VIEWS FROM THE FRONTLINE

India

We’re working with 15 communities in India to ensure that development is informed by the perspectives of people most at risk.

1003

Random household surveys

151

Civil society surveys

151

Local government surveys

Key findings and conclusions at the national level

  • Community collaboration for assessment, planning, implementation and monitoring of risk reduction plans and activities needs to be institutionalised
  • Community awareness and access to resources and information on local level risk reduction plans and activities needs to be improved
  • There is a need to collaborate with civil society organisations to build the capacities of communities on resilience-building behaviour and activities
  • Communities most at risk continue to be excluded from risk reduction activities

Surveys undertaken in India

Our Views from the Frontline surveys in India were undertaken in 2019.

Who was surveyed?

We surveyed 1,003 random households, 151 civil society organisations, 151 local government representatives, and undertook 75 community consultations.

Risk locations prioritised

We prioritised four risk areas:

  • Bihar
  • Gujarat
  • Odisha
  • Sikkim

Communities surveyed

We surveyed people from 15 communities: Kochelli; Surigaon; Sonawan; Bakhtiarpur Ward No. 18; Patna Ward 37; Kathi; Bhuj Ward No. 3; Katediya; Boriguma; Kotpad Ward No.10; Pottangi; Japabhuan; Jayaksankhapur; Mangan Ward No. 2; Kabi.

“Education on preparedness among women and children covering climate related risks is highly needed.”

Community member from Bhuj Ward, India

Our impact

Activities undertaken in response to community-level findings and conclusions

  • Awareness generation and training/capacity building of communities (including women and youth groups) on disaster thematic areas to build an understanding of local risk and threats
  • Formation and strengthening community-level disaster preparedness committee, contingency plans, and training on community-based disaster preparedness
  • Advocacy meetings between government and communities at a platform concerning preparedness and responses during and post disasters
  • Demonstration of good practices on disaster management for adoption by local communities so that they know their role to reduce risk
  • Development of information and guiding documents in the local language for generating awareness of local stakeholders on disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation and ecosystems

Impact of activities

  • The local communities can better understand disaster risk and early warning systems, and will be able undertake preparedness and mitigation measures to reduces the impact of disasters
  • Community member will actively participate during planning, assessment, implementation and monitoring led by the government to address disaster risks or threats
  • Local community members have gained knowledge on their role in ecosystem management, DRR and are now involved in the implementation of actions taken to reduce risk

All hands on deck for disaster risk reduction

Sonawan (Bihar), a community in India, is affected by a lack of community involvement in disaster risk reduction planning and decision-making processes by the local government.

Community involvement is key to disaster preparedness. To solve this, Action for Community Empowerment (ACE), a Views from the Frontline partner conducted trainings in Sonawan on disaster management during floods, droughts, fire, and the COVID-19 pandemic, and facilitated the formation of the Village Disaster and Management Committee which now acts as a link between the community and the local government.

Our project partners in India

Our Views from the Frontline programme is implemented by GNDR member organisations and partners in the country.

National coordinating organisation

  • Orissa State Volunteers and Social Workers Association

Partner organisations

  • Action for Community Empowerment
  • All India Disaster Mitigation Institute
  • National Youth Service Action and Social Development Research Institute
  • Indo-Global Social Service Society

View all data from India

You can view all our Views from the Frontline survey data using our data dashboard. You can also learn more about our methodology for selecting at-risk areas and survey respondents.

Project funded by

European Union

Our Views from the Frontline project is funded by the European Union (EU). Content related to this project on our website was made possible by the support of the EU. All content is the sole responsibility of GNDR and does not necessarily reflect the views of the EU.

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Photo credit

Photo by Shruti Parthasarathy on Unsplash.