India: Towards an enabling environment to step up for disaster risk reduction

"On the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) let us remind ourselves and get across the message clear and loud that there is no such thing as a 'natural' disaster and it’s time to Step Up for Disaster Risk Reduction!" says Jyotiraj Patra for Orissa Diary on his special article on the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDR) 2011.

"While the state of Orissa is not part of this pilot initiative, there are existing institutional opportunities to collaboratively initiate such a context-specific school safety initiative here in the state. While there is no denying the fact that disasters destroy and uproot lives and livelihoods, it do open up new opportunities to build-back-better and even build-back-smarter," he continues.