Profile of India India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world with a rich cultural heritage.

It has achieved all-round socio-economic progress during the last 60 years of its Independence. India has become self-sufficient in agricultural production and is now the tenth industrialized country in the world and the sixth nation to have gone into outer space to conquer nature for the benefit of the people. It covers an area of 32,87,2631 sq km, extending from the snow-covered Himalayan heights to the tropical rain forests of the south. As the 7th largest country in the world, India stands apart from the rest of Asia, marked off as it is by mountains and the sea, which give the country a distinct geographical entity. Bounded by the Great Himalayas in the north, it stretches southwards and at the Tropic of Cancer, tapers off into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. Overview of Disasters in India: The Indian sub continent has been exposed to disasters from time immemorial. The Unique geo-climatic and socio-political conditions of the Indian sub-continent make the region vulnerable to both natural and man-made disasters. The increase in the vulnerability in recent years has been serious threat to the overall development of the country. Subsequently, the development process itself has been a contributing factor to this susceptibility. Coupled with lack of information and communication channels, this had been a serious impediment in the path of progress. Indias vulnerability to various disasters has led to mounting losses year after year. Mammoth funds were drawn to provide post disaster relief to the recurring victims of floods, cyclones, droughts and the less suspecting landslides and earthquakes. Considering the vast area of the Indian landmass, around 57% of the land is vulnerable to Earthquakes, 69% of the area is vulnerable to drought, 12% is vulnerable to Floods and 8% of the land is vulnerable to Cyclones. Adding to this is the susceptibility of various man made hazards. Figuratively speaking, around one million houses are damaged annually, compounded by human, economic, social and other losses. National Challenges posed by disasters Disaster loss is on the rise with grave consequences for the survival, dignity and livelihood of individuals, particularly the poor and hard-won development gains. Disaster risk is increasingly of global concern and its impact and actions in one region can have an impact on risks in another, and vice versa. This, compounded by increasing vulnerabilities related to changing demographic, technological and socio-economic conditions, unplanned urbanization, development within high-risk zones, under-development, environmental degradation, climate variability, climate change, geological hazards, competition for scarce resources, and the impact of epidemics such as HIV/AIDS, points to a future where disasters could increasingly threaten the worlds economy, and its population and the sustainable development of developing countries. In the past two decades, on average, more than 200 million people have been affected every year, by disasters. Disaster risk arises when hazards interact with physical, social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities. Events of hydro-meteorological origin constitute the large majority of disasters. Despite the growing understanding and acceptance of the importance of disaster risk reduction and increased disaster response capacities, disasters and in

particular the management and reduction of risk continue to pose a global challenge. There is now international acknowledgement that efforts to reduce disaster risks must be systematically integrated into policies, plans and program for sustainable development and poverty reduction, and supported through bilateral, regional and international cooperation, including partnerships. Sustainable development, poverty reduction, good governance and disaster risk reduction are mutually supportive objectives, and in order to meet the challenges ahead, accelerated efforts must be made to build the necessary capacities at the community and national levels to manage and reduce risk. Such an approach is to be recognized as an important element for the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration Voluntary Agencies (VOs) and Disaster Preparedness Voluntary Organisations (VOs) play a vital role in the shaping and Implementation of Disaster Management Act. They have been contributing immensely towards various development programs, VOs may provide innovative and alternative cost effective models for development. They can mobilize people for constructive community work and often reach the most marginalized and vulnerable sections of society and contribute to the socio-economic development of the country, with much wider outreach. Community Based Disaster Preparedness for all sorts of hazards is the key to VOs preparedness plan. Capacity building of all three tiers of Panchayats and local communitys task forces and volunteers of organized institutions like Redcross, NSS, NCC, Scout and Guide are very important. The climate calendar and written community contingency plan will enhance the local communitys coping capacity. NGOs can play a great role for Coordination, Collaboration and Networking amongst themselves Government and community. The good practices needs to be documented and disseminated well so that replication and up-scaling becomes possible. The voluntary sector has a significant presence in almost all regions of the country and its role as an important partner of the Government in development is being increasingly recognized. In May 2007, the Government of India approved a National Policy on the Voluntary Sector which was prepared by the Planning Commission of India in consultation with VOs, concerned Departments/Ministries and State Governments. A National NGO Task Force on Disaster Management set up by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA); Government of India has set up a Core Group on the Role of NGOs in Disaster Management. VANI is also a member of the Core Group, which met on 19th November 2009 at New Delhi. This has been done to primarily follow-up on the preparation of the National Disaster Management Guidelines on the Role of NGOs in Disaster Management.