India: Reducing risk in Odia language

Press release:

All risk reduction must take place at local level. In reality, most disaster risk reduction knowledge material is in English and not in the local language. This is strange but common.

Concern Worldwide India under ECHO support, developed knowledge products with the intention to build capacity of coastal communities to enhance disaster resilience of communities at risk.

The knowledge products – Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Microinsurance for Disaster Risk Reduction – are available in Odia language to reach out to coastal communities of Odisha, India.

‘It is important to remember that any CBDRR by us can at best only facilitate the ongoing local community processes. Community members are the decision makers, and we are there to facilitate their activities with resources, institutions, and an enabling environment’ said Vishal Pathak of AIDMI. The project lead by Chiranjeet Das emphasizes on work at the local level in order to mitigate the risks of social and economic harm which are associated with disasters. The development of knowledge products also incorporates a process of contextualization of the content to ensure local relevance.

‘This in turn would ensure ownership and sustainability which are absolutely critical for community resilience as spelt out in the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 (HFA)’ - Dipankar Datta, ED of Concern Worldwide India.