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It is essential to promote decentralized management of services and infrastructure by local governance as a developmental approach to ensure that in a disaster the collapse of centralized systems do not lead to a complete collapse of all infrastructure across the affected region.
Harmonization of procurement procedures of multilateral agencies and aligning that to the state government procedures is necessary and multilateral agencies need to take a lead in this regard.

Evolving appropriate procedures for carrying out rescue, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in post disaster scenario without losing control and room for misappropriation shall be one of the key steps that government needs to take and be prepared. Transportation networks, power, and communications are the things essential to speeding aid.

Considering the vast potentials of Space technology to provide critical services towards disaster management, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has been pursuing concerted efforts for appropriate technology development. ISRO with a well-knit space infrastructure comprising of INSAT and IRS series of satellites, is uniquely placed to provide services related to Disaster watch, Warning dissemination, Data collection, Monitoring and damage assessment, Vulnerability mapping, Communication support etc.

A synergistic use of IRS and INSAT capabilities is planned to address several critical issues related to disaster management in the country. Emerging technologies such as remote sensing, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Data Collection Platforms (DCPs), hand-held GPS, Geographical Information System (GIS), Geospatial models, Cyclone warning and Dissemination System (CWDS), etc. have potential to provide valuable support to decision making. Disaster relief experts have long struggled to deliver aid quickly to remote disaster areas immediately following a catastrophe when overcoming transportation and logistics challenges can mean the difference between life and death.

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* Contributed by: -
Anshuman Harjai & Ibin Issac Abraham,
Management Development Institute, Gurgaon.