NCERT Solutions Class 9 Social Science Chapter 4 Community planning for Disaster Management

1. Identify the sequence of events took place in Sukhpar and their significance in disaster risk management?

Answer.

(i) There was a meeting on disaster management called by the BDO, which was attended by Ramji, Bharat, Sarpanch and the Talati from Sukhpar.

(ii) BDO asked them to prepare a Village Disaster Management Plan.

(iii) They called a meeting in Sukhpar to discuss about Disaster management Plan.

(iv) The villagers of Sukhpar met in the primary school of the village, where the Block Development Officer (BDO) asked them to form the Village Disaster Management Committee (VDMC) and Village Disaster Management Teams (VDMTs).

(v) Different Village Disaster management teams were formed and based on the skills required, the villagers decided on the volunteers to be a part of in each of the teams.

(vi) A map of the village was drawn taking the seaside as a prominent natural feature of Sukhpar. Important locations such as the Public Health Centre (PHC), police station and the co-operative bank were marked on the map.

(vi) All those houses were identified, which had aged inmates, infants, small children, expectant and lactating mothers and handicapped residents. These were marked with a 'V for vulnerable as also the houses near the sea and next to the highway.

(vii) The strengths of the villages were also located and marked like, the mosque as an early warning system, the school compound as a safe place, households with trucks, tractors, generator, etc.

(viii) The resource persons were arranged to provide trainings to different teams.

(ix) Some structural changes were planned like building of earthquake and cyclone resistant houses, installation of rain water harvesting system, etc.

(x) After completion of all the trainings, the people of Sukhpar became trained in disaster management and were ready to face any disaster efficiently. When 'Tryout Plan' was carried out, it was a complete success.

2. How is the new Sukhpar different from the one before the communities met?

Answer. Before the communities met to formulate a Village Disaster Management Plan, the people of Sukhpar were vulnerable to various disasters that had affected the villagers and resulted into the loss of life and property. However, after the community meeting, Village Disaster Management Committee and Village Disaster

Management Teams were formed. They prepared a Village Disaster Management Plan. Trainings were provided to different teams. After this, the villagers were more confident and better prepared to face any disaster; efficiently and reduce the chances of destruction.

3. What qualities in Bharat made him different from others in the village? Is it possible to develop such qualities among your community? Explore.

Answer. Bharat was a key person for the successful implementation of disaster management plan in Sukhpar. The qualities that made him different from others are curiosity, responsibility, leadership, supportive, helping, empathy, self motivated, enthusiastic, and organising capacity.

Some qualities are inborn, while qualities like responsibility, helping attitude, empathy, etc., can be developed among the community.

4. What were the areas covered under the DMTs?

Answer. The areas that were covered under the DMTs:

(i)       Early warning and Communication

(ii)      Evacuation and Temporary Shelter Management

(iii)     Search and Rescue

(iv)     Health and First Aid

(v)      Relief Co-ordination

(vi)     Water and Sanitation

5. What were the two construction related mitigation techniques referred to in the story?

Answer. Construction related mitigation techniques are:

i. Construction of earthquake and cyclone resistant houses

ii. Retrofitting technique for dilapidated structures

6. What were the contents of the Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan?

Answer. Disaster preparedness includes

(i) Meeting with village elders and government officials

(ii) Preparation of village vulnerability map, which identified the safe places, low risk areas and the highly vulnerable areas and the estimated number of families residing in each of these zones.

(iii) Finding out if the region is vulnerable to earthquakes, floods, cyclones, etc.

(iv) Identification of key elements at risk such as life, health, property, livestock and livelihood.

(v) Listing the key activities that the community would do before, during and after a disaster like a cyclone or flood.

(vii) Formation of different task forces, training on health and first aid, water and sanitation, rescue and relief.

(viii) Identification of key local resources that can be used during the disasters to protect them.

(ix) Identification of safe building structures to provide accommodation to people when disaster strikes

(x) Explanation of steps to be followed in preparing a plan by a government official

Disaster response includes

(i) To rescue and evacuate trapped people

(ii) To provide first aid to the injured and look after the vulnerable people like children, women and disabled people

(iii) To transfer the seriously injured and people needing urgent medical attention to hospitals

(iv) To clear debris blocking roads and communication networks

(v) To restore communication network and essential services

(vi) To provide shelter and relief to homeless people