Resilient

Communities in
Social Transformation

Annual report 2008-09

Community Based
Disaster Preparedness
Programme (CBDP)

Supported by: Coordinated by:

CARITAS Kerala Social
India Service Forum

Implemented by:
TSSS ● MSSS ● QSSS ● ADC&SWS ● ESSS ● WSE ● CSSS ● CHASS ● BODHANA ● KIDS
Street Play on the theme disaster
preparedness on the eve of Vigilance Week
Observation

Every year Caritas, KSSF and Diocesan Social

Service Society observes disaster vigilance
week in the month of May. The objective of the
program is to create a common platform to
provide information on disaster and disaster
preparedness to the community.
Mainstreaming of the Disaster preparedness
programme by developing support groups
rather than the CBOs in the CBDP programme
was another objective. Grass root level
programmes were organized in the project
villages by the Coordination Committees.
Monsoon level preparedness programmes,
competitions for school children, street play,
training and workshop for PRI members, health
awareness programs, swimming training etc
was the highlights during the week. Vigilance
week programs were organized from village
level to district level by the partner agencies in
the last year. Here the picture depicts the
street play organised by the childrens group of
the CBDP programme in Changanacherry.
 Community Based Disaster Preparedness
Programme

Contents

Message from Chairman .................................................................. 2

Partnering for resilience building ..................................................... 3

Community Based Disaster Preparedness – Backdrop ....................... 6

Resilient communities as change agents .......................................... 9

Way forward-Director .................................................................... 16

ANNUAL REPORT 2008-09

Annual Report CBDP 2008-09

Message

Human race has survived many a disaster and has been able to make disasters into opportunities for
development. The Catholic Church in India has never fallen short of responding to disasters by way of relief
and rehabilitation. There have been proud moments for the Church in recent times in turning stories of
misery into stories of kindness.

Caritas India through the Kerala Regional Forum was able to take up successful initiatives in building resilient
communities in the coastal villages of Kerala as also selected villages in Kuttanad. The intervention has
succeeded in mobilizing concerned communities for development linkages and to place coping mechanisms
to face possible disasters. I wish to salute the army of volunteers attached to the “Community Based Disaster
Preparedness Program” and the concerned Diocesan directors of social action.

The Justice Peace and Development Commission of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council is committed to join
the struggle to build vibrant communities that are able to take responsibility for their destiny. I am sure this
laudable initiative of Kerala Social Service forum will reap rich harvest in human development.

Mar Mathew Arackal

Chairman,
Justice, Peace & Development Commission.
25-5-2009 Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council

4

Partnering for resilience building
Caritas, KSSF and DSSS
Kerala Social Service Forum - “A partnership in the
formation of a just society”
KSSF is the operational wing of Catholic Church in
Kerala to give expression to its social concern and
functions under the commission of justice, peace and
development of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council.
KSSF has now emerged as the state level network of
39 voluntary organizations spread across Kerala. The
key function of society is to network with government
and international forums for poverty eradication
ventures. The networking includes programs for
disaster management, natural resource management,
addressing agrarian crisis, social mobilization, women
empowerment programs, and programmes
addressing HIV & trafficking. Vision of the organization
is to grow into a vibrant resource centre of excellence
in social development for the establishment of a just
society. Capacitating the partner organizations
through Animation, Training, Knowledge
dissemination, Consultancy, Networking, Lobbying
and Research is the mission.
Caritas India-Funding partner:
Caritas India was established in 1962 to assist the
marginalized in India in the efforts to eradicate
poverty, to reach relief and rehabilitation in times of
disasters and to organize communities for self
advancement. Caritas India is the official national
organization of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
India for social development and is part of the
Getting ready for the mock drill at TSSS
5
Annual Report CBDP 2008-09
international network - Caritas International. During
the last four decades of its humanitarian and
development efforts, Caritas India has served the poor
and marginalized across the country, without any
distinction of religion, caste, creed and ethnicity.
Caritas India works in close partnership with
international development agencies, Govt of India and
the State Governments and reaches out to the whole
country through its regional and State offices and the
partner organizations spread across India. Caritas
across the world works under the following guiding
principles of uphold the human dignity everywhere
and all times, combat the de-humanizing poverty
through option for the poor, strengthen the capacities
of the local partners, protect the unity of the family
through formation of values, build solidarity and
partners globally and locally. Since the beginning of
2006 Caritas India has been working with tsunami
affected communities to develop Community Based
Disaster Preparedness programmes.
Working partners in CBDP
Trivandrum Social Service Society - TSSS: TSSS is a
voluntary organization working in the district of
Trivandrum with special focus to the coastal belt. TSSS
is the nodal organization of the Latin Arch Diocese of
Trivandrum to implement social action programmes
for the empowerment and development of people in
Trivandrum District especially the fishing community.
Malankara Social Service Society - MSSS: MSSS strive
for the overall development of the wide range of focus
groups in its operation area spread out in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta
districts very specially the socially, economically and
politically downtrodden sections of the society with
a firm commitment to pave a way for them to reach
up to the extent possible .
Quilon Social Service Society - QSSS: QSSS is the
official organization of the Diocese of Quilon for
welfare and development endeavors for the deprived
people in the area under the diocese.. QSSS seeks to
Annual Report CBDP 2008-09
Mock drill at ADC & SWS
address the challenges faced by the weaker and
discriminated sections of the society, giving
meaningful expression to the humanitarian concern
of the Church.
Aleppey Diocesan Charitable & Social Welfare
Society-ADC&SWS: ADC&SWS is the official
organization of the diocese of Aleppey for the
development of marginalized and poor people.
ADC&SWC concentrates more on the development
of the marginalized fishermen community of Aleppey
from time since its inception.
Thiruvalla Social Service Society- BODHANA:
BODHANA is the Social and Development Department
of the Archdiocese of Thiruvalla. Bodhana actively
collaborate with like-minded NGOs, PRIs and
government institutions to evolve new development
strategies and programmes for the development of
the society as a whole.
Changanacherry Social Service Society – CHASS:
CHASS is the official agency for social work in the
Archdiocese of Changanacherry. CHASS has a history
of 40 years commendable performance in community
development and social welfare activities and CHASS
has evolved itself as a nodal agency for the Upliftment
of the poor and weaker sections.
Cochin Social Service Society – CSSS: CSSS was
founded on 26 th October 1966 as the official
organization of the Catholic Diocese of Cochin and
got registered under Travancore Cochin Literary
Scientific and Charitable Societies Act of 1955 in order
to promote, conduct and co-ordinate various activities
6
for the welfare and development of the poor and the
weaker sections residing within the diocesan area
irrespective of caste, creed or community.
Welfare Services Ernakulam: Welfare Services
Ernakulam is the result of Church concern for the
socially and economically disadvantaged, irrespective
of caste, creed or religion. It is the social work
department of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam. Over
three decades its development efforts have grown
steadily, particularly among the poor.
Ernakulam Social Service Society: Ernakulam Social
Service Society (ESSS) came as the official organization
of the Arch diocese of Verapoly for development
concern of the poor and the marginalized population
in Ernakulam District. ESSS has been in the forefront
Traditional rescue operation mock drills methods at Bodhana
to establish and conduct institutions in the
educational as well as in the health sectors and works
solely to do community organization and socio-
economic programmes for the socially and
economically disadvantaged sections of the area
irrespective of caste, creed and religion
Kottappuram Integrated Development Society:
Kottapuram Integrated Development Society (KIDS),
which is the official organ for Social action of Diocese
of Kottapuram, got established in 1987,
simultaneously with the formation of the Diocese of
Kottapuram. Since inception the Society has been
striving hard for development of the community,
especially the poor and marginalized by integrating
all the elements and resources of the community. KIDS
has recently been awarded the one and only Resource
Center for natural fiber in the nation.

Partners’ profile
Sl. No Name of partner Address
1 Trivandrum Social Service Archbishop’s House Compound,
Society (TSSS) P.B.No.828, Vellayambalam,
Trivandrum - 695 003
Phone - 0471-2723498
tsss_tvm@yahoo.co.in
2 Malankara Social Service St Mary’s Compound, Pattom,
Society (MSSS) Trivandrum- 695 004
Phone - 0471-2552892
mssstvm@yahoo.co.in
3 Quilon Social Service Fatima Road,
Society(QSSS) Quilon-691 013
Phone - 0474-2797438
qsss@rediffmail.com
4 Kottappuram Integrated KIDS Campus
Development Society N.H.17, Kottapuram
(KIDS) Kodungalloor- 680 667,
Thrissur District
Phone - 0480-2803165
kidskottapuram@gmail.com
5 Aleppey Diocesan P.B.No. 114,
Charitable and Social Aleppey- 688 001
Welfare Society (ADC & Phone - 0477-2245083
SW) alp_adsalp@bsnl.in
6 Cochin Social Service Jubilee Memorial Complex, Veli,
Society (CSSS) Fort Kochi – 682 001
Phone - 0484-2227217
chirammelj@yahoo.com
7 Welfare Services Ernakulam Ponnurunni, Vytilla P.O
(WSE) Kochi- 682 019.
Phone - 0484-2347829
wseekm@gmail.com
8 Ernakulam Social Service Providence Road, Ernakulam
Society (ESSS) Kochi - 682 018.
Phone - 0484-2390461
esssociety@gmail.com
9 Thiruvalla Social Service Pushpagiri Road,
Society (Bodhana) Thiruvalla - 689 101
Phone - 0469-2730561
bodhanatiruvalla@gmail.com
10 Changanacherry Social P.B.NO. 20, Archbishop’s House
Service Society (CHASS) Changanacherry - 686 101
Phone 0481-2402345
chass1966@rediffmail.com
7
Annual Report CBDP 2008-09
Point Persons
Director:
Rev. Fr. Sabbas Ignatius
Project Coordinator:
Mr. John Cyril
Director:
Rev.Fr.Wilson Thattaturthundil
Project Coordinator:
Mr. Arun K Chandran
Director:
Rev. Fr. Joseph Detto Fernadez
Project Coordinator:
Mr. David A Samuel
Executive Director:
Rev. Fr. Johnson Panketh
Project Coordinator:
Mr. Pradeep.P.N
Executive Director:
Rev. Fr. Siju P.Job
Project Coordinator:
Ms. Jiji Ponnan
Executive Director:
Rev. Fr. Johnson Chirammel
Project Coordinator:
Mr. Michael Edwin
Executive Director:
Rev. Fr. Paul Moonjely Project
Coordinator:
Ms. Jisna.T
Executive Director:
Rev. Fr. Mathew Kallinkal
Project Coordinator:
Mrs. Jenny Joseph
Executive Director:
Rev. Fr. Varghese Marathoor
Project Coordinator:
Mr. Bobbin Thomas
Executive Director:
Rev. Fr. Jacob Kattady
Project Coordinator:
Mr. Jubichan PJ
Annual Report CBDP 2008-09
‘Community Based Disaster Preparedness’ -
Backdrop
Genesis :
Five years have passed since the Tsunami, triggered
by a massive earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, hit
countries around the Indian Ocean on the morning
of 26 December 2004. The response from the
Humanitarian Relief Organizations, Government of
India and the people of India was overwhelming. This
response formed the basis for a strong collaborative
relief and recovery effort that aimed not only at
supporting the affected people, but also helping them
to build back better. In Kerala the Catholic Church
focused on ensuring that proper standards being met
and acted as a backstopping agent for technical and
social equity issues. Through its work, the KSSF
intended not only to contribute to improve the quality
of reconstruction, but also at influencing the wider
reconstruction efforts to ensure that social equity and
environmental issues were addressed.
Participatory learning exercies at CHASS
Community Based Disaster Preparedness Programme,
a joint initiative of the Caritas India, Kerala Social
Service Forum and Diocesan Social Service Societies
was executed from 2006 across 5 hazard prone coastal
districts of Kerala. After the tsunami, Caritas India and
Kerala Forum continued to support the Diocesan
Social Service Societies in this reconstruction
8
programme, particularly through housing
programme. When the entire relief organization
retrieved from the field after initiating the
reconstruction programme, Caritas India and KSSF
entered into the final stage of relief operations of
Resilience Building by initiating the CBDP programme.
Catholic Relief Services also joined the programme
with assistance for one year.
Resilience is the capacity to bounce back. For a
community to be resilient, its members must put into
practice early and effective actions, so that they can
respond to adversity in a healthy manner. If residents,
agencies, and organizations take meaningful and
intentional actions before an event, they can help the
community reestablish stability after the event.
Resilience implies that after an event, a community
may not only be able to cope and to recover, but that
it may also change to reflect different priorities arising
from the disaster.
The drive for a more comprehensive approach to
disaster risk reduction and disaster management
gained momentum after the tsunami. A paradigm
Artificial respiration training to task forces
 Annual Report CBDP 2008-09

shift was called for with the integration of prevention, PROJECT AREA AND PARTNERS
mitigation and preparedness into the overall
management framework. Lack of data and regular Sl. No Districts Working Partner No. of Villages
reports on existing and emerging patterns of disaster 1 Trivandrum TSSS 47
risk, had been a major constraint for effective recovery MSSS 10
management, policy and programme decisions in the
aftermath of the tsunami. The need to integrate 2 Quilon QSSS 31
community based disaster preparedness along with
3 Aleppey ADS 66
State mechanisms was also recognized as a crucial CHASS 26
priority in the long-term rehabilitation process. QSSS 13

The programme strategy included integrating risk 4 Pathanamthitta BODHANA 28

management in rehabilitation and reconstruction 5 Ernakulam ESSS 52
efforts, building upon ongoing the reconstruction and WSE 26
linking them with government efforts, ultimately to CSSS 27
mainstream CBDP into recovery efforts. The KIDS 18
programme initiated the introduction of Task Forces
6 Trichur KIDS 45
on hazard detection and warning communication to
preparedness, mitigation, and response along with a Total 389
feedback mechanism. The programme also
introduced risk-mapping exercises, from village and Project Goal:
block level, as a way of improving the available
information base and building capacities of the local Capacitate the partners to mobilize community for
communities. This systematic approach provided building up a resilient society in 335 wards in the
scope for the participation of all players’ community coastal belt and 54 wards in Kuttanad of Kerala state
based organizations, NGOs and the private sector through addressing risk reduction, vulnerability
along with strong Government support. reduction, and plans for prevention, mitigation,
preparedness and developmental interventions in a
Brief description about the project area: sustainable manner.

The project is being implemented mainly in the coastal

villages and inland areas in six districts of Kerala State.
Under CBDP programme we envisage disaster
preparedness and community mobilization in 382
wards in 28 Grama Panchayath and 2 Municipal
Corporations. The areas selected for implementing
these programmes were fully or partially affected by
Tsunami and frequent flooding or sea erosion
becomes the regular phenomena in these areas. As a
result of the frequent occurrence of these hazards
lots of people lost their permanent shelters, precious
lives, livelihood assets worth thousands of rupees and NCC Volunteers in training at KIDS
it created a panic and frustration in the community.
Specific objectives:
The target area is consisted of fisher folk, agricultural
laborers, seasonal employees, farmers, construction
People in the target villages are capable of critically
workers etc. Fishing and allied activities is the assessing their own situations and make decisions
mainstay of the people. Majority of the people on their priorities
belongs to Hindu community and rest of them belongs
Communities are appropriately prepared to reduce
to Christians and Muslims respectively. vulnerability of any likely natural disasters

9
Annual Report CBDP 2008-09

CBOs are strengthened to network and negotiate

with government and civil society organizations to
access resources and implement development
programmes

Communities are able to assess problems of water,
sanitation and environment and plan community
based programmes
“COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP AND TEAM
WORK OF USER GROUP IN WATSAN
INITIATIVES IN ALEPPEY”
Saga of success in CBDP program is the ownership
of the people in the development programmes.
As part of the WATSAN programme, ward 10 of
Mararikulam North Panchyath in Aleppey district
under the reference area of ADC&SWS was
selected for the system boundary approach. The
scarcity of drinking water is crucial issue in this
locality.

The area was blessed with many natural ponds

and wells. But due to the negligence of people
many of them abandoned and were used as waste
bin. Spread of epidemics was the output. The ward
Women in the forefront of water & sanitation activities was selected after several discussions with the
The Process: community people by the CBDP team and they
offered their full support in the rejuvenation
 Selecting the community process. Along with the project team they
 Rapport building and understanding the collected the details of water resource in that area
community and conducted water analysis of the selected
 Participatory assessment wells. This helped to aware the community people
 Participatory planning about the pathetic condition of their water
 Building and training community based people’s resources. In order to rejuvenate the water
structure for preparedness and disaster resources and they organized well cleaning
management programme. From the two abandoned public wells
 Community managed implementation they started the intervention. The community
 Participatory monitoring and evaluation people were mobilized for the process under the
 Establishing effective and sustainable linkages leadership of panchayath member Mrs. Mercy
with Govt machinery Justin. Mrs. Leelamma was selected as convener
of the “kinar samrakshana samithy” and she
Activities in brief: organized four community meetings. They were
 Community mobilization divided into different committees like cleaning
 Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) committee, food committee, waste management
 Village Contingency Plan (VCP) preparation committee etc for the cleaning programme and
 Task force (TF) formation were assigned duties. As a result of their team
 Children’s group formation work, they cleaned these two wells on 31 st
 Capacity building of CBOs December 2008 and 4th January 2009.
 Interface with PRIs
 Life security programmes Task force members and the CBDP project team
 Participatory Livelihood Analysis also participated in this programme. The
 Vulnerability mapping community also planned to start small scale
 Promotion of organic farming vegetable cultivation around the wells and
 Addressing issues of HIV/AIDS surroundings of each houses. The whole process
 Water and sanitation program resembled the group effort of the community as
 Networking and linkages with Govt well as the CBDP project team.
 Advocacy
10
 Annual Report CBDP 2008-09

Resilient communities as change agents

Achievements in the reporting year

Achievements at partner level: 13567 people, from 389 wards of 2 corporations and
CBOs in Disaster preparedness: 27 Grama Panchayath, to ward off any probable
A total of 1577 teams (Task Forces) with an army of disaster in 6 districts of Kerala.

Task force details

Task Forces No Community Members Children GP members GO members

Early warning team 315 2417 132 249 128

Search and Rescue Team 287 2892 152 221 139

Medical & First Aid team 303 2502 151 256 217

Relief & Rehabilitation Team 309 2467 114 194 141

Damage Assessment Team 198 1507 51 117 55

Water & Sanitation Team 122 891 395 73 20

Disaster Management Team 43 891 234 179 183

Total 1577 13567 983 1289 883

Training to Task Force Members: relating to disaster preparedness programme, mock

drill is significant. In the reporting year 39 mock drills
Capacitation of Task forces is the pillar in disaster were conducted at village level. In order to ensure
mitigation programmes. In this phase, training more proper implementation of a drill programme, roles
emphasized on the strengthening of the existing task and responsibilities of the concerned personnel,
forces through specialized trainings. departments, corporate bodies, stakeholders, and
mechanisms for conducting the drill should be defined
Task force members were trained on various topics clearly. The fire service officials were conducted the
such as Coastal Regulatory Zone/Coastal mock drills in the project areas. These drill
Management Zone, first aid, relief camp programmes helped to create awareness to the
management, community level damage assessment,
rescue operations, mock drills, fire extinguishing &
fire fighting methods, uses of megaphone etc. Right
to information act and road safety too was included.
387 task force trainings conducted in the reporting
year to enhance the capacity of members. Trauma
counseling and health trainings were given to the TF
members.

154 units of task force materials procured and

distributed to various task forces in the project area.

Mock drills:

In all the trainings and sensitization programmes Rescuing the aged at ESSS

11
Annual Report CBDP 2008-09
general public about the rescue operations during the
times of disaster occurrence.
Staff capacitation programmes:
Enhancement of staff capacity is an integral part of
development projects. In the reporting year 40
trainings and workshops were conducted for the
project staffs. Gender sensitization was one of the
components of the capacitation programmes at
partner level. Communication skills, case study
writing, etc were the topics covered. And 111 trainings
were organized for the animators and CBO members
together.
Exposure visits by the partners:
DSSS organized exposure visits to study the best
practices and replicable models in disaster mitigation
and WATSAN programmes. 9 exposure visits were
organized in the reporting year. It is hoped that these
visits will act as a stimulus to reproduce the models
in their project areas.
Raod safety programme by Police Department at MSSS
Environment and ecology awareness:
Project teams of the partners organized ecological
awareness programmes in their respective areas. The
objective of the programme was to increase the
knowledge of the participants on environment
protection. Effects of plastic usage, seasonal
epidemics and role of SHG members in waste
management and importance of mangrove fencing
were discussed in the programme. 12 programs were
organized in the reporting period.
12
CBDP awareness to Children:
Children have specific vulnerabilities and needs which
have to be addressed in risk reduction. They possess
capacities according to their stage of development
which form the basis for their active participation in
emergency response, preparedness and mitigation.
It is a need of the hour to make sure the involvement
of children in disaster mitigation programmes. In the
reporting year, 74 awareness programs on community
based disaster preparedness were organized for
school children.
Sanitation campaign at ADS & SWC
Networking with Panchayath Raj Institutions:
Now Community Based Disaster Preparedness
Programme is in the third year of its operation and
concentrates more on strengthening of the
community structures and linking them with the
mainstream programmes. Applying good practices
encourages positive collaborations with others;
therefore providing increased opportunities for
networking and improving relations between people
and departments. Community structures of CBDP
maintain a good relationship with the Panchayath Raj
Systems and District Administration and hence the
recovery approach is emerging as a success.
31 interface programs were organized with PRIs.
Sensitization programs for PRI members and line staffs
were conducted to ensure the participation of them
in DRM and make them aware about the activities of
DRM. Review of progress, incorporating project
activities with PRI programs were came into the
discussions. 33 meetings with ADS and CDS members

were convened to ensure the participation of
Kudumbasree groups in the programme.
Training on Entrepreneurship Development
Programme (EDP)
Unemployment was identified as one of the major
problem during the PLA exercises conducted by the
project. Stepping into developmental issues,
initiatives have been taken to strengthen
entrepreneurship in the project area through
capacitation. 36 trainings on EDP were conducted in
the reporting year.
Information Education & Communication (IEC)
Information, Education and Communication plays an
essential role in creating awareness, mobilizing people
and making development participatory through
transferring knowledge, skills and techniques to the
people. It is also vital for bringing transparency in field
level programme implementation and for promoting
the concept of accountability. Print and outdoor
publicity methods have been included in the IEC
activities of the year. Some of them are as given below.
Leaflets and posters on Disaster Preparedness (QSSS),
Documentary on children’s group activities in
ecological preservation (MSSS), Resource directory
with emergency phone numbers (MSSS), Handbook
on Health Care (Bodhana), CBDP Calendar (Bodhana),
Street play on road safety (TSSS).
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Annual Report CBDP 2008-09
Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) Programmes:
In order to establish sustainable and replicable models
in the target area to resolve the problems relating
water and hygiene, WATSAN program was introduced.
PLANET Kerala is giving technical advice to the
programme implementation. Awareness generation
on health, hygiene and sanitation, rejuvenation of
water sources and cleaning campaigns are the major
components of the programme.
Baseline survey was conducted in the project areas
to make an understanding about the water systems
and water sources in the area. Water test was
conducted in the villages to ensure the purity of water
sources. Back washing of wells, rejuvenating ponds,
awareness programmes are the activities under the
programme. System boundary approach was adopted
for renovating wells and ponds in the project area.
Task forces in monthly reviews at ESSS
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Annual Report CBDP 2008-09

Back washing and phyto remediation are other two Achievement at Forum level:
methods took up for water renovation. Community
user groups have been formed in each project area Capacity building of partners:
to ensure the participation of people. Weekly
meetings of these groups review the activities under In the reporting year we organized the following
the WATSAN programme, ensure the cleanliness of capacity building programmes for Kerala partners.
respective villages and take remedial measures if
necessary. 1. Training on sphere standards for Caritas partners
in Kerala:
CBDP in Red Ribbon Express!
Two day training was organized at ADS on 4th and 5th
December 2008. Objective of the program was to
RED RIBBON EXPRESS (Special train for on
orient caritas partners on sphere standards followed
advocacy on HIV/AIDS) reached Kollam on the
in emergency situations. The sessions clarified the
30 th June 08. QSSS has the opportunity to
basic concepts of hazard, risk, vulnerabilities and
facilitate the programme at three venues. The
capacities of community to handle them.
society arranged a stall exhibiting the
community disaster preparedness project in
2. Workshop on LFA with gender indicators and
Kollam railway station. Around 27,000 people
documentation process:
visited the stall. Leaflets, posters, brochures
and bit notices portraying the message of
Two day workshop was organized on 22nd and 23rd of
disaster preparedness were distributed among
June 2008 at AMOS center, Kottayam. The objective
the visitors. Around twenty staff volunteered
of the program was to enhance the skills of partners
in the stall from 8 am to 8 pm. Stall got wide
in project planning with gender perspective,
acclaim among the media. (The Red Ribbon
documentation, writing stories/cases studies/
Express (RRE) project conceptualized by Rajeev
Gandhi Foundation implement by NACO as a
multi sectoral project to spread awareness on
HIV/AIDS and promote safe behavioural
practices.)

CBDP in Club FM!

WSE, Ernakulam organized a special

programme in association with “Club FM” for
disseminating the concept of CBDP programme
more effectively to the grass root level at
Edavanakkadu Grama Panchayath. The
program aimed to attract youth and children
through entertainments with the support of
radio Jockeys. Youth and children were the
main participants. Radio jockeys and the
project persons spoke to the public with a short
interval of 9 minutes each and the interactive
talks were mixed with entertainment and short
messages of CBDP. The programme was staged
at 15 corners of the Panchayath in the evenings
for 3 days at different project areas. Mr. Iqbal
(President, Edavanakkadu gramapanchayath)
inaugurated the programme.
Task forces in Social Forestry to ward off high tides

14
 Annual Report CBDP 2008-09

reporting, and to capacitate them to develop gender Project review meetings:

sensitive indicators-both qualitative and quantitative
in LFA. Sri.P.V.Baiju (Lecturer, Sree Sankaracharya
University of Sanskrit) and Sri.P.K.Kurian (Training
Manger, PLANET Kerala) facilitated the sessions.
Kerala Social Service Forum organized review
meetings to monitor the program as well as to make
decisions for course correction and capacitation of
project staff. In the reporting period 12 meetings were
organized. With the aim of updating the knowledge
base of project persons, in put sessions were
organized in the meetings. Details of inputs given are
given below.

1. ‘Water and Sanitation’ – by PLANET Kerala

2. ‘Process Documentation’ – by Mr. Stalin,
Communication Officer, CMT, Caritas India
3. ‘Vulnerability of the Kerala Coast & Response of
NGOs in Disaster Preparedness Mitigation’ – By
Mr. Shibu, Faculty, Disaster management, M.G.
University
Evacuation routes construction as proposed in PLA 4. Interaction with Sri. T.T. Antony IAS, Add. Sec.
Revenue Department
3. Workshop on Documentation and report writing
5. ‘Coastal Regulation Zone & Coastal Management
skills:
Zone’ – by CESS
Documentation is literally the preparation of
documents, or keeping records. It combines the Review meetings in the reporting year
mundane journalistic skill of mere superficial Year Month Date Venue
reporting with a keen eye for detail. The most
important part of documentation is getting people 2008 April 9 Welfare Services Ernakulam
to read your document. For that reason, publication May 9 Ernakulam Social Service Society
and distribution form a major and integral part of June 16 Aleppey Diocesan Society
documentation. All documents must be intelligent, July 4 Quilon Social Service Society
intelligible, coherent and interesting. Report writing August 12 Malankara Social Service Society
skills have to be fine tuned to publish excellent September 1 AMOS Centre, Kottayam
documents and in this regard Kerala forum organized October 7 Bodhana, Thiruvalla
training on Documentation and Report writing on Sep November 7 Kovalom Animation Centre
30 - Oct 1 2008 at AMOS center. Mr. Koshy Mathew, December 4 Aleppey Diocesan Society
documentation consultant from Bangalore took a two
day session on the same. 2009 January 8 Ernakulam Social Service Society
February 17 AMOS Centre, Kottayam
4. Workshop on developing field monitoring tools: March 6 AMOS Centre, Kottayam

Two day workshop on developing field monitoring

tools was organized on 22nd to 23rd September 2008
at AMOS centre. M&E tools, methods, and
approaches, including their purpose and use;
advantages and disadvantages; costs, skills, and time
required; performance indicators and the logical
framework approaches; and key references were
discussed in the workshop. Mr. P.J.Varkey State Officer,
Caritas India and Mr.P.K.Kurian led the sessions.
15
Midterm review by Caritas India
Midterm review of SOA II phase was carried out in
the month of March 09. Prof. M.R. ARULRAJ, Dr. Ms.
Sujata Rita and Fr. Dr. Maria Soosai were the team
members. The team visited project areas and
interacted with community members and PRI
personnel.
Annual Report CBDP 2008-09
Reflections:
• This project is one of the models to tell the world
that people, if given opportunity to think, decide
and implement; will take up responsibility to own
the process
• Community participation shows considerable
increase in all aspects of the program
• The community mobilization strategy for
community preparedness in disaster mitigation
has been found effective as the capacities of
already existing CBOs and SHG organized by the
Partner organization are utilized
• Community mobilization for Disaster preparedness
has lead to more partnership and self-reliance,
access to power, opportunity, resources, and
decision making to solve community issues. It is
one of the attempts to power sharing and voice
gaining process of the community
• Creation of central resource team at DSSS level
explicates the DSSS innovation to utilize the
available local knowledge and experience in
different development sectors. This is one of the
cost effective measures wherein investment is less
and output is more. A considerable fund allocation
is made for capacitating the staff working with the
vulnerable communities to train them in
facilitating and organizing skills.
• As the project move forward, people of target area
felt that the community has become closer beyond
caste and creed. Some people affirmed that the
program has served to build communal harmony,
community solidarity and brought people
together.
Recommendations by the team:
• The sense of community ownership and
responsibility for the program will be strong if the
animators are selected from the local communities
and by the community.
• A program can be sustainable only if there is sense
of ownership among the community towards the
social assets created and strengthened. Therefore
it is suggested that social networking and
neighborhood networking mechanisms are
incorporated in the program so as to build up
community solidarity.
• The concept of resilience as new to the
community’s needs practical description of its
16
meaning with example like bamboo tree which
sways with the battering of strong winds but stays
rooted.
• Disaster Management Policy, Human Resource
Policy and Gender policy at DSSS level is highly
advocated. “A gender perspective should be
integrated into all organizational Policies ensuring
equal participation of men and women from plan
to decision making processes.”
• Systematic assessment of what enables people to
cope with, recover from and adapt to risk and
adversities- at household and community level –
is badly needed.
• Communities ceased to gather information and
behaved as though the information was now
owned by the NGO
• The roles and responsibilities of Disaster
Management Committee need to be clearly
articulated.
• Strengthening social capital should be the key
objectives of disaster interventions
• CBDP must be integrated with Panchayath Raj
institutions routine activities
Gender Mainstreaming in Disaster preparedness:
One of the critical indicators of disaster risk reduction
is ‘gender equity in disaster preparedness’.
Mainstreaming gender sensitivity among the
functionaries of the project for ensuring all inclusive
efforts is a felt need of the project. Capacity building
on mainstreaming gender is necessary for reducing
risk in disaster situations. Without full participation
and contribution of women in decision-making and
leadership, real community resilience to disasters
cannot be achieved. Women are still marginalized
from community discussions about development
planning. Real community-based development must
involve the knowledge and energy of women.
Children in mock drill at TSSS

In the reporting year, KSSF organized a training
workshop on LFA with gender indicators for Kerala
partners. Besides, gender was one of the components
of staff trainings and community trainings at partner
level. Now gender is a cross cutting theme of Caritas
India in all its programmes. Forum is in the process of
formulating a gender policy for Kerala partners. We
will be encouraging gender specific programmes at
partner level.
Networking and lobbying:
Partnering with Government and International
Players:
Kerala Government applauded the resilience building
“WE PLANTED BETTER TOMORROW”
Alappadu is a narrow lined land between the
Arabian Sea and TS canal. Alappadu is a major
tsunami affected area in Kollam District under the
operational area of Quilon Social Service Society.
Majority of the people depending fishing for their
livelihood. The narrow lined area has been
contributing lot of problem to the community.
Last year health survey indicated that radiation
level is very high in this area so the people will affect
cancer and thyroid diseases. More than half of the
peoples facing serious health problems like cancer,
thyroid and skin diseases. Cancer patients are large
in number than other places. Community people
raised this issue in ERT meetings and demanded
for Sustainable solution. Mr. Raghavan from ERT
said that, “the radiation will kill us within the couple
of years”.
As a part of disaster mitigation process CBDP team
considered it as a challenge to reduce the growing
rate of health diseases. In November 08 the team
conducted many awareness programmes to public.
For the guidance and assistance team approached
many experts like doctors, ecologist, Health
Inspectors etc. And Students from GVHS School
conducted a research on ‘the importance of Herbs
in reducing health problem. They presented it in
Science Exhibition and got wide acclaim from
scientist and ecologists. From all this initiatives
17
Annual Report CBDP 2008-09
initiatives of the Diocesan Social Service Societies by
entering into association through a United Nations
Development Programme supported project for nine
months - Community Based Disaster Risk
Management. UNDP called for empanelment of
NGO’s to implement the disaster preparedness
project all over the coastal districts and Kerala Forum
lobbied for the same on behalf of the partners and
could empanel five of the partners who have
experience in disaster management for the UNDPs
value addition programme. CBDRM project aims to
create resilient villages and link the same to the
district administration with allocation of early warning
systems for prompt action. UNDP is now supporting
altogether 132 villages in Thiruvananthapuram,
Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur.
many suggestions came from different sides and
one of the major suggestions is to plant herbs in
coastal belt. Team discussed this issue with PRI
members on 28th November 08. “We will bring joy
to the people through Herbs plantation”
commented by Mr. Rajadas, Panchayath president.
On 13 th December we had approached Social
Forestry Department with Panchayath reference
letter. They offer full support to this involution. On
1st December social forestry department provided
herbs to distribute in community. On 2nd Dec the
team distributed herbs in each ward at free of cost
in Alappadu and maintained a record book.
For the motivation of students we distributed herbs
at school level on 13th Jan 09. We constructed a
model herbs plantation at school compound in the
same day with the help of PTA and PRI members.
This involvement increase community participation
for health hazard mitigation process and engaged
in herbs plantation. Mr. Jose Peter, head master
GVHSS School said that, “the better tomorrow is in
our hand and we are looking for that dawn”.
When we look back to our activities, a feeling of
satisfaction creeps in our mind that we made a
community to think about sustainable
development. We hope we planted better
tomorrow.
Annual Report CBDP 2008-09
Way Forward
Human race has survived many a disaster to reach its
present height of progress. The Darwinian law of the
“survival of the fittest” is indicator of the hurdles man
had to cross to survive on planet earth. Natural
disasters have wiped out from the face of the earth
millions of human beings, many more in wars and
epidemics. Side by side with progress is the unabated
accompaniment of disasters. It is in this context that
nations of the world have agreed to keep in place
contingency plans to face disasters.
Tsunami of 2004 was a wake up call. Our vulnerability
was exhibited to the world and we stand bewildered
more than ever vulnerable. Community Based
Disaster Preparedness programme was conceived as
a way to transfer resilience to people living face to
face with disasters. We are happy to note the success
of the programme as also the warm welcome it
continues to receive from the people.
Having come to a cross road as regards the progress
of CBDP we are prone to ask some pertinent questions
as regard its future course. The first question is how
we position CBDP. The only way to design a
sustainable mode of resilience building strategy is to
mainstream it within the development matrix. “
Development is the process through which people
increase their capacities for reducing their immediate
and long term vulnerabilities to events which threaten
their economic and social existence”{Anderson and
Woodrow }. Disasters are frequent visitors but one
cannot be sure of its arrival or its intensity. Hence all
coping mechanism has to be within the purview of a
regular development intervention. This will place the
community in a vigilant mood as also the coping
mechanisms will alternate with development
activities in normal circumstances.
Community based organizations should emerge as the
immediate respondents to disaster. This calls for
18
increased capability of the CBS to take positions to
address vulnerabilities in a scientific manner.
Community mobilization has to be a regular process
which will ensure spontaneous response by people.
Preparedness cannot be isolated to unexpected and
unpredictable instances of disaster but be part of the
larger mobilization of people for sustainable
development.
Strengthening infrastructure is essential for risk
reduction. The negligence of Govt in this area is
crucial. People need to assert their power to invite
initiatives in improving infrastructural facilities in
disaster prone areas.
Linkage with Panchayath Raj and Nagarapalika
Institutions is crucial in CBDP. Our philosophy must
be that of John the Baptist who said “I must decrease
you must increase”. We should fore the local bodies
to take responsibility and take positions. We should
not shy from handing over our army of task forces
and other community based assets to the rightful
claimant for peoples’ mobilization for development
and by inference for disaster risk reduction. Along
with this is to transfer to the people the capability to
partake in governance effectively. Communities must
be able to assess their burning issues like water,
sanitation and environment.
Last but not the least is the emerging issue of climate
change which is so intrinsically connected to our
commitment to protect people from disaster. We
need to educate people about the lurching dangers
and prepare appropriate contingency plans. Eternal
vigilance is the watchdog of democracy, so also for
disaster preparedness.
Fr. Romance Antony
Executive Director-Kerala Social Service Forum
26-May-09
 N
Geographical Map of Annual Report CBDP 2008-09
CBDP Implementing Partners,
Kerala

K A R N ATA K A

TA M I L N A D U

ARABIAN SEA

Kottappuram Integrated Development Society (KIDS)

Kodungalloor

Ernakulam Social Service Society (ESSS)

Ernakulam
Cochin Social Service Society (CSSS) Welfare Services Ernakulam (WSE)
Ponnurunni
Fort Kochi

Kerala Social Service Forum (KSSF)

Adichira, Kottayam

Alleppey Diocesan Charitable and Social Welfare Society (ADC&SW) Changanacherry Social Service Society (CHASS)
Alleppy Changanacherry
Thiruvalla Social Service Society (BODHANA)
Thiruvalla

I N D I A
Quilon Social Service Society (QSSS)
Quilon

Malankara Social Service Society (MSSS)

19 Trivandrum

KERALA Trivandrum Social Service Society (TSSS)

Trivandrum
 Compiled by: Deepak O.J., Bindhu Abraham & Jaimon C. Uthup
Published by: Fr. Romance Antony

Kerala Social Service Forum

AMOS Centre, Adichira
Thellakam P.O., Kottayam, Kerala.
Tel: 0481 2594802, 2594803 Fax: 0481 2591795
Email: kssforum@yahoo.com
20
Website: www.kssf.org