Kerala Rising Strong

 

Dr. Sekhar L. Kuriakose

 

 

A comprehensive disaster management framework in Kerala blends technology,
community action, and policy reforms, aligning with global resilience standards.

Kerala, a state often praised for its social development indicators, has also emerged as a front-runner in disaster preparedness and risk reduction. Guided by the Disaster Management Act of 2005, the state has built an integrated, inclusive, and forward-thinking disaster governance architecture. From institutionalising grassroots participation to harnessing state-ofthe- art technology, Kerala’s disaster management system is a model of resilience, community empowerment, and technological evolution. Efforts made since a decade have been successful in terms of framing legislation, policy planning, community engagement, and pioneering technological innovations that enables Kerala to anticipate, mitigate, and respond effectively to disasters in recent past. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), chaired by the Chief Minister ensures centralised planning and decentralised execution through District Disaster Management Authority and Local Self Governments across the State.

Transformative Initiatives: From Policy to Grassroots
Kerala’s approach flips the conventional top-down model into a people-centric, preparedness-first model. Some
landmark initiatives are:

Domain	Main Achievement
Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction	• India’s first formal disability inclusive DRR programme with citation as best practice in the National Guidelines for Disaster Management on Disability Inclusive DRR • Training on disability friendly evacuation, alerts and warnings in sign language, audio warnings in DAISY format and IEC materials in Braille • NDMA has acknowledged the project of KSDMA as praise worthy for replication in other states and have circulated the toolkits developed by KSDMA to other states. Ltr. No. 05/239/2021/NDMA/CBT dated 27-7-2021
Inter-Agency Groups	• Formal NGO Collaboration platforms in all 14 districts notified and functional under Section 22 (2) (f), Section 24 (j), Section 30 (xiii) and Section 30 (xxvii) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 • Sector specific trainings provided to NGOs in IAG
Civil Defence	• Facilitated the creation of Civil Defence in all 14 districts of the State • Provided ₹230 lakhs for capacity building of Civil Defence • Provided support in developing and conducting trainings for Civil Defence Volunteers • Partially handed over the Civil Defence Institute to Civil Defence
Samoohika Sannadha Sena	• Facilitated the creation of India’s first Government level directorate for voluntarism • Conducts regular training for Samoohika Sannadha Sena volunteers • Created, hosted and conducted several trainings and developed training modules for Samoohika Sannadha Sena
Aapda Mitra	• Funded by NDMA, created and trained community response volunteers • Equipped with responders kits
Emergency Response Teams of Local Governments	• Four teams in each LSG viz. First Aid, Shelter management, Search-Rescue-Evacuation, Early Warning Dissemination • Training support provided to KILA • Co-developed training modules
Beach Safety	• Supported District Tourism Promotion Councils (DTPCs) of 17 recognised beaches with hand mics, binoculars, rescue surf boards, life jackets, life buoys, goggles, snorkelling masks and beach umbrellas

Technological Leap:KaWaCHaM

The Kerala Warnings Crisis and Hazard Management System (KaWaCHaM), inaugurated in January 2025, represents a paradigm shift. Key features include:

• Real-time integration of hydrometeorological and geological sensors.

• A geodatabase with 280 hazard and risk layers. • A multi-channel alert system with sirens, strobes, and location-based SMS.

• Coordination through 93 Emergency Operation Centres and 1,034 local government units.

Funded by NDMA and The World Bank, KaWaCHaM exemplifies how technology can enhance early warning and decisionmaking systems.

Collaborative Projects:UNICEF and SPHERE India

In partnership with UNICEF (since 2019), the Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Resilience project focuses on child-centric risk planning, school safety, and strengthening IAG activities. Concurrently, a collaboration with SPHERE India (a coalition of NGOs) led to the updating of disaster plans and the institutionalization of NGO partnerships across all districts.

Prathyudhanam: Financial Aid for the Vulnerable

Breaking new ground, Prathyudhanam provides additional financial assistance to disaster-affected families facing compounded vulnerabilities. So far, 4,563 families have benefited under this inclusive, equity-focused scheme.

Shelter Hubs and Sustainable Construction

With support from the UNDP Shelter Project, ten Shelter Hubs were set up across Pathanamthitta, Idukki, and Wayanad between 2018–2019. These hubs provided:

• Technical support to 3,597 house owners.

• Training to 934 masons (including 369 Kudumbashree women), 203 house owners, 60 contractors, and 373 civil engineering students.

Partnered with Habitat Technology Group, the hubs promoted disaster-resilient construction practices. Key publications include Surakshitha Bhavana Nirmanam, Flood Resilient Construction Practices, and Landslides in Kerala, among others. Round tables and capacity-building workshops were also held, targeting architects, engineers, and LIFE Mission staff.

Risk Transfer Mechanism: Building Financial Resilience

Recognizing the economic risks of climate-related disasters, Kerala’s government constituted a committee to explore risk transfer mechanisms, including climate risk insurance. Recommendations include:

• Establishing a regulatory body for disaster financing.

• Developing insurance frameworks.

• Enhancing administrative and technological infrastructure.

These proposals aim to reduce fiscal stress, protect communities, and align with sustainable development goals.

Blueprint for Resilience

Kerala’s disaster management model offers a compelling narrative of integration — of policy, people, and technology. Through its inclusive vision, strategic planning, and communitydriven approach, Kerala is not merely reacting to disasters but preparing for a resilient future.

– The writer is Member Secretary at KSDMA