The above concept notes are base on my personal research and experiences and would like to request all the concern persons to share your personal point of view and experiences feedback on the concepts.

1. Concept Note on DRR Mainstreaming through Decentralized Planning with Panchayati Raj Institution
(West Bengal Perspective)
Introduction:
The devastating flood of 2000 moved several International Non Government Organizations (INGOS) and
local NGO/CBOs focusing on disaster preparedness. Than after Aila in 2009 most of the organization are
moving forward to mainstream the DRR into the Development activities.
Most of the INGOs and the local NGOs successes in mainstreaming the DRR, but still than there are
some gaps which need to be identified and develop a common simplified DP Model.
Here I would like to discus and focus on the past experience by the INGOs and the local NGO/CBOs
related to DRR planning and the role of involvements of the stake holders mainly the Panchayat
Institutions in mainstreaming the process from the past to present situation.
Approach in DRR Projects:
In most cases, the Project deliverables included:
A. Situation analysis through participatory:
 Hazard Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis
 Risk Assessment and preparing
 DRR Plan of Action
B. Community Capacity Building through
 Participatory approach in situation analysis
 Forming various community based groups and imparting trainings for knowledge and
skill transfer
 Promoting attitude and practice through awareness generation
 Facilitating establishment and strengthening of linkage between community and service
providers/institutions
C. Ensuring stakeholders’ involvement through:
 Sensitization
 Advocacy
 Capacity building
 Networking/lobbying, etc.
D. Carrying out other participatory micro mitigation activities as per Plan of Action
E. Putting effort towards Sustainability of the Project outcomes through Mainstreaming with the
Development Plan of the local/government.
Concept Note on DRR Mainstreaming
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2. A glimpse at Decentralized Rural Planning by the Panchayati Raj Institution in West Bengal:
Let us have a glance to the mainstream planning process:
Gram Panchayat level:
The 73rd and 74th Amendment of Indian Constitutions have empowered Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI)
and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) at rural and urban sectors respectively to plan for and implement
development initiatives like Education, Health, Women and Child Development, Agriculture,
Infrastructure and so on.
Following a circular/guideline issued by Panchayat and Rural Development Department (P& RD),
Government of West Bengal, (vide letter number: 3443/PN/O/3A/3B-1/09, dated 31/07/2009)every
Gram Panchayat (GP) has to undergo the following stages of decentralized participatory planning at
Gram Sansad and Gram Panchayat levels within timeline stipulated for every stage in the aforesaid
guideline:
Sl. No. Activity
Timeline
1
Presenting reports of previous year’s achievements and identifying needs (May
every
for next year through Gram Sansad meeting
year)
2
Collecting and updating Gram Sansad (GS) level information through para (10th July every
(area) meetings with the help of Gram UnnayanSamity (GUS)
year)
4
Assessing area and sector (1. Education, 2. Public Health, 3. Women, Child (15th July every
and Social Welfare, 4. Agriculture, 5. Small and Cottage Industry, 6. year)
Infrastructure and 7. Miscellaneous*) specific problems and resources to
chalk out probable solutions and opportunities
5
Holding meeting of the Budget and Planning UpaSamity (Sub Committee) of (30th July every
GP to
year)
- Prioritize the sector/areas of action
- Decide to allocate fund to GUSs accordingly and
- Inform all concerned in writing
6
Preparation of area/sector specific Plan and prepare budget at GS levels (14th
August
and filling upForm No. 34
every year)
7
Verifying the Sector specific Plans of every GS and combining & preparing (27th
August
UpaSamity (1. Finance and Planning, 2. Agriculture and Animal Resource every year)
Development, 3. Education and Public Health, 4. Social Welfare & 5.
Industry and Infrastructure Development) Plans at GP level
8
UpaSamity wise Planning, Budgeting and filling up Form No. 35
(15th September
every year)
9
Preparing Gram Panchayat level draft Plan and Budget based upon GS level (1st
October
Plans and Budgets and UpaSamity level Plans and Budgets and filling up every year)
Form No. 36
10
Presenting the GP level draft Plan and Budget in the meeting of Finance (10th October
and Planning UpaSamity
every year)
11
Presenting the GP level draft Plan and Budget in the specially convened GP (30th October
general meeting
every year)
12
Presenting GS level draft Plan and Budget in the half yearly GS meeting
(November
every year)
Concept Note on DRR Mainstreaming
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3. 13
Presenting GP level draft Plan and Budget in the GP meeting (Gram Sabha)
December
every year
14
Making relevant changes in the Plan and Budget as per corrective 31st
January
suggestions received through GS meeting, Gram Sabha and from every year
PanchayatSamity and getting the Plan approved in GP general meeting
15
Sending a copy of the finally approved and accepted Annual GP Plan to 15th February
PanchayatSamity
every year
_____________________________________________________________________________________
* It is important to note that Disaster Management as an important issue has been incorporated in the
7th,
i.e.
Miscellaneous
Sector,
after
the
Disaster
Management
Act
2005
_____________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________
Panchayat Samity level:
Having received the GP Plans, the Finance and Planning Sthayee Samity (Standing Committee) of
Panchayat Samity prepare their own seven sectors wise Plan and Budget and submits to ZIlla Parishad
(District lavle).
Zilla Parishad level:
Zilla Parishad authority sends the Panchayat Samity (Block setup) Plan to the District Planning
Committee (DPC) that combines Plans from PRI and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) to prepare consolidates
District Plan and Budget and sends to State authority.
Problems in Mainstreaming:
It being the standard process of decentralized mainstream planning, DRR mainstreaming should also
follow the same process to be integrated into overall development and be sustainable. As a result of
long experience of a number of professionals in West Bengal, there is a plethora of skill in the state so
far as components other than sustainability are concerned. It is true that I/NGOs working in the DRR
field try their best to mainstream the DRR Plan of Action but the ultimate result is not equally glorious
every time everywhere. It is often seen that the Gram Panchayat authority is officially accepting it in the
Gram Sabha, but finally the plan is not reflected in the Annual Development Plan of the PRI. Thus, the
hopes of sustainability of a sincere effort by the I/NGOs and the community fizzle out.
 It has been observed that platforms i.e. of Gram Sansad and Gram Sabha meetings are properly
utilized by the I/NGOs in their effort towards mainstreaming, but the preparatory and follow up
actions, i.e. intervention into 1st to 15th stage of GP level Planning process, are not taken.
 I/NGO level professionals are not always well aware of the detailed modality of the
decentralized planning process right from GS to ZP level and therefore hardly follow up with the
tiers beyond GP level
 The PRI members/functionaries are yet to realize that Disaster should be a GS/GP/Block/District
level priority
 As specific intervention strategy for sensitizing or capacitating or providing handholding support
to functionaries at various levels (e.g. GP, ZillaParishad or District Planning Committee) of
decentralized planning are not woven into DRR projects, real mainstreaming of DRR remains far
from being achieved.
 The PRI functionaries are not capacitated to take up DRR issues and integrate into overall
development ones.
Concept Note on DRR Mainstreaming
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4. Priority Action 1of Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA 2005-2015) states:
‘Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and a local priority with
a strong institutional basis for implementation.’
It is true that DRR is a national as well as state level priority and it is equally true that in West
Bengal, there is a strong PRI system but DRR fails to be a priority at local level owing to the
problems mentioned above.
Suggestions:
1. The DRR professionals presently operative in West Bengal may be
- Oriented about the detailed modalities of the standard decentralized planning process
- Provided with handholding support in their effort towards mainstreaming DRR
2. Orientation of and advocacy with PRI functionaries and staff at all levels may done to
- make realize that DRR has emerged as a GS/GP/Block/District level priority
- capacitate to integrate DRR into present schemes like MGNREGA, IAY, NSAP, 3rd FC, 13th
SFC, etc.
3. Initial handholding support may be provided to PRI functionaries and staff at all levels to
integrate DRR into development Plans
4. Orientation of GP functionaries and staff to identify and refer to higher levels (i.e. Panchayat
Samity and ZP) those actions that can contribute to prevent or mitigate Disaster but are not
possible to be carried out by the GP authority at its level
5. Orient and motivate Panchayat Samity and Zilla Parishad level PRI functionaries to take up such
actions as are beyond the capacity of Gram Panchayat and can contribute to prevent/mitigate
Disaster.
6. Incorporation of above mentioned strategies and activities into Proposal of future Projects.
SWOT analysis of the above Suggestions:
Strength
1. A number of I/NGOs
have been working in
the field of DRR for
more than a year with
motivated
and
dedicated
workforce
aptly backed up by
proper efficient and
serious
leadership/management
ready to undertake new
challenge for succeeding
Weakness
1. Concept and practice
of present I/NGO level
staff are not acquainted
with
the
process
suggested
in
the
present document.
Concept Note on DRR Mainstreaming
Opportunity
1.
Disaster
Management Act is in
place
2. MGNREGA is being
implemented in the
state
3. Indira AwasYojona is
being implemented at
GP level with the BPL
families
4. International donors
like
DIPECHO
and
Threat
1. Many/a few of the
GP/Panchayat Samity
may not accept a newer
idea.
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5. in
effort
towards
sustainability
2. State level Inter
Agency Groups are
there to mediate newer
DRR initiatives
3. There are strong,
motivated
and
experienced
officials
both
in
Disaster
Management
Department and P& RD
Department
4.
There
are
professionals
with
adequate exposure both
in DRR and in depth
knowledge
and
experience
in
PRI
functions.
USAID
are
bent
on/funding for DRR in
North/Eastern
states
like
Odisha,
West
Bengal and Assam
Notes:
The above concept notes are base on my personal research and experiences and would like to request
all the concern persons to share your personal point of view and experiences feedback on the concepts.
Thank you.
Contact: Mintu Debnath
Mobile: (0/8472872427)
Email: mintudebnath.m@gmail.com
Concept Note on DRR Mainstreaming
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