Course

Unit 1

Conceptualizing Disasters – Introduction to concepts – hazard, risk, disaster, crisis, emergencies, vulnerability, susceptibility, capacity, disaster management, prevention, preparedness, mitigation, rehabilitation. Theories on Risk, Crisis and Disasters: Social structure and disasters. The nature of risk – components of risk – Kirchton’s risk triangle – inherent level of risk. Meaning and explanation of Risk transfer, risk communication, risk perception, risk avoidance and risk assessment. Social, economic and political processes within developing countries that structure the impact on natural disasters.

Unit 2

Classification and Impacts of Hazards – Types of hazards: Natural Hazards – Geologic hazards, Atmospheric hazards and other natural hazards. Natural hazards as Catastrophic hazards/ rapid onset hazards/ slow onset hazards; Anthropogenic Hazards – Technological Hazards, Acid rain; Contamination of atmosphere or surface water with harmful substances; Ozone layer depletion; Global warming. Effects of Hazards: Primary, secondary and tertiary effects; Time and space dimensions of disasters.

Unit 3

Disasters and Social Change – Social groups affected by disasters: Ethnicity and Gender issues, Children, aged, physically disabled, internally displaced people, and others. Community and organizational changes during disasters; Migration, conflicts and disasters; Poverty, hunger, conflicts and disasters: social inequalities and entitlements. State, civil society and local/ indigenous community during disasters. Social interfaces and social change in the context of disasters

Unit 4

Fundamentals in Disaster Management – The disaster management cycle: Critical reflections on the disaster management cycle, Components of a disaster management system: Early Warning System and Communication during disasters, Disasters and sustainable transformation: Recognizing local culture, structure, capacities and need.

Unit 5

Disasters in the Indian Sub-continent – History of disasters in India from the vulnerability perspective – (i) Famines in India – (ii) Partition – (iii) Drought in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat – (iv) Bihar and Mumbai Floods – (v) Earthquakes in Latur, Gujarat, and Kashmir – (vi) The Orissa super-cyclone – (vii) The Bhopal Gas Tragedy – (viii) The Indian Ocean Tsunami – (ix) Epidemics in the Indian Sub-continent – Plague, Smallpox, Vector-borne diseases. Terrorist, Communal violence.

Text Books / References

Suggested Readings:

1. Damon P Coppola: International Disaster Management, Butterworth-Heinemann, 17-Oct-2006 – Political Science – 576 pages
2. Risk analysis – A basis for Disaster Risk management Guidelines, 2004 DeutsheGeselleschaft fur TechnischeZudammenarbeit (GTZ), Germany.
3. Alexander, D. E. Confronting Catastrophe: New Perspectives on Natural Disasters, New York, Oxford University Press, 2000.
4. Blaikie, Piers et al, At Risk: Natural Hazards, People’s Vulnerabilities and Disasters, London, Routledge and Kegan Paul, Cuny, FC, Disaster and Development, 1983, New York, Oxford University Press. 1994.
5. Sen, A.K. Poverty and Famines: An Essay on Entitlement and Deprivation, New Delhi, Oxford University Press, 1983.

Suggested Readings

1. Shi P. Hazards, Disasters, and Risks. Disaster Risk Science. 2019 Jun 5:1–48. doi: 10.1007/978-981-13-6689-5_1. PMCID: PMC7123175.
2. Disaster Management in India, Ministry of Home Affairs. Government of India. https://asdma.gov.in/pdf/publication/undp/disaster_management_in_india.pdf

The course enables the student to learn deeply in to the different areas of disaster management, models and mitigation strategies. This course focuses on various hazards and its impact on social change. This specialization course on disaster management further covers various disasters that occurred in the Indian sub-continent and the existing system of preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.

Course Objectives:

1. To understand the concepts of disaster and disaster management and knowledge on Impact of disasters
2. To understand Global and Social impacts of various hazards on different sections of the society
3. To understand about the disaster situation in the Indian subcontinent and the role of social workers in disaster management.

Course Outcome:

1. Apply basic knowledge about the various concepts of the disasters and the various impacts of the disaster
2. Understand the various community-based interventions through participatory tools adopted in the areas of Disaster management
3. Understand the existing institutional systems in India and various types of disaters occurred in India.

CO-PO Mapping: (Course outcome and Program Outcome Mapping.