Note to Chief Minister of Kerala:
on the prevention strategies in the event of a ‘future OCKHI’ like disaster
Sir:
Recent OCKHI cyclone is an eye opener to the public and, administration especially on the ‘lapses’ of state agencies at the time of a disaster. Globally, India (standing third from top in the list of nations) suffers 93% of disaster related deaths. We Indians are keen about rescue and rehabilitation, rather than preparation, early warning and management prior to the disaster strike, i.e., during years of normalcy.
In contrast, Japan, ‘frequently’ exposed to earthquake and tsunami disasters, sits at the top of a global list of nations with the lowest loss of life by a synergy of modern technologies like internet, geostationary satellites (for India it is INSAT), chain of sensors monitoring the Earthquake and Tsunami waves over land and sea and warning the public through radio, television, SMS, tweets, loud speakers and sirens during a disaster and practicing disaster management (DM) related drills, warning, education, drills and best practices.
After the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the GoI had put in place land and seabed and surface based sensors for earthquakes, tsunami waves, and oceanic earth quakes (all under the IMD) and linked wirelessly to dedicated computers in INCOIS, Hyderabad. who are serving the. In addition, Only item missing in their portfolio is issuance of advisories when disasters strike. In addition, INCOIS maintains wireless and dynamic electronic display boards in coastal villages to issue advisories to fishers on Tuna fishing forecasts and potential fishing zones and static warning sign posts about the last Indian ocean Tsunami.
However, Emergency warning by INCOIS or IMD, goes only to only the governments and not the public. Only the state authorities and agencies are authorized to step in during disaster events to make public announcements. Thus the ‘golden hour” is efficiently ‘missed by this ‘through proper channel’ approach.
The warnings by IMD (India Meteorological Department), in future, should be directed directly to fishers at work in the ocean closer or far off from the shores through the network of INCOIS (Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Service), Hyderabad, an agency of MoES, GoI. INCOIS, founded after the 2004 Tsunami, efficiently advises Indian Fishers in finding PTF (Potential Fishing Zones) in the ocean and in looking for tuna through TFF (Tuna Fishing Forecast). These advisories are never routed through government channels. However, the same agency does not probably have a mandate to inform the ‘concerned public’, viz., fishers directly on impending disasters. Instead, it is seemingly through a labyrinthine procedure of files and approvals for actions involving the top echelons of secretaries and ministers. This is unique to India which even now follows a king and country model in governance at all times.
1. Traditionally, Indian administration follows a ”through proper channel approach” both is times of peace and at times of emergencies such as the OCKHJ. Instead, a new system (like what is practiced in Japan or USA) shall be in place, whereby the agencies, without waiting for administrations orders, should spring into action in respect of implementing the plans for warnings, advisories etc., to reach out to affected citizens at work in the sea or land and families. What is urgently called for is a devolution of powers to the various agencies involved in DM to act on their own by the first receipt of warnings through INCOIS like systems to save lives and property. Moreover, INCOIS is very much an example of Internet of Things (IoT). first through technologies such as IoT ( Internet of Things).
2. Current top down approach followed in DM finally boils down to rescue and rehabilitation. This shall be replaced by early warning systems directly to distressed, through SMS, Tweets; but by FM radio channels, TV channels to shore based teams.
3. IoT, a synergy among things in the physical world with the cyber world. Every object, such as the vessels large or small going out to the ocean for work shall be linked to the INSAT through an embedded device and GPS receiver on board the vessels at the sea, regarding their location in the ocean on a 24/7 basis. INCOIS shall be the nodal agency for advising the rescue boats/navy/coast guard, regarding the location of the distressed group in the ocean.
4. Similarly, crew members (with an adhar ID card) before sailing in a fishing vessel, shall register themselves through a device like “thumb reader” linked to the ‘unique ID’ of the Fishing Vessel. All such data shall be linked to a server managed by an appropriate agency of the GOK. This will solve forever the current mismatch of number of missing people.
5. Rehabilitation of the bereaved families and safe transition to normality is a task perhaps fulfilled by the government. It is time to consider extending EPF benefits to people who work in riskier environments such as the sea.
6. The sea level is rising at the rate of 1.0 mm annually due to climate change. The homeless and landless among the fish workers shall be provided free apartments in multistory apartment complexes built on the landside of the CRZ limits. By the way stand- alone-home is throwback from our archaic mind set.
Prof. Dr. Thrivikramji.K.P.
Professor Emeritus, Univ. of Kerala
7012 99 5842
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