State Level Consultation on Disaster Management

A two day State Level Consultation was organised by Indo Global Social Service Society, IGSSS NE with support from European Commission & WELTHUNGERHILFE (Germany) on the 7th & 8th of December 2008 at Don Bosco Institute, Kharghuli, Guwahati. The objective of the State Consultation was to convene all major stakeholders in Disaster Response to arrive at a convergent view on Disaster Management in Assam/NE including the Government Departments, and to advocate on suitable policy decisions in matters of Disaster Management. The Regional Manger of IGSSS, Paul Lokho initiated the Consultation focusing on the importance of Disaster Management in the NE which falls in the Zone5. The Executive Director of IGSSS Dr. Joseph Sebastian first inaugurated the Programme. Nandita Hazarika, State Project Officer of UNDP facilitated the 1st Day's Consultation and elaborated the Government Policies and Planning to the participants. Arup Sharma, Professor Civil Engineering Deptt. of IIT Guwahati was the other Resource person who stressed on sustainable planning and long term solutions needed to solve the problem in the state of Assam spoke on the situational understanding on Assam Flood and what could be the plan of action for long term solutions. He updated the participants on the technical aspects of Disaster issues. The participants of the Consultation were the representatives from the Govt. Depts., NGOs, Civil Society & Student Organisations.

Vikas Gora of Sphere India (Focal Point URS) facilitated on the Unified Resource Strategy on the 2nd day of the session. Dr. Pradip Sarma, Prof, Geography Deptt. College explained on Climate change and Environmental aspects relating to disaster.

After the two day's open and Group discussions with all the major stakeholders present & working in Disaster Preparedness & Rehabilitation activities in Assam including the Water & Resource & PWD Deptt. of the Govt. Assam a final Action Plan was worked out. The Action Plan will be carried forward to the Government Authorities that could help in the Disaster Policy making by the Government.

IGSSS is implementing Rehabilitation activities in Lakhimpur & Dhemaji since 2007 after the devastating flood in Dhemaji district.