Little Data from Big Data for Disaster Risk Reduction in India

Abstract

The environment and natural disasters are closely related. Most of the disasters are due to miss-management of our natural resources and environment. With the new threat of climate change, the frequency and impact of disasters are increasing substantially. The most affected people are the poor people having less resources and capacity. Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction (2015–2030) has realized the importance of science and technology in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and also emphasized the need of good database for proper disaster planning and preparedness. The paper deals with the importance of good database in understanding disaster vulnerability, risk, forecasting and warning system and overall preparedness for disasters particularly flood, which affects 40 million hectares of area annually and about 8 million hectares of the country. This data-centric approach to DRR is to endorse the UN Sendai framework for DRR and evolve a model for India and South-Asian region.