Topic: Disaster and disaster management.
7. The incidence of overlapping hazards in the country must drive the Government of India to focus with urgency on long-term preparedness along with multi-disciplinary approach. Elucidate. (250 words)
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
Cyclones along the Western and Eastern coasts amidst the pandemic alert us to the need for year-long preparedness, approaching a multi-disciplinary approach to averting disasters, reducing vulnerabilities. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
Discuss the need and urgency for the government of India to come up with a long term plan along with multi-disciplinary approach to prevent and cure the incidence of overlapping hazards in the country.
Directive:
Elucidate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the particular context. You must be defining key terms where ever appropriate, and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Start with brief background of the question.
Body:
Within a span of a week, first the Western Coast (Gujarat in particular) and then the eastern coast (Odisha and West Bengal) were battered with cyclones —Tauktae in the west and Yaas in the east. While cyclones and storms are not unusual on the Eastern coast (we have witnessed Aila, Bulbul, Amphan in the past), what was unique this time was that an environmental hazard happened in the middle of another mega hazard – the Covid-19 pandemic.
Explain that amidst such conditions the disaster risk reduction activities need to be geared towards first an interdisciplinary diagnosis of various risk drivers.
Take cues from the article and explain.
Conclusion:
Conclude with suggestions and solutions to address the issue.
