Santa, looking tanned and a bit plump after a week-long visit to a relative in the plains, sighs dramatically as he sits down next to Banta. "Oh, Banta! You won't believe the life down there!” “So easy!” “Flat roads where you can cycle for miles without panting, vast fields that stretch as far as the eye can see, and no fear of a boulder deciding to visit your rooftop for tea!” “Why, oh why, … [Read More...] about The Fortress of Freedom
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People-Powered Development in the Himalayas
The Indian Himalayas, a realm of breathtaking beauty and profound ecological significance, are at a critical juncture. For centuries, these mountains and their inhabitants have existed in a delicate, often challenging, equilibrium. Especially in regions like Uttarakhand, the true architects of its developmental path and environmental consciousness have historically been its people. Their voices, … [Read More...] about People-Powered Development in the Himalayas
Climate Change and Uttarakhand’s Environment
Climate change as also our actions threaten the life support strategy and welfare of a large population not only in Uttarakhand but also in thee densely populated Indo-Gangetic plains. Urgent remedial action is therefore warranted to save this fragile terrain and welfare of people dependent on it.
The Vulnerability Paradox: Are We Missing the Weak?
Are our DRR interventions missing the weak and vulnerable sections of the community and serving only the ones with safety nets, knowledge, resources, political say and clout.
Climate Change and Disaster Management in Uttarakhand
Climate change impacts are a major challenge for disaster management professionals, and more so in the Himalayan region where the stakes are high and changes are irreversible.
Are We Ready for the Big One?
Earthquake is a harsh reality for the Himalayan region and located in the Seismic Gap the threat is real big for Uttarakhand. We have to evaluate if we are ready for the big one and act positively and quickly.
Understanding Ourselves to Protect Our Future
Our evolutionary programming together with lacking tradition of historical record keeping, enhance our vulnerability and we need to understand ourselves to protect our future.
Faith and Physiology: Navigating the Dangerous Heights of the Char Dham Yatra
The Char Dham Yatra of Uttarakhand attracts pilgrims in large numbers from far and wide and it is the duty of the state to ensure safety and comfort of the pilgrims. Awareness, compulsory acclimatization, specialised high altitude healthcare, prompt and effective response, restriction and regulation hold the key to safe and secure Char Dham Yatra.
Risk Transfer: Your Financial Safety Net Against the Unexpected
Risk transfer through insurance of assets is being recognised globally as being a potent strategy for shielding the communities from fast mounting burden of disaster induced losses and facilitating prompt and full recovery.
Climate Change Induced Implications for Disaster Managers
Though threatening humanity as such, climate change related unexpected and extreme events pose a major challenge for disaster management fraternity of the Himalayan region and warrants gearing up preparations to ensure not being caught off guard.
Discrimination in the Wake of Disasters: The Hidden Inequality
Despite the Constitution prohibiting discrimination the victims of less publicised disasters often get less relief as compared to the victims of high profile disasters. An equitable system is thus advocated for ending this discrimination.
Landslides and Human Habitation in the Himalayan Region: A Delicate Balance
Landslides promote availability of water and fertile land in the mountains and most habitations are therefore located in close proximity of old landslides. Understanding this relationship is crucial to reducing landslide induced losses.
The Deadly Truth About Crowd Collapse: A Survivor’s Guide
Crowd related tragedies are related to crowd collapse or crush and not stampede and crowd density rather than size is the main determinant with risk becoming emminent at 4 persons / sq m.
Traditional Knowledge: An Untapped Resource for Disaster Resilience
At the face of fast increasing disaster frequency and magnitude and challenges posed by changing climate amalgamation of science and traditional knowledge hold the promise to ensure disaster resilience and promote climate adaptation.
The Hidden Danger in the Divine Char Dham Yatra
With wider roads pilgrims from the plains are reaching the Char Dham destinations without due acclimatization which is resulting in heavy loss of human lives and therefore detailed SOP is required to be put in place for Char Dham Yatra.
Small Tremors & Earthquake Risk
Small tremors, though frequent don’t reduce earthquake risk in an area as the energy released by them is relatively insignificant. Get to better understand the implications of small magnitude earthquakes.
XV Finance Commission and Disaster Risk Index
Try out Disaster Risk Index methodology of XV Finance Commission to assess the risk of various hazards on the districts of your state using open source data.
The Challenge of Deepfakes
Challenge of deepfakes becoming grave and real, threatening social order and solidarity warrants understanding the problem and putting in place appropriate prevention and mitigation measures.
Mass Awareness for Effective Disaster Risk Reduction
Mass awareness is the cornerstone of disaster risk reduction as it alone can ensure voluntary compliance of prevention, mitigation and safety measures.
Supreme Court on Dignified End of Life
The article explores the scenario around dignified end of life choice so boldly provided by the Government of Haryana in response to the resounding echoes of the Supreme Court’s stance on this often debated issue of euthanasia.
XV Finance Commission and Resources for Disaster Management – In Hindi
Get to know about the innovative approach of the XV Finance Commission for allocating resources for disaster management related purposes to the states. The XV Finance Commission has for the first timer provided resources for not only pre-disaster mitigation and capacity building but also for post-disaster reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Capacity Building for Disaster Resilience
Capacity building is a must to ensure effective and quality discharge of functions and bringing forth improvement in service delivery and is considered necessary for disaster resilience. In the intricate dance of organizational efficiency, every employee plays a pivotal role. Michael Kremer‘s O-Ring Theory of Economic Development, though basically focusing on highly sophisticated manufacturing […]
Threat of Earthquakes in the Himalayan Region: A Call to Action for Resilience
It is a harsh reality that being overwhelmed routinely by landslides and flash floods, the Himalayan states are ignoring earthquake safety, largely due to particularly long quiescence after the previous earthquake. In view of due date of next major earthquake drawing close it is recommended that the Himalayan states gear up their preparedness to reduce the threat of earthquakes by adopting and undertaking strategies for (i) mass awareness, (ii) dos and don’t campaigns, (iii) stringent building bye laws, (iv) incentives and punitive measures for compliance, (v) vulnerability assessment and retrofitting, (vi) risk transfer and low premiums, (vii) mandatory construction standards for loans, and (viii) stringent safety measures in lifeline buildings.
Uttarakhand Tunnel Project and Silkyara Disaster
Despite housing a number of these, Uttarakhand tunnel projects witnessed the heat of review, close scrutiny and critique from various ends including general public and media after the Silkyara tunnel disaster in which 41 workers were trapped and could be rescued only after 17 days on 28 November 2023.
Reflecting on Resilience from Sinking Joshimath
On the first anniversary of Sinking Joshimath or aggravated ground subsidence and the subsequent disaster that unfolded in Joshimath, it becomes imperative to reflect on the challenges faced and the inspiring journey toward recovery.
New Year and January 1
History is adorned with various dates that, in different cultures and epochs, marked the advent of a fresh beginning or New Year. Get to know as to how January 1 came to be accepted universally as being the New Years Day.
राज्य आपदा न्यूनीकरण कोष (Mitigation Fund Guidelines): मार्गनिर्देश व अन्य जानकारिया
वर्तमान में हमारे पास आपदा घटित होने से पहले कार्यवाही कर के सम्भावित क्षति को कम करने के विकल्प उपलब्ध हैं, जरूरत हैं तो बस उन्हें जानने-समझने की और ऐसा हम Mitigation Fund Guidelines का अध्ययन कर उन्हें समझ कर सहज ही कर सकते है
Disaster Management in India – Funding Provisions in Hindi
Funding provisions for disaster management in India are decided upon by the recommendations of successive Finance Commissions. Departing from the routine expenditure based approach, XV Finance Commission has also taken note of disaster risk faced by the states and has allocated funds not only for pre-disaster mitigation, preparedness and capacity building but also for post-disaster rehabilitation and reconsatruction.
मिनाक्षीनामा: Your Stars and Luck – 2024
Get to know as to what your stars and luck have in store for you in 2024. Avail benefit of the advice, avoid losses and maximise benefits.
Meenakshinama: Your Stars and Luck in 2024
Get to know as to what your stars and luck have in store for you in 2024. Avail benefit of the advice, avoid losses and maximise benefits.