The year 2005-2006 was a good year and had less of disasters. The frequency and intensity of disaster occurrance in Orissa has gone up by manytimes in recent years. Heat waves killed thousands of people in 1998 and 1999 and leading to super cyclone in October 1999. Then droughts occurred in years 2000 and 2000 followed by severe floods in 2001 and 2003. The huge loss of the life and property and draining of state exchequer for relief and rehabilitation has brought serious challenges. The coping capacities of people prone to disasters needs to be enhanced, which can minimize the risks and facilitate rather smooth recovering. In this background, CPSW as a civil society organization has responded to disasters in the past and is engaged in community level preparedness and risk management.

After the cyclone, Food For Work (FFW) activities were undertaken by CPSW included  construction of water channel and road repair, school building repair (providing alternative transit education camp); repair of gheries and pond renovations; supply of seeds; and land reclamation. CPSW also undertook livelihood restoration activities in Erasama block in terms of agriculture, fishing, horticulture and livestock development and supported about 2000 families. Also it undertookschools to prevent incidence of child, labour and trafficking children.

Again, the floods struck the coastal districts IN 2001 and 2003. According to Government of Orissa, the loss/impact of flood estimated in brief were as follows as on 1st August 2001.   People affected – 87 lakhs (8.7 lakhs), Human Deaths – 96. To add to the miseries of the people, the floods again struck in 2003. The Mahanadi river system was in continous spate starting from the last week of August after incessant rains in the catchment areas of Chattisgarh and Orissa. So the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River had to release the excess water which flooded the coastal areas. According to the report published by Government, 23 districts and population affected was 35,46,136. Agricultural land affected was 474633.58 hectares, no. of houses damaged : 129769, washed away 1347 and fully collapsed : 28,770.

CPSW volunteers regularly engaged in warning dissemination, repair of river embankments and ensured basis preparedness measures to face the floods. To help the distressed people, where cooking is not possible and the people had to leave their home for taking shelter on river bunds, free kitchens were started. Since firewood was also not available in the marooned places gas stoves are hired to run free kitchens through which cooked lunch were provided to the people. Mobile health teams are sent to the flood affected areas for immediate treatment. Packets of Halogen tablets and ORS packets and common medicines are distributed among the villagers.

In 2003, 32000 persons were benefited covering about 6250 families in 135 villages who were selected on the basis of house damage, vulnerability and BPL catergory. The programme was implemented in 8 Districts of Orissa viz. Jagatsinghpur, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Puri, Cuttack and Angul. It also covered 2500 more families during the second flood in early October.

Integration with Development:

Sustainable management of land and natural resources can provide sustained production and meet all basic needs of people living in flooding and disaster-prone areas. The people best know the ways, how to cope with floods and other natural disasters.

Cropping Strategy: Our major focus is on changing of cropping strategy to minimize losses. Paddy is generally cultivated in lowland. In upland pulses like blackgram, greengram, oilseeds like mustard, sesame, groundnut, etc. are grains. For upland, experiencing short duration plants like jute followed by paddy, rabi, vegetables are grown like potato, oilseeds, etc. Varieties of vegetables like, brinjal, cabbage, tomato, potato, cucumber, beans, bitter grout, ladies finger, greens, etc. are being promoted.

Disaster Preparedness: In all the coastal areas, where CPSW is operating, CPSW is emphasizing on community based disaster preparedness. We are building the capacity of the communities on early warning and information dissemination, evaluation, rescue, dmage assessment as well as management of emergency support. Also, the capacity builoding initiatives are focussing on social capital development towards restoration of livelihood and build community assets to minimize the risks and impact of disasters.

Advocacy: Besides disaster preparedness, response and rehabilitation, our work is focussing on disaster management planning as well as integrating this with development planning to prevent disasters. The other aspect of our advocacy work is to develop standards and consider relief as a matter of right and entitlement for the victims, rather than charities.