Role of panchayat or local authority in disaster management
Answers
Natural Disasters cannot be prevented, but their impact on the lives and the socio-economic
aspects of the people can be reduced to a considerable extent. In the past, people have
countered the effects of the disasters with their own efforts and have overcome the trauma
of the calamity. While the Government has the role to help its people in distress, the people
themselves have greater responsibility to withstand together to face such eventualities and
help the Government to help themselves in this process, rather fully depending on it. No
state-level administration will be able to meet the requirements of communities, unless
communities come forward to solve their own problems. The Panchayati Raj Institution
(PRI), the representative body of the people, is the most appropriate institution from village
to the district level in view of its proximity, universal coverage and enlisting people’s
participation on an institutionalized basis. Their close involvement will go a long way in
getting people prepared for countering natural disasters as well as involve them in all
possible preventive and protective activities so that the impact of the disasters are mitigated
and the people are able to save their lives and property. The PRIs can act as catalysts to
social mobilization process and tap the traditional wisdom of the local communities to
complement the modern practices in disaster mitigation efforts. Besides PRIs will also
provide a base for integration of various concerns of the community with that of the NonGovernmental
Organizations (NGOs) and Community Based organizations (CBOs) which
are engaged in various developmental activities at the grassroots level. The Panchayati Raj
Institution (PRI) members can play a role of leadership in Disaster management at all
stages. Right from the preparatory stage up to the handling of the long term development
activities for risk reduction. Panchayats must adhere to the humanitarian imperatives during
relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in order to protect the rights and dignity of
each and every victim of a disaster. Relief, they should remember, must be treated as a right
rather than as charity