One day conclave on Improving Disaster Risk Reduction Environment (IDRRE) and building community resilience was organised by Caritas India on January 24, 2020, at Darjeeling. The focus of the conclave was to strengthen disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk by investing in building the resilience of communities and enhancing knowledge on Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) based Landslide monitoring system.

Speaking at the conclave, Bishop Stephen Lepcha, Bishop of Darjeeling and Sikkim welcomed the dignitaries and stakeholders to share, learn and strategize for Disaster Risk Reduction to reduce the risk in Darjeeling and Sikkim.

Christopher Lepcha, Project Coordinator, IDRRE and Policy Advocacy in Darjeeling & Sikkim project shared the major goal of the programme to improve the resilience of vulnerable communities of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and North Sikkim through greater awareness building and restoration measures. He shared about the trainings on ERS and Retrofitting and also the progress of retrofitting of 15 households in the Municipality areas of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and North Sikkim. He shared about the training on the scientific methods of livestock rearing and fodder production to control erosion excessive.

“Caritas India is supporting Anugalaya DSSS in Darjeeling to work on the cross-cutting issues of Disaster Management for many years but to make it a success they need the support of the Government”, said Dr. Pallab De, Thematic Manager of Caritas India for Climate Adaptive Agriculture and Food Sovereignty programmes. He stressed the need for greater advocacy efforts to improve Disaster Risk Reduction with policymakers, media and other relevant decision-making bodies. He also shared Caritas India is making the advocacy at the higher level through her strategies of empowering action, dialogue, volunteerism, and livelihood.

Mr. Praful Rao, Director of Save the Hills Organisation talked about the scope of MEMS for landside, earthquake and livelihood. Darjeeling is situated at a very unique region located in the Southernmost arc of Himalayas and is the youngest & highest mountains in the world. It is sandwiched between Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and China. The region falls on the Zone IV of the earthquake and is highly affected by the cyclone formed at the Bay of Bengal. He informed about the changing weather and uneven rainfall pattern which highly causing a landslide in the region. Spring sheds are drying up due to repaid urbanization and deforestation. Food security is also one of the major problems of the area because of the above-mentioned causes.

Mrs. Lama, SDDMO Disaster Management Office appreciated the team for the enlightening issue of Landslide and Earthquake by taking the advantage of the internet, website and modern technology and how to advocate the lower section of the communities. Sharing about the Government processes and procedures, she informed that earlier reports were only based on the relief process but after the implementation of the Disaster Management Act, the government is strictly following the cycle of Awareness, Response, and Relief. She adds in case of any natural disaster, the local government needs to send the report to higher authority i.e State Government within the 24 hours of the incident based on the information received from Panchayats, Municipality, and local governance.

Mr. Deependra Sunar, Representative from WWF India shared the activities carried out by their organisation on Disaster Mitigation such as Ecological Restoration, Species Conservations mainly Red Panda, Spring Restorations, Waste Management, etc. On this Mr. Pribet Rai also asked to call policymakers, scientists and others in near future to develop frameworks to intimate these processes both scientific and traditional and document accordingly in order to reach the larger group of Darjeeling Himalayas.

The conclave felt that vulnerability and safety audit initiatives need to be considered by the Government of West Bengal and the GTA. Thus, both the government and the communities will be sensitized about the hazards that surround them.

The conclave was attended by eminent guests and representatives like Rt. Rev Bishops Stephen Lepcha, Bishop of Darjeeling Diocese, Mrs. Shonika Lama, SDDMO-Disaster Management, Darjeeling, Mrs. Jaitun Nisha Hussain, Executive Member- GTA, Kurseong, Dr. Pallab De, Caritas India and the Resource Person Mr. Praful Rao, Director of Save the Hills Organisation, educational institutes, WWF India and DLR Prerna NGO to discuss innovations, ideas and necessary action needed. The conclave recognised the community as actors of change and presented ideas that can be taken up by the people themselves to build a resilient community.