A Text Book on Disaster Management and Rural Technology

Disasters take a toll on human lives and property resulting in losses in several ways to people and the country as a whole. The primary reason for the loss of lives is poor communication and delay in help arriving at the disaster scene. To save more lives, relief and salvage operations need to be activated in response to the disaster as soon as possible. The government, NGOs and several local agencies play critical roles in the effective management in terms of rehabilitation of the affected population. It is important to formulate risk reduction plans and implement them effectively. India has been traditionally vulnerable to natural disasters due to its unique geo-climatic conditions. Floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes and landslides are frequent phenomena. Disaster management occupies an important place in this country’s policy framework because, it is primarily the poor and the underprivileged who are the worst affected by these calamities/disasters.