Global understanding of disaster has been striding into the paradigm shift from response to relief to disaster risk reduction as every year more than 200 million people live under the impact of various types of disaster events; precisely, disasters are those events which strike over the normalcy of life. Although Nepal has increasingly surpassed the rest of the world in disaster vulnerability, lackadaisical planning has marred the catastrophic response with reference to manpower, money and machines, leading in the greater claim in very events either natural or human induced. Exposure to such events has now shifted to glocal panorama; participating from global warming to haphazard settlement growth, over-claiming the natural resources, squabbling infrastructure built-ups among others. Traumatic experiences of past events have still beseeched the planners, often guided with the response and relief framework formulation; could switch the paradigm shift towards disaster risk reduction. To the surprise of many disaster managers, this contingency planning is densely forbidding; highlighting the strategy of post disaster response and shadowing the pre-disaster initiatives before the impending catastrophes jolt entire nation exceeding our capabilities. Mushroomed growth of population, rapid and haphazard urbanization, alarming environmental degradation, global warming, overexploitation of natural resources and poor strategy of coping have even triggered the vulnerability and susceptibility of disaster events in Nepal, worsening the infrastructures and livelihood.
Table of Contents
1. Impending Disasters in Nepal
1.1 Misconception and Hysteria
1.2 Disaster Policy and the Women, Poor and the Excluded (WPE)
1.3 Contingency Planning
1.4 Resolution
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this work is to advocate for a fundamental paradigm shift in Nepal's disaster management strategy, moving away from reactive response and relief efforts toward proactive, integrated disaster risk reduction. It explores the systemic failures in current planning, the importance of incorporating local knowledge, and the necessity of inclusive policies to protect vulnerable populations.
- Analysis of current disaster management paradigms in Nepal.
- Challenges related to disaster-induced hysteria and misconception.
- Inclusive risk reduction strategies for marginalized groups (WPE).
- The integration of traditional local knowledge into national policy.
- The imperative for sustainable development through improved contingency planning.
Excerpt from the Book
Misconception and Hysteria
Popular dilemma amongst the disaster stakeholders is pretty surprising for our context; earthquake is solely overshadowing as the disaster event, although the disaster event records from 1971-2005 highlight the most fatal disaster in Nepal is the epidemics. Disaster events along with the commingling events would invest more in human casualties, property and heritage damage, epidemic outbreak, and such arduous situation might overturn the entire national economy into response, relief and rehabilitation works. Had the government planned the disaster risk reduction strategy, such plans would size down the woes of people in vulnerable areas to the disasters. Furnishing the hysteria of hazard, overemphasizing the poorly understood panorama of various disasters are readily switched to people through various medium, though these are detrimental towards public feeling and moral, still being evoked from technocrats in greater esteem. Noticeably, there’s popular dilemma amongst the disaster professionals, whether to regard the events induced from anthropogenic activities as “Man Made” or “Human Induced” the latter has greater acquaintance with the sole of disasters, as the invitation of disasters is either due to unawareness or even through unintentional conducts as well.
Summary of Chapters
Impending Disasters in Nepal: This introductory section outlines the current state of disaster vulnerability in Nepal, emphasizing the need for a shift from a response-based framework to disaster risk reduction.
Misconception and Hysteria: This chapter addresses the misplaced focus on specific disasters like earthquakes, arguing that epidemics are often more fatal and that disaster management is currently hindered by unnecessary public hysteria.
Disaster Policy and the Women, Poor and the Excluded (WPE): The author examines the lack of inclusivity in current disaster policies and calls for a bottom-up approach that prioritizes the needs and voices of the most vulnerable segments of society.
Contingency Planning: This chapter critiques current reactive measures such as identifying open spaces or seasonal embankments as insufficient, advocating for deeper research and integrated policy formulation.
Resolution: The concluding chapter proposes bolstering local knowledge and traditional coping mechanisms as low-cost, effective strategies to build national resilience and ensure sustainable development.
Keywords
Disaster Risk Reduction, Nepal, Resilience, Contingency Planning, Local Knowledge, Vulnerable Populations, Policy Failure, Sustainable Development, Epidemics, Anthropogenic Activities, Disaster Management, Infrastructure, Community-based Approach
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
The work focuses on the urgent need to transition Nepal's disaster management from a reactive, relief-oriented framework to a proactive, integrated disaster risk reduction strategy.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The text covers disaster policy, social inclusivity for vulnerable groups, the integration of local knowledge, and the critique of current contingency planning.
What is the primary objective of the author?
The objective is to highlight systemic failures in current disaster planning and to propose a shift toward a bottom-up, community-inclusive paradigm to improve national resilience.
Which scientific or analytical methods are mentioned?
The author uses a descriptive analysis of disaster trends, policy critique, and a comparative evaluation of top-down versus bottom-up governance approaches.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body examines common misconceptions about disasters, the vulnerability of marginalized groups, the limitations of current infrastructure planning, and the potential of local traditional knowledge.
Which keywords characterize this document?
Key terms include Disaster Risk Reduction, Resilience, WPE (Women, Poor and Excluded), Contingency Planning, and Local Knowledge.
Why does the author prioritize epidemics over earthquakes?
Based on records from 1971-2005, the author argues that epidemics have historically been the most fatal disaster in Nepal, yet they are often overlooked in favor of more high-profile events like earthquakes.
What is meant by the "bottom-up approach"?
It refers to a management strategy that incorporates the voices, experiences, and traditional knowledge of local communities into the decision-making process, rather than relying solely on central directives.
How does corruption impact disaster management according to the author?
The author identifies workmanship corruption and mismanagement of funds as key factors that worsen post-disaster impacts and contribute to overall policy failure.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Dipendra Gautam (Autor:in), 2014, Impending Disasters in Nepal. Shift Paradigm for Enhancing Resilience, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/278753
