Disaster Recovery and the Road Ahead - IGNOU

ANNEXURE 2
CASE STUDIES
COORDINATION
The aftermath of Gujarat Earthquake 2001 saw a pouring of many national and international agencies
such as Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Australian Red Cross, United Nations Children
Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Oxfam etc. These Agencies have done substantial work in rescuing
survivors from debris; providing food, shelter, water and basic sanitation; arranging for medical
supplies and so on. The coordination and cooperation between these Agencies has made the task
of rebuilding and rehabilitation in Gujarat a reality today.
INSURANCE
In 2002, a majority of the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake relief beneficiaries were still exposed to
disaster-induced financial losses. Various studies-including the Gujarat Community Survey of 2002
by the Gujarat-based All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) and ProVention Consortium -
revealed that access to risk transfer was correlated with sustainable economic recovery among
victims, yet only 2 per cent of those surveyed had insurance. A micro-insurance scheme was
designed to augment AIDMI’s ongoing Livelihood Relief Fund activities. The resultant scheme,
called “Afat Vimo” was the result of extensive discussions and negotiations with insurance providers
who could be interested in supplying low-premium insurance policies to poor clients. Afat Vimo
policyholders are covered for damage or loss up to the value of 1,744 US dollars for non-life assets
and 465 US dollars for loss of life, which gives a total damage and loss coverage of 2,209 US
dollars. Current Afat Vimo clients include 5,054 individuals from low income households with an
annual income of 280 US dollars.
The scheme covers 19 disasters including fires, explosions, riots, malicious damage, aircraft damage,
cyclones, tempests, floods, inundation, earthquakes, lightening, implosions, strikes, impact damage,
storms, typhoons, hurricanes, tornados and landslides. Afat Vimo policy holders are also supported
with micro-mitigation measures such as fire-safety training, seismic-safe construction practices and
business development services. The Afat Vimo scheme is part of the Regional Risk Transfer Initiative
(RRTI), an Action Learning Project (ALP) of the Gujarat based AIDMI. The RRTI teaches insurance
companies, authorities, donor communities and NGOs how to facilitate a convergence between
micro-finance tools and disaster risk reduction strategies. The scheme represents an innovative
approach to risk identification, pooling and transfer, which recognizes the fact that the majority of
poor disaster victims have little or no access to risk transfer schemes.
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
The Maharashtra Emergency Earthquake Rehabilitation Programme (MEERP) is a classic model for
resettlement and rehabilitation of large groups of communities with provision of housing, infrastructural
and other socio-economic facilities, in a sustainable manner. Active participation of the affected
people for both pre-construction and post-construction activities has facilitated the implementation
of both the rehabilitation policy and the programme successfully. The objective has been to extend
community participation beyond the consent of the Sarpanches (village leaders) and ensure that the
views of all sections of the community are sought and understood. The involvement of the communities
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