In this episode KK Shailaja, former health minister of Kerala, and Liby Johnson, executive director of Gram Vikas, discuss why disaster preparedness is about more than just building back better. What is needed is a model of development that is inclusive and prioritises the well-being of all citizens.

• Socio-economic factors play a huge role in how a particular state or region is affected by a disaster. The marginalised population of a state is worst-hit during a disaster.  

• Disaster management is an ongoing development issue that requires long-term disaster preparedness, where planning and building resilience precedes the calamity.

• The urban local bodies and panchayats must be decentralised and given more power as they can play a decisive role in resilience and trust-building among communities.

• There should be less parenting and more partnerships between the citizens and the state to have a more involved citizenry. Nonprofits can play a significant role in bridging the gap between local governance and the people.

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Read more:

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2. Climate change, disaster, and what philanthropy can do

3. NREGA: A pathway to climate resilience

4. IPCC Report 2022: How climate change impacts the most vulnerable countries

5. Unpaid claims for natural disasters at over INR 1,705 crore, says IRDA report

6. Buffeted by cyclones and floods, Mumbai enacts its very own climate action plan

7. Lessons to be learned from 'Kerala flood response' and building disaster resilience

8. Following the Odisha example for developing community based disaster management in India

9. Odisha’s affordable and disaster resilient houses

10. India needs state-specific disaster readiness plan