Studies in Indian Place Names

(UGC Care Journal) ISSN: 2394-3114

Vol-40-Issue-40-March-2020

Role of Social Worker, Civil Society and Government Organizations for

Prevention and Control of Disasters

Dr. Sudarshan Devidas Khaparde

Associate Professor
Athavale College of Social Work
Chimur, Distt- Chandrapur 442903

Introduction
Every country in the world has taken the initiative about disaster management. India is also
conscious about disaster management including various process related to the disaster
management India has special commissions to overlook the status of disaster management. India
is assuming the most disaster prone country in the world. India frequently faces the bloods,
drought, earthquakes, cyclones and landslides in various part of the country. Most of the finance
of the Indian economy expedites on rescue, relief and rehabilitation work. Disasters affect almost
every part of the world according to a world bank report titled natural hazards, unnatural
disasters, floods and storms are the most widespread while droughts are prevalent more often in
Africa. Disaster is a very common phenomenon to the human society. It has been experienced by
them since time immemorial. Though its form may be varied it has been a challenged for society
across castes, creeds communities and countries. The last development which has been
discovered in the world disaster reports recently is that the disasters have increased infrequency
and intensity. There is a direct correction between higher human development and higher
preparedness.
The constrictive outcome of developmental efforts made over several years is disrupted or
destroyed in no time because of disasters. Nations all over the world therefore have shown
growing concerns on the issue in recent times. Almost every day, through newspapers, radio and
television channels we come across reports on disaster happening in several parts of the world.
Disaster is sudden un expected accident resulting from natural or man-made factors or a
combination of both that takes a heavy toll on the community and the eco-system in which it
strikes. It has a major negative impact on the daily lives and living conditions of humans and
fauna. The united nations defines disaster as a sudden or major misfortune which disrupts the
basic fabric and normal functioning of society. Disasters can either be natural or man made. A
disaster is an unforeseen combination of circumstances that causes serious body injured loss of
life or extensive damage to the plant facilities or total. Disaster are by nature sudden events that
strikes a large number of people and consequences on the physical and mental health are broad
and can persist for many years.
Keywords : Social Worker, Civil Society, Government Organizations, Prevention, Control,
Disaster, Disaster Management, emergencies, disaster face.

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Studies in Indian Place Names
(UGC Care Journal) ISSN: 2394-3114
Vol-40-Issue-40-March-2020

Objectives of the Study

 To study the role of social workers for prevention and control of disaster management.
 To know the role of civil society for prevention and control of disaster management.
 To know the role of Government organization for prevention and control of disaster
management.
 To understand the phases of disaster management.
 To study essential measures for prevention and control of disasters.

Hypothesis of the Study

 Social worker can perform a major role for prevention and control of disaster.
 Civil society can play commendable role in creating greater interaction and empathy in
disaster management initiatives.
 Role and strategies of Government organizations has assumes greater importance in disaster
management.
 For understanding role and level of intervention in disaster we must know the various phases
in disaster management.
 Social worker have a key role in the field.

Research Methodology
Secondary sources of data are collected. While preparing the research paper, various references,
journals, encyclopedias, wikipedia, newspaper cutting, books have been used.

Research Questions
 What are the natural disasters ?
 What social worker can do in disaster management ?
 What is personal mitigation ?
 Which are the preventive and preparatory ?
 Which national organizations involved in disaster management ?
 What are the social work intervention strategies ?
 What are the objectives of the national policy on disaster management ?
 Is there any arrangement of specific officers and provisions of fund in the state Govt. ?
 What is national disaster management Act- 2005 ?
 What is the role of NGO’s in disaster management ?
 What is disaster recovery ?
 What is the importance of NGO’s contribution in disaster management ?
 Which are the schemes and grants on disaster management ?
 What is education and disaster risk reduction ?
 What is the role of non Governmental organizations ?
 Why training is necessary for disaster management ?
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Studies in Indian Place Names
(UGC Care Journal) ISSN: 2394-3114
Vol-40-Issue-40-March-2020

 Which environment factors are responsible for disaster management ?

Concept of Disaster Management

In the modern world, disaster management is a discipline and a part of governance. It also the
discipline of dealing with and avoiding risks. It is a discipline that involves preparing, supporting
and rebuilding when natural or man-made disaster occurs. The aspects of disaster management
are prevention, preparation, response and recovery. In short disaster management means to tackle
any emergency professionally disaster management is a multidisciplinary approach which
required co-operation and co-ordination of various department and experts. Prevention is always
better than cure, which is true in disaster management. However it is not always possible to
prevent disaster from occurring but through early warning system we can save lives. Few steps
could have been taken in advance to minimize loss to human beings, animals and property at least
to some extent. Disaster is serious of the functioning of a society causing widespread human,
material or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected community to cope
using its own resources.

WHO’s definition ?
Situation which implies unforeseen serious and immediate threat on public health.

Types of Disasters
There is no country that is immune from disaster, through vulnerability to disaster various. Even
though there are four main types of disaster.
1. Natural Disasters :
The natural disaster includes, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and volcano eruptions that have
immediate impacts on human healthy and secondary impacts causing further death and suffering
from floods, landslides, fires, tsunamis.
2. Environmental Emergencies :
The environment emergencies including technological or industrial accidents usually involving
the production, use or transportation of hazardous material and occur where these materials are
products used or transported and forests fires causes by humans.
3. Complex Emergencies :
The complex emergencies mean involving a break down of authority, looting and attacks on
strategic installations, including conflict situations and war.

Pandemic Emergencies
The pandemic emergencies involving a sudden onset of contagious disease that affects health,
disrupts services and business, brings economic and social costs. For understanding role and level
of intervention in disaster we must know the various phases in disaster and concept of disaster
management.

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Studies in Indian Place Names
(UGC Care Journal) ISSN: 2394-3114
Vol-40-Issue-40-March-2020

The phases are as follows :

1. Disaster phase :
The phase during which the event of the disaster takes place this phase is characterized by
profound damage to the human society. This damages/loss may be that of human life, loss of
property. Loss of environment, loss of heath or anything. In this phase, the population is usually
in shock.
2. Response Phase :
In this phase all individuals respond to the disaster, but in their own ways. The public also take
part in relief work. Almost everyone is willing to helps. The needs of the population during this
phase immediate medical help, food, clothing and shelter.
3. Recovery phase :
When the immediate needs of the population are met, when people have settled down the
recovery phase start in which long term outcome is, The most significant. During this time,
victims required intensive mental support, resources and facilities to as to facilitate recovery.
4. Risk Reduction Phase :
During this phase, the population has returned to pre-disaster standards of living. But they
recognize the need for certain measures. Which may be needed to reduce the extent or impact of
damage during the next similar disasters.
5. Preparedness Phase :
This phase involves the development of awareness among the population on the general aspects
of disaster and on how to behave in the face of a future disaster. This includes education on
warning signs of disasters, method of safe and successful evaluation and first aid measures.

Who is Disaster Management Social Worker ?

A social worker has to have adequate theoretical knowledge and be able to adopt it for use in
his/her practical work as and when required. Social workers have to control, manage, improve
and develop technical process and aggregates issuing their theoretical knowledge and skills.

The Role of Social Workers in Disaster Management

Over the last few decades, a number of countries have set up disaster management information
systems according to their own specific needs. In considering the role of social protection for
natural disasters, some issues needs to be classified, first social protection instruments should not
be considered alone but rather as a part of a larger set of risk management arrangements. In this
sense, social protection can offer complementarities to existing mechanisms and systems and
strengthen natural disaster management systems that are in place. As such they should not crowd
out other risk management arrangements (Informal, market based or public) but instead be
evaluated with other options based on existing capacities resources and potential benefits of each
arrangement social worker focusing on emergency relief. Despite efforts to design and plan, little
has been done to address risk mitigation or risk prevention aspects of natural disasters, while this
or risk prevention aspects of natural disasters, while this may be understandable when one

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Studies in Indian Place Names
(UGC Care Journal) ISSN: 2394-3114
Vol-40-Issue-40-March-2020

considers a country’s limited resources. Governments, social workers and civil society peoples
have their own roles in each stage of disaster management cycle. From preparedness plans to
recovery plans, social workers and civil society peoples took responsibilities for helping victims.
Implement the recovery projects, recognize resources and empower to local communities in
disaster management. Indeed disaster management on cost based on the collaboration among
disaster central Government, state Government, NGO’s, Social workers and civil society people.
The key role of civil workers and civil society people and social workers in every stage of
disaster management. The experiences need to be shared and to help Governments and different
social workers to face next disaster and to achieve better disaster management experience. Social
workers, civil society peoples works with individuals, families, groups organizations and
communities in disaster to provide basic and useful social services for those who need assistants.
Disaster is become an issue over recent years. Not only Government but also civil society people
and social workers need to share their practices. Experience and insights to deal with the possible
calamity in the future.

Role of Government Organizations in Disaster Management

The Governments have a prime responsibility for managing disasters. We are a parliamentary
democracy with a federal structure. An integrated disaster management mechanism exists within
Government framework. The essential responsibility of disaster management goes with the state
Government. Where the disaster has occurred. The central Government supplements their efforts
in dealing with disaster response. There is an institutional arrangement at the national, state,
district and sub district levels to cafe with emergency situations. A national contingency action
plan exists for ensuring emergency assistance in the wake of disaster in the national, state and
districts levels. The state Governments have relief manuals and codes, which lay down the
procedures and powers for emergency management and provision of relief. The national
arrangements comprises of a cabinet committee on natural disaster management. Each state
Government has a relief commissioner and state cabinet levels co-ordination committee. At the
district level, the district collector presides over the relief committee. Which includes peoples
representatives. At the district level role of the local self-Government institutions assumes greater
importance in disaster management. They will be the first responders in emergencies a calamity
relief fund is allocated to each state on an annual basis. 75% by which is contributed by the
central Government.

Preventive Measures for Disaster

Disasters are unpredictable and occur suddenly like earthquake, floods, drought and cyclone etc.
Communication facilities for disaster management system is most important act as it convey at
the right time communication in disaster. It may handle disaster affected people. Two types of
information needs in disaster management pre-disaster- information it is getting from the research
and analysis department of the geography and in the country.
Past Disaster Information

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Studies in Indian Place Names
(UGC Care Journal) ISSN: 2394-3114
Vol-40-Issue-40-March-2020

After the disaster, our first job is to find out where it was occurs. What is the next step to help
people ? That type of early warning system developed at the different area by itself.
1. DCWDS : Digital cyclone warming dissemination system be set up at Delhi and other coastal
areas. It is for the pre disaster information in India.
2. The WLL-VSAT : System in terms of handsets which can easily be taken inside of the
affected areas to sends information by direct audio communication.
3. The MSS type C reporting terminal developed for the sending short messaged directly through
satellite in remote area.
4. AES-SNG is a system which can send video pictures of the affected area for online review
from the control center.

Tele Medicine
It is one more steps for the disaster management communication. In this system online help can
be provided from the hospital and super specialist doctors, only connect up link to laptop or PC
and get the online information about cure.

Some Essential Measures While Working For Prevention of Disaster :

 Our educational system should include the training programs for the students from school
level for combating disasters.
 Giving attention to preserve ecology and uncontrolled expansion of hydro projects and
widening roads.
 Control tourist traffic leading to unauthorized and illegal constructions.
 Police posts must be increase in case of emergencies added.
 Central Govt. and State Government should take care of preserving the ecology and restrict
tourist traffic every year by giving permits.
 To improve communication infrastructure, the Government has divided to put in place a
framework consisting of satellite phones, Air transportable mobile BTS, satellite-linked
telephones booths. This is to ensure that in the immediate after math of disaster, it helps
response agencies and provides the common public an opportunity to convey to the outside
world about their condition. The ministry of communications and information technology has
been asked to explore the possibility of deploying satellite based communication network and
immediate acquisition of adequate number of satellite phones in disaster phone area.

Recommendations
In view of the disaster management the following recommendations may be considered.
 There is a need to establish a centre for excellence in disaster management.
 There is a requirement for necessary staff expertise in disaster response and further up-
graduation for capacity building.
 Efforts should be made for bolstering the capacity of the civil authority, including the disaster
response.
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Studies in Indian Place Names
(UGC Care Journal) ISSN: 2394-3114
Vol-40-Issue-40-March-2020

 A separate budgetary allotment should made to enable the services to procure equipment for
‘disaster bricks’ and disaster management related expenditure.

Discussion
Disasters will not be a new phenomenon, it occurs always and money part of the country. We can
learn more and more from each disaster but at the same time we and the administration should
have learnt. Much more things to prevent and cope of such situation. Most of the people believe
that a disaster is something that happens to someone else not to themselves or their families, As a
result they are likely to ignore or minimize warning and refrain form taking preventive measures.
Preventing disaster is everyone responsibility and fighting through them is everyone duty. Any
disaster is an unwanted event. It mitigation is an event that has sense of deliberation. Disaster
may not be planned, but their mitigation is entirely depredation the way mitigation activities
planned prior to disaster. Further success depends upon the effectiveness of all organizations in
executing the plans. It becomes necessary for the future generation of professional social workers
to be familiar with preventive measures and the disaster management practices. As this is a
period of globalization, the promising social workers should be competent enough. Who are very
much informed and acquainted with the practice of safe, serve and sustainable humanity.
Civil society organization have always been considered foremost help in natural calamities and
disaster. They work voluntarily in rescue, relief and rehabilitation work. Disaster and natural
calamities cause damage to the property, livestock as well as human life. However survivors are
caught in traumatic condition they fell cost. That time they need special attention, care support
and counseling to overcome. However civil society organizations play very crucial role in
providing psychological counseling which is necessary for the affected people to come out of
trauma. If civil society organizations/peoples are provided with advance training, skills and
equipped with adequate resources they can work faster and save human life. Government and
non-government organizations both are effectively contributing in disaster situation, both
organizations share common objectives in disaster management. Hence with the help of
Government machinery and various non-Government organizations turning a disaster into an
opportunity for long term development is the key issue in disaster management that benefits the
people as well as the environment.

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Studies in Indian Place Names
(UGC Care Journal) ISSN: 2394-3114
Vol-40-Issue-40-March-2020

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