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Environment & Disaster Management
Services | |
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The response of Caritas India
to major national disasters was immediate
considering the speed with which it reached relief
assistance to the victims. In almost every major
natural calamity of the past few decades, Caritas
India and its local partners were among the first
reach the disaster spot with relief material.
Rescue and relief operations
are only the primary stage of assistance to
disaster victims. Caritas India takes up the next
level--rehabilitation--with serious commitments.
Its programs always take a participatory approach
and are executed in collaboration with local
governments. This approach ensures that the
disaster response leads to long term development
of the affected communities.
The
following were the landmarks in disaster response
in the history of Caritas India |
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Bangladesh Refugee Relief in
1970s, |
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Maharashtra Earthquake
Rehabilitation (1993 - 1998) |
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Andhra Pradesh Cyclone Relief
& Rehabilitation (1996 - 1998) |
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Orissa Super Cyclone Relief
and Rehabilitation (1999 - 2003) |
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Gujarat Earthquake Relief and
Rehabilitation (2001
onwards). | |
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Pro-Active
Approach |
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Caritas India believes that proper
management of natural resources and conservation of
environment would serve the Indian poor better than any
other method of help. The Environmental Management
Policy of Caritas India framed in 1995 clarifies this
idea thus: "The poor can be served better by proper
management of environment rather than by relief and
rehabilitation measures carried out after natural
disasters arising out of mismanagement of the
environment."
Caritas India extends support to
community based disaster preparedness, watershed
management and other people-centered and
environment-related projects that conserve natural
resources as well as bio-diversity.
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Institutionalization of Sphere
Standard |
Caritas India is one of the pilot
agencies promoting Sphere Standard in disaster
management.
Sphere Project was launched by a
group of NGOs and the Red Cross and Red Crescent
movement in 1997. It sets a minimum standard in disaster
response based on humanitarian charter.
The
standard is based on two core principles. Firstly, all
possible efforts should made to alleviate human
suffering arising out of a calamity. Secondly, those
affected by disasters have a right live with dignity,
and hence a right to get assistance.
Caritas
India, which since inception respected the dignity of
the human person, aims at executing its disaster
management programs by fostering the dignity of the
victimized people. Caritas is committed to
institutionalizing Sphere Standard in disaster
response.
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