Topic: Disaster and disaster management.
6. The debate regarding the relationship between socioeconomic development and natural disasters remains at the fore of global discussions, as the potential risk from climate extremes and uncertainty pose an increasing threat to developmental prospects. Critically examine. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
Monsoon rainfall over India is 8% more than what is usual for this time of the year. While this might bode well for agriculture in some regions, it also means floods and concentrated downpours with devastating consequences. At least 25 people were killed over the weekend as torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslips in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Key Demand of the question:
To write the contradictory relationship between socioeconomic development and disasters and ways to reconcile them.
Directive word:
Critically examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving context of the debate in the light of recent developments.
Body:
First, write about the economic losses and developmental setbacks that the country has been suffering year after year, it makes good economic sense to spend a little extra today in a planned way on steps and components that can help in prevention and mitigation of disasters, then be forced
Next, write about the concepts of disasters and sustainable economic development as they are applied around the world Sheds light on how communities can boost their ability to respond to and recover from disasters Provides guidelines that are broadly applicable to a variety of circumstances
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way ahead.
