?50000 people reached through various activities.?Vocational skill training program like Tailoring, Computer

training, printing which has provided job to around 4000 people Securing Livelihoods of the Marginalized Section.

?2000 Differently challenged people covered Health, Education and Livelihood program.

?250 villages covered under the promotion of Sustainable Agriculture and Herbal Medicine.

Disaster mitigation programme of TMSSS

Disaster management programme is being implemented in 63 villages in three districts with an objective of ensuring sustainable disaster risk reduction in the most vulnerable areas. The programme stresses the need for a change in addressing disaster management an integral part of any development process. Objectives of the programme are:

• Strengthening of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) with special focus on socially and economically vulnerable communities and enabling community to equip themselves to take up development programmes and address issues

• Preparing the community for an effective Community Based Disaster Preparedness Programmes

• Net working with Panchayat Raj Institutions, Government Departments, public financial institutions and other likeminded NGOs

• To Promote and build children's interest and involvement towards community development.

• To improve community health and sanitation standards in the new habitat.

• Ensure effective monitoring mechanism is in place.

DAY TWO: 17 FEB, 2010

TMSSS, regional Office

Digitalized social map displayed in the office

Welcoming participatns at the office

Tsunami housing project at Sellur

Achievements in DM

?Zonal level Task Forces and Children Parliaments formed ?Social maps have been updated ?Village Development Plan prepared in all the 63 villages and

started implementing the prioritized plans?Task Forces have acquired knowledge in Rescue operations,

First Aid and Health and Hygiene. They are keeping the rescue materials ready for at any time.

?Children Group planted Trees in Tranquebar village ?People are getting increased wage under RLEGP Scheme

after the wage struggle initiated by the community?Selling of illicit arrack has been totally eradicated In

Natchinarkudy village and the surrounding villages?The low lands leveled in Seven villages to avoid the

stagnation of water during rainy season ?Health committees are maintaining the village cleanliness and

health matters.

thThe team visited Velainkanni shrine on 17 evening and a special mass was celebrated jointly by Fr. Romance Antony, Fr. Jacob Kattady, Fr. Paul and Fr. Jaison.

The team went to Muslim Street at Melayur to see the income generation project of SHG of Muslim women. The women entrepreneurs are making handicraft products using natural fibre. The women Task force members demonstrated fire and rescue methods and first aid methods for the visitors. The VCC meeting

Resource map developed by the community members (up)

Team members interacting with the villagers at Esanoor Kattalai (down)

DAY THREE: 18 FEB, 2010

Women entreprenuers at Muslim street receiving the Director-KSSF

heartful thanks...a village man at Melayurfire rescue methods..

demonstration

rescue operations..demonstration

Director with the TF members at Melayur welcome..

with ‘kumbham’

DAY FOUR: 19 FEB, 2010th

On 19 the team visited PMSSS and attended a meeting with the Director and key staff. Rev. Fr. V. Albert Thambidurai welcomed the team. He explained about the activities of PMSSS. Application of ICT in disaster preparedness was well described to the participants through a PowerPoint presentation. The coastal villages are connected to the govt machineries and relevant information is disseminated to and fro through the communication devise installed. Knowledge about the application of ICT (Information Communication and Technology) in disaster mitigation programmes has enhanced the insight of the participants.

Fr. Romance Antony expressed the gratitude of the team by honouring the director of PMSSS with 'Ponnada'. The Director of PMSSS invited Fr. Romance for attending a seminar in which the ICT is going to be discussed in detail. After that the team went to Oravil, an International centre for peace and harmony and returned at 5.30 PM.

Best practices observed

Social maps are well exhibited with the evacuation routes and major resources in

the community in the organisation (TMSSS)

Entrepreneurship among the women at Muslim street is found remarkable and

their enthusiasm is appreciable

Consciousness of the organisations in providing prolific information to the

visitors' team

Instant support from the project team in both the agencies

Rescue methods practice by women and children at Melayur using locally

available materials (coconut lifebuoys, bamboo raft, barrels etc) was a different

experience to the group

Women and children are well associated with the disaster preparedness

programme which can ensure the effectiveness of preparedness

Multi-level coordination at field level and the decentralised model of disaster

response in the interventions of TMSSS

Churches are effectively used for the social development activities in the

community as a whole

Information Communication and technology (ICT) has been well

integrated in the activities of Disaster preparedness programmes at Pondicherry

Communities are very receptive to towards the outside visitors. Their keen interest to hear the visitors' experience

also to be appreciated.

Rev. Fr. V. Albert Thambidurai welcoming the participants

Photo exhibition at PMSSS

Activities at the Community Level:

Ø Awareness and Education on CBDP [Children, Youth, Men & Women]

Ø A one week CBDP awareness program was conducted with the expertise of Sarista Foundation, Mumbai at PMSSS. His Excellency the Lt. Governor of Puducherry Shri M.M. Lahera inaugurated the program.

Ø Formation of Village Task Force Team (12 village task force team formed)

Ø Training Task Force Team members in Early WarningSearch, Rescue and Evacuation First AidWater and Sanitation Shelter Management

Ø Conducting periodic Mock drills in the village.

Network organizations:

• Indian Coast Guard-Pondicherry • IMD-Chennai (Early Warning System)• Indian Red Cross Society-Pondicherry • Rotary Club-Pondicherry

Technological Intervention:

· The First Consultation on Integration of Technology with CBDP was organized by

stPMSSS on 21 Feb 2007.· His Excellency the Lt. Governor of

Puducher ry Shr i . MUKUT MITHI inaugurated the consultation and highlighted the importance of Integration of Technology with CBDP.

· INCOIS, UNDP, BSNL, IMD, Indian Coast Guard, Bharathidasan University-Trichy, District Administration Pondicherry, Caritas Ind ia , CRS, CRC, TNTRC, TATA Consultancy Services were the main participants.

· As an evolution of the consultation the members came forward to provide the following to PMSSS:

Digital Display systems, Wave Rider Buoy and Autonomous Weather Station by INCOIS-Hyderabad.

SMS Network package by BSNL, Puducherry.

PMSSS continued to enable the disaster affected communities with various developmental initiatives focusing on community mobilization and community based disaster preparedness (CBDP) towards creating a resilient community. In the context of CBDP, PMSSS in t roduced the Informat ion and Communication Technology Program as a viable tool to prepare the coastal communities to face any form of future disasters.

Technological Intervention:

• Establishment of Village Information Centres (VIC) in 10 Villages in Pondicherry and 3 villages in Karaikal locating them within the vi l lages with the concurrence and participation of the local Village Fishermen Panchayat and CBOs.

• Each Village Information Centre is equipped with computers, printers, scanners, BSNL & VSNL internet connections, Public Addressing System and Information Display Board.

• All the VICs are connected with Hub centre at PMSSS.

• One ICT Field instructor and One Community Level Animator are based in each Village.

Village Information Centre- Information Linkages

• Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Chennai provides weather forecast, depression and cyclone.

• Accuweather.com – Daily Weather forecast is being downloaded and updated thrice a day.

• INCOIS – Hyderabad provides informations on Ocean State Forecast (Wave heights, wind speed, directions) and Potential Fish Finding Zones [PFZ].

Information Technology Transfer to the Community

· Received Information are translated in local language and disseminated through the email network from PMSSS Hub centre to the VICs.

· The information are broadcast through the village Public Address System (PA system) thrice a day (9AM, 12Noon & 5PM)

· The same information is displayed in the Public Notice Board.

ICT intervention of PMSSS

Training on Rescue and Evacuation by Indian Coast Guard, Puducherry.

Web content development and Early Warning Systems by UNDP, Chennai.

Remote Sensing and GIS mapping by Bharathidasan Universitym, Trichy.

Information and Training by IMD, Chennai.

Deployment of Wave Rider BUOY by INCOIS-NIO, Goa

• INCOIS in collaboration with Nation Institute of Oceanography-GOA through PMSSS deployed a first community based wave rider buoy at Puducherry Coast 3kms away from Chinnaveerampattinam.

• The wave rider buoy is safeguarded by Indian Coast Guard-Puducherry.

• The Buoy data is received in PMSSS HUB centre through VHF antenna.

• The wave rider buoy is shifted 2kms away thfrom Gandhi Statue-Puducherry on 7 Feb 08.

Setting up of Autonomous Weather Station by INCOIS, NIO-GOA

• A first time community based Autonomous Weather Station was Setup at PMSSS by Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) Goa.

• The Autonomous station will provide Real Time Data on

• Temperature & Humidity • Wind Speed, Gust & Direction • Atmospheric Pressure

The real time data is recorded and uploaded in the website

?The importance of the AWS at PMSSS in Pondicherry is that any abnormal change at any time can be known through the website. This can facilitate for Early Warning to the communities through the official networks

.The Unique Feature of INCOIS and PMSSS collaboration is:

INCOIS-Hyderabad has setup a special unit within INCOIS technical centre exclusively for PMSSS and a separate scientist team is working round the clock to record, update, authenticate and disseminate information to PMSSS.

http://inet.nio.org/Pondicherry/

INCOIS and PMSSS network further strengthened and INCOIS sponsored a Regional Consultation on Ocean Information Services.

thThe consultation was held on 14 September 2007. Social, developmental, technological and research organisations from Chennai to Kanyakumari participated. It was presided over by Thiru. M.O.H.F. Shajahan, Hon'ble Minister for Fisheries, Puducherry. Indian Coast Guard, Puducherry, BSNL-Puducherry and Department of Fisheries gave their inputs.

INCOIS displayed an updated Digital Display System to be installed in Thengaithitu Harbour.

Digital Display of Ocean Information System

• Displays information about wave height, direction, wind speed, direction, ocean current, potential fish finding zones and Early warning.

• The system is equipped with a siren and a micro phone.

• The system is connected through Global System for Mobile Communications [GSM] technology.

Tsunami Warning System for the Community -EDB

• Information on Wave Height, Wave Direction, Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Tsunami Alert, Cyclone Warning, Potential Fish Finding Zone.

• Connected directly to INCOIS – Hyderabad through GSM technology.

• Information updated once in 3 hrs in Tamil. • Marine weather, Current speed, current

direction, sea surface temperature with satellite pictures.

BSNL –SMS Information Package

§ Two major level consultations brought PMSSS and BSNL to work hand in hand in exploring the possible packages for information dissemination for coastal population.

§ An SMS package is developed by BSNL.§ INCOIS-PMSSS Ocean State Forecast is

given through SMS by BSNL network from th15 of Jan 2008 to the registered BSNL

customers free of cost.§ The fishermen in the sea can directly receives

this message.

(From the Power point presentation done on the day of visit at PMSSS)

Kerala Social Service Froum

Community Based Disaster Preparedness Programme

Exposure Visit to Tanjavur Diocese

Itinerary of the programme (Draft)

Date Day Time Particulars 16-Feb Tuesday 02.00 PM Arrival at Amos Center

03.00 PM Prayer 03.30 PM Flag Off 08.30 PM 09.30 PM Break for Dinner

17-Feb Wednesday 07.00 AM

Arrival at Velankanni (Check in at HOTEL MGM Velankanni Resorts)

08.30 AM Break fast 09.30 AM Arrival at TMDSS, Regional Office-Nagapattinam 10.00 AM 10.10 AM Prayer 10.10 AM 10.30 AM CBDM Programme Instruction

10.30 AM 11.30 AM Power point Presentation 11.30 AM 11.45 AM Tea Breaks 11.45 AM 01.00 PM Sharing and Clarification 01.00 PM 02.00 PM Lunch Break 03.00 PM 05.00 PM Visit to the Sellur housing project and VCC members 05.30 PM Evening tea & Return to Hotel

08.00 PM Dinner 18-Feb Thursday 08.00 AM Break fast

08.30 AM Check out from MGM Velainkanni Resorts

09.30 AM Arrival at PMDSS-Nagapattinam 10.00 AM 10.30 AM Feed back of the programme 10.30 AM 11.30 AM Water rescue methods-E.Easanoor 11.30 AM 11.45 AM Tea Breaks 11.45 AM 12.45 PM VCC members' sharing 01.00 PM 02.00 PM Lunch Break

02.00 PM 04.30 PM Mock Drill-Vealainkanni 04.30 PM 05.30 PM Evaluation of the sessions 05.30 PM Start to Pondicherry 08.30 PM Dinner 10.00 PM Check in at HOTEL MASS

19-Feb Friday 08.00 AM Break fast

09.00 AM 09.30 AM Travel to PMDSSS

10.00 AM 11.00 AM Interactive Session with the staff and CBDP team of PMDSSS

11.30 AM 12.00 NN Tea Time 12.00 NN 05.00 PM Visit to the tourist places of Pondicherry 05.00 PM Check out from MASS hotel 05.30 PM Return to Kottayam

20-Feb 07.30 AM Reaching at Kottayam

Project Support: Project Coordination:

Amos centre, Adichira, Thellakom Post, Kottayam, Kerala, India 686 016

Tel: +91-481-2594802, Fax: +91-481-2591795

www.kssf.org, kssforum@yahoo.com

CBCI centre, 1 Ashok Place, Opp.Gloedakkhana, New Delhi 110001Fax: 011 23742339, 23363390, 23362735www.caritasindia.org, director@caritasindia.org