DISASTER MANAGEMENT: A Development Approach

International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Career Development a voluntary non-profit organization is working towards the development of the underprivileged population in India and 60 other developing countries for the past 2 decades. With the core strength of the organization being motivating and training people to take up employment/ self employment, ICECD has worked on projects involving socio-economic empowerment of people in over 100 villages of Gujarat.

ICECD’s disaster management programs aim at rehabilitation of the lives of those hit by disasters like earthquake, cyclones, drought, floods etc. Our focus is on :

 Providing people with opportunity and access to livelihood options, self-employment and drinking water.
Economic empowerment for those who lose their means of survival due to disasters
Building up capacities of local communities through training in building materials Production Process and organization of speedy re-construction.

THE TREMORS - THE ANGUISH

The disastrous earthquake on 26^th January, 2001 shattered Gujarat. Over 30,000 killed and 80,000 persons missing

Loss of property and infrastructure of Rs. 22,000 crores (US $ 4500 Million), affecting 2,65,000 families

Victims lost hope and direction. . The extent of loss…… beyond human comprehension.

REHABILITATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

To revive their life, to build their capacity to face this and further challenges in future, we offered skill based Technology Training along with related tool kits in areas of Carpentry, Electrification, Plumbing, Sanitation, Fabrication, RCC and Pre-cast construction, thus creating livelihood options for the quake victims.

FASTERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP & SELF-DEVELOPMENT

To reduce the vulnerability of the victims, and develop their capacity, ICECD offered training in self-employment and entrepreneurship through specially designed curriculum for men and women to develop knowledge, skills and entrepreneurial competencies for successfully initiating, establishing and managing small/micro business.

WATER RESTORATION / HARVESTING

Rainwater harvesting was enabled by constructing tanks of 8000 lts capacity.drinking water resources were restored by repairing and reconstructing Public- stand posts, Havadas (Tanks), Drainage lines and soakpits leading to easy and hygienic access to water for people and cattle.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Once availability of water ensured, the task of maintenance was entrusted to local committees at village level, comprising of representatives of various castes, communities with equal participation of women, thereby building capacities of local communities.

OUR OUTREACH IN GUJARAT EARTHQUAKE

STRATEGY FORMULATION

Survey conducted to identify the areas of immediate concern to facilitate rehabilitation and revival of life.
Two main thrust areas identified:
        Economic Rehabilitation
        Water source restoration

TRAINING / CAPACITY BUILDING

Awareness and motivation workshop for local households/ Communities, to give them a direction when they had lost hope
Training workshop for local Work forces to develop/ enhance their construction-related skills and providing them direct employment on various construction projects.
Self-employment & entrepreneurship training along with skill based technical training.

PLAN IMPLEMENTATION

Orientation workshop to motivate quake victims to deal with difficulties
Post training support for trainees through linkages to market, raw-material, and credit.
Setting procedures and monitoring quality of repairs and reconstruction of water sources.

MULTIPLIER EFFECT

Successful revival of life through economic empowerment (employment & self-employment) along with social empowerment (support and capacity building)
Implementation of the universal rehabilitation model as, when and where required.