Go-NGO Coordination

Non-Government organizations play critical roles in all phases of Disaster Management like relief, response, rehabilitation, reconstruction, recovery, preparedness and mitigation. Recent trends with respect to management of natural disasters have highlighted the role of Non‐Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as a vital stakeholder in the relief and response efforts especially with respect to facilitating communication and coordination between the administration and the affected community. NGOs have grass‐root presence and strong linkages with the communities, and can readily respond to the needs of the affected community. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 defines the roles and responsibilities of different government bodies and recognizes the prime responsibility of the state to be prepared for disaster response and the role of the humanitarian agencies and NGOs is to supplement the efforts of the government to help communities in coping and providing effective recovery from the disaster. “The 35 (2) of chapter V in DM Act 2005 says In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of subsection (1), the measures which the Central Government may take under that sub‐section include measures with respect to all or any of the following matters, namely:— (a) Coordination of actions of Ministries or Departments of the Government of India, State Governments, National Authority, Governmental and Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in relation to disaster management.

 The National Policy on DM 2009 also mentions that Non‐Governmental Organizations will be encouraged to empower the community and generate awareness through their respective institutional mechanisms.

In the context, regular GO-NGO coordination meetings are being held between OSDMA and the Inter Agency Group (IAG). The IAG is the consortium of NGOs. Civil Societies and UN and International Agencies. NGOs and Civil Societies organizations played important role in management of Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm “FANI”. Series of coordination meeting were held between OSDMA and IAG members before, during and after the Cyclone “FANI”.