CHAPTER-X

INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION

 

10.1 Plan Dissemination and Evaluation

 

The responsibility of plan dissemination is vested with the DCR manned by Field Officer (DRM) at the Deputy Commissioner Office, Roing, Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh.

 

In order for the DDMP to be effective it must be disseminated at two levels:

    1. To the district authorities, government departments, NGOs and other agencies and institutions within the district and
    2. To general public

 

10.2Dissemination of Other IEC Materials

 

The DIPRO & officials from Department of Relief, Rehab & Disaster Management at the district level will carry on the dissemination of IEC materials and NGOs at the block and village level during normal time (selected during Post Natural Calamity Committee meeting, presided over by the DC/ADC). The activities of these DI PRO and NGOs along with Department of RR&DM would include

®    Walling,

®    Posters, Pamphlets and Brochure preparation and distribution

®    Padayatra,

®    Street plays,

®    Volunteers training,

®    Task force training, etc.

 

10.3Training and Drills

 

The training programmes are organized for different levels of functionaries from district level officials identified NGOs, Private Sector Organizations in order to equip them to extend training facilities to functionaries at blocks and village level as well as organize simulation exercises within the community.

 

The objective of full scale drill include evaluation of the following

Ø      Practicality of the plan (structure and organization)

Ø      Adequacy of communication and interactions among the agencies and the public

Ø      Emergency equipment effectiveness

Ø      Adequacy of first aid and rescue procedures

Ø      Adequacy of emergency personnel response and training

Ø      Public relation skills

Ø      Evacuation and count procedures

Ø      Timely updating of SOPs & Resource Inventory

Ø      Coordination with the CBOs / NGOs

 

10.4Community Based Disaster Preparedness and Mock Drills

 

Role of the Community

®    First responder to disaster

®    Participate in preparedness programme

®    Sharing of disaster preparedness cost

®    Playing as pressure group / advocacy

®    Stockpiling and Coordination

®    Supporting communication System

 

The Community Based Disaster Preparedness should be done as per the following stages

Þ    Formation of Block Level Disaster Committee

Þ    Training of line department and volunteers

Þ    Formation of village level Committee

Þ    Developing Community Contingency Plans in the Villages

Þ    Training of Task Forces

Þ    Periodic mock drills

Þ    Coordination of Village and Block

Þ    Updating information

 

Mock drills are important in normal times as well as during the emergency. The mock drill and preparedness for disaster are considered as a part of police duty. Every six months, there should be a mock drill in all of the police stations of the district to make them alert / fit to cope with any situation. Security Plan for all industries to be reviewed and approved by CISF at regular intervals. Similarly all police stations should have internal security scheme, based on which they should have mock drills and update it for safety measures as per requirement.

 

Besides a contingency drill should be enacted during the flood, landslides, earthquakes etc so that everyone knows what he/she should do and where he/she should go. It is advisable to have a mock drill at night during the rain, by cutting of the electricity in the village/ block/ district (as per the time chosen for the mock drill at each level). This exercise will help learn possible problem that would be faced. These learned lessons could be utilized in preparing the contingency plan in a much-prepared manner.

 

10.5 Setting Up of Disaster Volunteer Force – Identification and Training

 

An analysis of the situation of the village community forms the first task for preparedness. After analysis, the villagers would form different groups to carry on the activities for disaster preparedness. The motivated and willing male and female group members have to find out the roles and responsibilities of each group. The groups may be formed for warning, rescue and evacuation, water and sanitation, relief and food, damage assessment, shelter management, etc. This will form the Disaster Management Teams.

 

For warning group, members could be young boys and girls of the village (17 to 25 years) who will be trained to understand radio warnings and act fast to spread the warning throughout the village.

The members for Rescue And Evacuation Group need to be physically strong (both men and women) and in the age group of 18 to 35 years. Village youths, Retired Army personnel, Home guards etc  should be the members of this group. Inclusion of civil defense personnel would be useful if available in the village. This team can coordinate with the government to avail the facilities for rescue and evacuation, both in terms of rescue training, rescue infrastructure and equipment and ensuring the alertness of the rescue team of the government.

 

Both men and women members may look after the Water and Sanitation responsibilities at the shelters as well as outdoors

 

The members of the relief group collect & distribute relief materials such as food supply, utensils, clothes, kerosene, diesel, etc and coordinate all the relief requirements of the other action groups. Both men and women members have to be capable of interacting with the local authorities to ensure adequate supplies reach the village in time.

 

The members of shelter management group shall have more women members preferably SHG members and Anganwadi Workers (AWW). They will be at the shelters and safe houses looking after the evacuees’ food, water and medication requirements. This group can also coordinate with the government authorities to ensure that health and sanitation facilities are available for extra vulnerable like women and children.

 

There can also be a First Aid and Medical Group, with equal numbers of men and women, those with some knowledge of nursing (such as trained dais and AWW/ ANMs) will be preferable. The members have to go through intensive training and drills for first aid and medical responsibility.

 

Other such group might be the Patrolling group and the Liaison group.